Joseph a.k.a. PRIME MINISTER: loves cuddles
Prime Minister is a nickname that stuck. Originally named JOSEPH, this lovely boy arrived to LCRP in May 2019. He was small, sad and weak. His demeanor was very closed and he was extremely fearful of everything.
His fear was so intense that even the slightest sound caused tremors – at first we thought perhaps he had a fever but we quickly determined his shaking was based simply on the extreme trauma he’d experienced prior to meeting him. Prime Minister is still recovering and his personality is emerging as both very assertive yet at the same time shy and needy.
While he is still quite timid, Prime Minister's tremors have completely gone. He is now showing a quiet strength and learning how to get what he needs from his caregivers and the other chimps.
His nickname, Prime Minister, came as he opened up and showed that in his own way he reigns supreme, getting what he wants and making his desires clear. Prime Minister is now gaining weight and developing wonderfully; climbing high in the trees and his playful side showing up much more readily.
He loves mealtimes and is certain to get his share. He also loves to cuddle at bedtime and has secured a prime sleeping spot in the mix of orphans who sleep together at night with LCRP’s founders. Prime Minister is an expert groomer and nest builder, telling us he was likely with his family quite long before he was taken by humans. LCRP’s ‘Prime Minister’ is adored by everyone on the team even though he is highly selective about returning their affection.
His fear was so intense that even the slightest sound caused tremors – at first we thought perhaps he had a fever but we quickly determined his shaking was based simply on the extreme trauma he’d experienced prior to meeting him. Prime Minister is still recovering and his personality is emerging as both very assertive yet at the same time shy and needy.
While he is still quite timid, Prime Minister's tremors have completely gone. He is now showing a quiet strength and learning how to get what he needs from his caregivers and the other chimps.
His nickname, Prime Minister, came as he opened up and showed that in his own way he reigns supreme, getting what he wants and making his desires clear. Prime Minister is now gaining weight and developing wonderfully; climbing high in the trees and his playful side showing up much more readily.
He loves mealtimes and is certain to get his share. He also loves to cuddle at bedtime and has secured a prime sleeping spot in the mix of orphans who sleep together at night with LCRP’s founders. Prime Minister is an expert groomer and nest builder, telling us he was likely with his family quite long before he was taken by humans. LCRP’s ‘Prime Minister’ is adored by everyone on the team even though he is highly selective about returning their affection.
When new chimpanzees arrive they are physically and emotionally traumatized. Our veterinary director does a full health check and treats them as needed. Some little ones arrive with broken limbs and shrapnel, and often have deep cuts due to ropes and chains that were used to restrict them while they were held captive. They are also given around the clock TLC, as nurturing and unconditional love is the most important part of their recovery. Feeding the chimps is a challenge. In the wild, chimpanzees eat over 200 different types of food! At LCRP, while we can’t replicate their diet exactly, we work hard to provide the chimps with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Little ones receive baby cereal multiple times a day and all the chimps get morning and evening cereal to ensure the get daily boosts of all the right vitamins and minerals.
