By Hassani Rashid, Tracker - Greystoke MahaleRelationships between adult female chimpanzees can be very strong. Two adult females - Gwekulo and Pinky, were very close friends for many years until Pinky’s death. They spent much time grooming together, walking as one family in times of food scarcity and spent nights in trees close to each other. When Pinky died--- Gwekulo an old barren female adopted Pinky’s baby, named Puffy, when she was still very young. Puffy grew up healthy and joyful, being taught and learning a lot with Gwekulo just as other young ones grow up with their biological mothers. She always considered Gwekulo as her mother and continued the mother – daughter relationship which once existed between her and her biological mother. To this day Gwekulo and Puffy are still seen together, living as mother and daughter.
Picture by Will Burrard Lucas
