Chimpanzee, the wild animal that became the "star" of the zoo in Kien Giang

May is the first child of a wild chimpanzee couple, father Jerry from South Africa and mother Baby from Malaysia. In the early days of May's birth, mother Baby was always attached to her like a shadow, breastfeeding, picking lice, and playing with her.

However, being a first-time mother, she was confused and did not have enough milk, so Baby did not know how to take care of her and handle this situation. On her 11th day, May was starved by her mother for 13 hours. Her health weakened, her body temperature dropped to 32 degrees Celsius.

Baby May does morning exercises. Photo: Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc.

The team of caregivers and doctors decided to separate May to support special care using the method of raising the baby separately (raising the baby in an environment without parents). May was monitored 24/7 in a separate room, fully equipped with the best medical and nutritional conditions. Through the most nervous moments, with all the love and timely scientific intervention methods, May overcame the most dangerous moment.

As her health gradually recovered, living up to everyone's expectations, May became the zoo's "most inspirational character".

May received special care and was most attached to Mr. Phong - who was considered her adoptive father. Photo: Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc.

What most people like about little May is that she doesn't know how to climb or swing on trees. Mr. Bui Phi Hoang - Head of the Animal Care Department of Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc said: Because she was raised in a semi-wild environment, May's parents' instincts for raising and teaching children are limited. Even though she is a chimpanzee - a wild animal that is very good at climbing - May doesn't know how to swing or climb trees. That's why the caretakers here, in addition to taking care of May's health, also have to teach her to climb trees every day.

"In the early days, when she was not used to it, every time I asked her to climb a tree, she would scream miserably, which was both pitiful and funny. And it was this cuteness of May that made her the hottest factor in the zoo" - Mr. Hoang said.

May is pampered for her cute, adorable, and mischievous actions like a child. Photo: Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc.

Journey to find instinct

Like a spoiled child, May knows how to "manipulate emotions" from staff, visitors and other individuals in the herd. Every morning, when the caretakers have just finished their "daily routine" in the chimpanzee enclosure, the naughty girl "holds her leg", raises her arms, her eyes glistening with tears, and begs.

Everyone understands that the "star" May either asks to be taken out or asks for more snacks. She has just had breakfast with a full portion of food, fruit, milk... but that's May, she likes to interact and act spoiled with visitors and caretakers.

Sunbathing is one of May's favorite daily activities. Photo: Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc.

"Once, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the zoo. May even got to meet and hug the Prime Minister, making many employees jealous of May's honor," Hoang revealed.

Even though she had to "live alone", every day, May was taken by her "foster father" to the barn to visit her parents by bicycle. On May's full month birthday, the staff and doctors gathered to blow out candles to celebrate the baby chimpanzee's recovery and healthy growth. May also had to follow a daily schedule including mealtimes, playtimes, visiting her parents, breastfeeding time, and climbing time to develop her species' wild instincts.

The staff organized a first birthday party for May. Photo: Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc.

Now May is completely independent, but Mr. Hoang still does not forget the times when May visited her parents. The caretakers had to be especially careful because Jerry and Baby, when they saw their child, were ready to rush to grab it, risking injuring the child and endangering the person accompanying her. "Looking back on May's past journey, I am very grateful for the spirit of the staff who directly cared for the chimpanzees, such as Phu and Sang... They are not only good at their profession, but also love their job, love May, are patient and brave."

Scientifically named Pan troglodytes originating from Africa, May's parents were brought to Vietnam under an international conservation program because they are listed as "Endangered" (EN) according to the IUCN Red List and are in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In order for Jerry and Baby to reproduce successfully, caretakers must closely monitor the mother's activities and menstrual cycle to calculate the time and method of mating.

After determining that Baby was pregnant with May, the chimpanzee couple's lives were closely monitored and supplemented with foods of high nutritional value to ensure normal growth and development for both mother and child. Near the due date, Baby was placed in a separate, quiet barn to facilitate childbirth and veterinary intervention when necessary. After birth, the mother's breastfeeding, reflexes, and nutrition of both mother and child were closely monitored. Thanks to that, May's refusal to breastfeed was discovered in time, bringing the little chimpanzee girl to a special and emotional journey of growing up.

Source: https://danviet.vn/hac-tinh-tinh-con-dong-vat-hoang-da-tro-thanh-ngoi-sao-cua-vuon-thu-o-kien-giang-20240630111207881.htm