On April 25, the quarantine for the chimpanzee Yoko was completed, and the Great Apes Sanctuary of Sorocaba (São Paulo, Brazil) team prepared a veterinary report that was sent to MAPA – the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the authority responsible for supervising his transfer from Colombia to Brazil. Once MAPA confirms there are no animal health impediments, the socialization process can begin.

However, after the first month of observation, challenges are already anticipated regarding his ability to integrate with other chimpanzees, due to his highly humanized status. The fact that he is more accustomed to and at ease with humans than with other chimpanzees represents an obstacle, and only time and attempts will determine what will be best for Yoko.

According to the Sanctuary team, Yoko is, without a doubt, very humanized and has no experience interacting with other chimpanzees. For example, in his daily routine, he shows a preference for staying in the indoor area of his enclosure. The team is already creating incentives for him to spend more time in the outdoor area.

A first step toward his socialization would be to move him to a different enclosure, which depends on him accessing a walkway area that, so far, he has not shown interest in using. The idea is to start encouraging him to do this, but the realistic expectation is that it will be a slow process; it will require constant monitoring and, above all, patience.

At the Sanctuary, there are similar cases of rescued chimpanzees who could not socialize with others due to a strong history of humanization. One example is Billy, who spent much of his life in a circus. To this day, he does not accept the company of other chimpanzees and has found his balance living alone in his enclosure – https://www.projetogap.org/en/news/billy-and-the-humanization-dilemma/

Despite the challenges ahead, the Sanctuary team is very pleased and optimistic with Yoko’s excellent adaptation. Even as an older chimpanzee, around 40 years old, he is in excellent health. He is active, eats very well, and shows joy when the veterinarians and caretakers visit his enclosure.

The only issue is that so far he has not shown much interest in other chimpanzees, or he may be afraid of them. This is something that will be carefully observed over the coming months, respecting the time Yoko needs to feel comfortable and establish a routine that provides him with the comfort he deserves.