Caring for
Cassie

Following an injury shortly after birth, Cassie required treatment and intensive human care from Rockhampton Zoo staff. Carefully managed attempts to reunite her with her mother and introduce her to another female within the Rockhampton Zoo troop could not safely continue, meaning there is currently no viable pathway for her to return to the troop.

Following specialist advice, the difficult decision was made to look for an alternative established Chimpanzee troop where Cassie could have the opportunity to develop alongside other Chimpanzees.

Monarto Safari Park is home to an established, multi-generational troop of 12 Chimpanzees, and an experienced primate team with a history of managing complex social dynamics, surrogacy, reintroductions, staged introductions, and integration.

Monarto Safari Park’s Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Conservation Centre was purpose-built to support the formation and management of Chimpanzee social groups. Its day rooms, yards, and dens can be separated, connected, and reconfigured to allow staged introductions and give individual chimps space when needed. This facility provides the flexibility needed for 24/7 care and to gradually introduce Cassie to members of the established troop.

Cassie will initially live in a specially prepared nursery area within the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Conservation Centre, where she and members of the troop can see, hear, and smell each other through protective mesh.

A Rockhampton Zoo keeper will accompany Cassie and remain at Monarto Safari Park for a period, to support her transition and knowledge transfer. Cassie will initially continue to receive round-the-clock care and feeding support.

Cassie has been in human care since shortly after birth, so she has not had the opportunity to develop the close mother-infant relationship a young Chimpanzee would typically experience.

While we can’t know how Cassie experiences that absence, we do know how important relationships with other Chimpanzees are for her development. The focus now is on giving her opportunities to build those relationships with the troop at Monarto Safari Park.

We can’t know exactly how Cassie’s mother experiences their separation. Chimpanzees form strong social and maternal bonds, but in Cassie’s case that relationship was interrupted very early and attempts to safely reunite them were unsuccessful. Her mother Sile’s behaviour and wellbeing continue to be monitored by the expert team at Rockhampton Zoo.

It’s possible. If an adult female forms a strong relationship with Cassie and takes on a surrogate role, that would be a positive outcome, but it is far too early to predict whether that will happen. Having said that, there are several members of the Monarto Safari Park troop who have displayed strong maternal and paternal behaviours and keepers believe that surrogacy may be a possibility.

But it’s not the only successful outcome. The broader goal is for Cassie to develop relationships and social skills that support her integration into the wider troop.

There is no fixed timetable. Introductions will be staged and guided by the behaviour, responses, and social dynamics of the established troop, alongside Cassie’s welfare and development.

The primate team will initially create opportunities for Cassie and members of the troop to become familiar with each other through protective mesh, before considering closer introductions.

The process may take time, and may not progress in a straight line.

Human care has been incredibly important for Cassie, but humans cannot replace the opportunities she will have to observe, interact with, and learn from other Chimpanzees.

As she grows, those relationships will become increasingly important to her social development.

Possibly, but we cannot guarantee where Cassie will be on any given day.

Depending on how she is settling in, Cassie may spend time in areas that visitors can see, or she may be in the nursery, or other areas away from public view.

We want to see Cassie develop Chimpanzee social behaviours and relationships, become increasingly independent of human carers, and ultimately become socially integrated with the wider troop.

There is no predetermined pathway or timeframe to get to that outcome.

Yes. We will share meaningful updates on our social media channels as Cassie settles in and reaches important milestones.

There’s no denying that caring for Cassie, or a newborn of any species, is incredibly special. But the primate team would much rather see Cassie receiving that comfort and physical contact from other Chimpanzees.

Close contact with human carers is necessary while Cassie relies on their support, but the goal is for her to build those relationships with her own species as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. For the team here at Monarto Safari Park, seeing Cassie increasingly seek companionship and reassurance from other Chimpanzees will be something to celebrate.

As a not for profit conservation charity, Zoos SA welcomes the generous support of our community. If you would like to support Cassie and the troop, you can donate, or you can adopt a Chimpanzee via our website.