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Ndume's Mourning for Michael - Ndume Assumes New Role
(August 2, 2000) -- Like Koko, Ndume has been deeply affected by Michael's loss. Gorillas are very social animals, and Ndume has lived at The Gorilla Foundation center as part of Mike's and Koko's family since 1991. Ndume appears to be mourning Mike, and after a period of confusion, gradually taking on his new role as the silverback alpha male.
Initial Confusion
In the days following Mike's death, Ndume spent most of his time indoors even though he had access to the yard. He often sat huddled in the corner with his arms hugging his knees to his chest, or he would alternate hoot crying with nervous, jerky play gestures and crossing his arms and patting his shoulders. Normally Ndume would make these natural gestures much more boisterously as he is running about and playing, rather than making them while huddled up in a corner. It appeared he just did not quite know what to do with himself.
The Watch
The day after Mike died, Dr. Penny Patterson saw Ndume take a blanket and go to the spot where Mike died. He sat there pensively for quite some time, staring at Penny. The following day, he returned to the spot with several blankets, built a nest and again sat quietly. In the wild, gorillas will often sit with the body of a dead member of the group, but in this case, Mike's body had been removed. Ndume also took his blue barrel outside and placed it in front of Mike's window. Climbing up on it, he strained to peek in Mike's windows, perhaps looking for him.
Looking for Mike
In the past, Ndume and Mike had regularly scheduled interaction times when they went out into the yard together. Both gorillas were always given a cup of herbal tea prior to each interaction, because it helped calm them. One morning a few days after Mike's death, Ndume was given a cup of the tea because he had been so upset. Drinking the tea seemed be a cue for Ndume that an interaction with Mike was going to take place. He spun about repeatedly in his room and then anxiously peered out the window. When he was given access to the yard, he raced out and began looking all around. He quickly realized that Mike was not there.
Assuming Mike's Behaviors
When given access to Mike's old rooms, Ndume now grabs all of his blankets and toys from his own room and moves them into Mike's rooms. Even on sunny days, it can be tough to persuade him to go leave Mike's rooms. Ndume is taking on some of Mike's behaviors, behaviors he did not exhibit before. Recently a researcher saw him sitting with one of Mike's tires. He sniffed the tire, then bit it gently, then slapped it with both hands. This tire is full of Mike's teeth marks from where he chewed it and slapped it with both hands. Ndume did not exhibit this behavior of biting tires before Mike's death.
On another day, a different researcher was feeding Ndume in Mike's rooms when Ndume signed "chase" twice. That was the sign Mike used most often. Ndume hadn't used that sign more than once before. (Ndume is not instructed in sign language, but he has picked up signs from Koko and Mike.)
Ndume has always had a much more laid back personality than Mike, who was always on the lookout. With Mike gone, Ndume has begun to investigate sounds he would never have investigated before. He has begun to slam his body against walls and gates, which is new and protective behavior. He watches the roadway from the end of the yard closest to the road, a habit of Mike's, but something Ndume never did while Mike was alive. Ndume's eyes now dart back and forth watchfully, the on-alert eyes of a protective silverback gorilla.
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