Chimps Zoom Video Call Each Other at Different Zoos to Ease Boredom During COVID-19 Lockdown

Staff at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, a Czech zoo, decided to take an unusual step of allowing its chimpanzees to make video calls with other chimps at different zoos via Zoom to confront boredom and idleness among these animals because of the pandemic lockdown.

An IFLScience report said this Safari Park zoo had been closed since December last year due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. More idle minds are said to be desperate for entertainment inside that zoo than just the animal keepers.

Chimpanzees are said to belong to one of this planet's most intelligent species. Minus the visitors participating in what's nearly a two-way showcase, the resident chimps of the zoo are growing restless.

To address the pause in enrichment, as earlier mentioned, the zoo decided to take this unusual step of connecting its chimps to other captive individuals anywhere in the country. Similarly, most people have been keeping in touch since the onset of the pandemic-through video call.

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(Photo: David Silverman/Getty Images)
A recent report specified that upon returning people to zoos, their animals, specifically chimpanzees, presented behaviors linked to a positive mental condition.

Setting Up a Zoom Video Call

This project hopes to offer further stimulus for animals together with their usual routines, meant to keep the animals busy, and at the same time, hopefully avoiding the Zoom fatigue humans are feeling.

This science information site also said that garden eels and meerkats were highlighted by other zoos and animals most adversely affected by the halt in zoo visitors.

It is possible, the curious creatures inside the zoo have grown used to observing passing people. A recent report specified that upon returning people to zoos in South Africa and the United Kingdom, their meerkats presented behaviors linked to positive mental conditions.

At Dvur Kralove and Brno Zoo, approximately 150 kilometers away, two large screens have been mounted in order for the animals to effectively bond or hang out in what's described as 'digital living room.'

The sound is turned off, seemingly liberating the chimps of the dull 'you're on mute' narrative, and they are getting used to their so-called virtual pals.

Describing their digital setup, curator of primates and carnivores Gabriela Linhartova from the Safari Park Dvur Kralove said, in the beginning, the chimps would approach the screen with threatening or defensive gestures, and there was interaction.

Then, the curator continued, the gestures moved into the 'I am in the movies' or 'I am watching TV' mode. And when these animals see some tense situations, it's getting them up off the couch, like humans when they are watching a live sports event, elaborated Linhartova.

Showing Off to Fellow 'Zoomers'

Analyses have been mixed from the resident chimpanzees, with some gladly eating and showing off their food to their fellow 'Zoomers' while others opt to give the video footage a wide berth.

Specifically, a male chimp identified as Dingo, and four other females called Bonnie, Babeta, Zuzi, and Chispi, have been discovered to be the biggest fans that they never miss a chance to check in with the other group on Zoom.

While successful as it stands, chimps usually get exhausted from enrichment activities once they lose their novelty, so the keepers are finally expecting to hang up by the end of March.

To date, Zoos are encountering a particularly challenging time in Czechia as they have gotten little by way of government backing to keep the animals maintained, not to mention entertained during the current lockdown measures.

Video conferences of these chimpanzees are airing every day on the Safari Park website, where visitors can also find out how to support the animals of the said zoo.

 A related video is shown on Reuter's YouTube Video below:

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