Summer at AAP Primadomus

This year it appears that the Spanish summer has arrived much later than usual. Normally by the middle of the day in May temperatures can reach 30 degrees centigrade, this year the heat did not properly start until the second week of June. From this date the summer has not given us any respite, neither the chimpanzees nor the employees...

This was the first summer for the 9 chimpanzees that compose Patricks group in Villena (Alicante) and we are sure that they have noticed a great difference from the summers in Holland, that they were accustomed to. For example, we had to apply suncream to Babsie's and Peggy's skin (their skin is much lighter than that of the other chimps), to avoid them being sunburnt. Now they are sunkissed with a lot more freckles than before.

In the midday sun only the more enterprising chimps like Bob and Achille enjoy taking a stroll in the outdoor enclosure, they do this by walking in the shade created by the pine trees and the platforms. Meanwhile the less brave stay in the indoor enclosure taking a siesta or enjoying grooming sessions.

The large frozen icelollies of fruit and vegetables and iced tea have helped them through the warmest days, some of them above 40 degrees centigrade! All the chimpanzees without exception have celebrated with 'pantings', cuddles and kisses the moment that the caretaker arrives with the refreshment.

Other refreshing moments have come with "fishing' for the fruit or vegeatbles that float in the large tubs filled with water that we placed in the outdoor enclosure. Wilma, Babsie, Prudence and of course Anna have enjoyed catching the food and wading in the water. Peggy has even been known to give it another use as you can see in the photo below!

^{Photography: Sergio Blanes Fraces}