MEET JEMIMA

 The penultimate chimpanzee in our 'meet & greet' series is Jemima (pronounced Yemima), the youngest mum in the Bulindi community. We first got to know her as a juvenile in 2012. In the wild, female chimps normally give birth for the first time aged 13 - 16 years old. So it came as a surprise when Jemima gave birth to infant Kasatu last year when she only 10 or perhaps 11 years old. She was still growing herself and owing to the energetic demands of motherhood, Jemima has remained small as an adult.

Jemima is the eldest daughter of Mirinda and the two females have a very close bond. Both are calm, good natured females who avoid quabbles, preferring to groom and rest quietly together with their offspring.

Jemima (July 2017)

Jemima, carrying Kasatu, traversing a village path (August 2017)

Jemima with 1-year old Kasatu, groomed by Moses (November 2017)