To make up for the lack of interaction with visitors since attractions closed in December under Covid-19 restrictions, chimpanzees at Safari Park Dvur Kralove and a zoo troop in Brno, 150 kilometers away, can now observe the daily life of each other on the giant screens.
There are no disasters with the mute button because the sound is turned off, but there has already been a lot of interest in what the distant cousins have been doing since the project started last week.
“At first they approached the screen with defensive or threatening gestures, there was interaction,” said Gabriela Linhartova, a monkey keeper in Dvur Kralove, 135 kilometers east of Prague.
A chimpanzee rests in front of a giant screen inside its enclosure at Safari Park Dvur Kralove.
DAVID W CERNY / REUTERS
“Since then, it has switched to ‘I’m in the cinema’ or ‘I’m watching TV’ mode. When they see some tense situations, they get up off the couch, like us when we watch a live sporting event. “
Chimpanzees have also adopted other human behaviors, such as picking up treats like nuts to chew on while watching the action.
The videoconferences, also shown on the safari park website, will take place daily from 8 am to 4 pm until the end of March, when the keepers will assess whether they should continue.