She was doing that when I went the other day, when there wasn't really any noise, and I have seen lots of photos of her in that pose. I am curious as to whether it's just comfortable or if she does it when stressed?
its a side affect of her mother weaning her too soon, its a comfort thing similar to a little kid sucking its thumb. the keepers are working hard to try and break the habit.
its a side affect of her mother weaning her too soon, its a comfort thing similar to a little kid sucking its thumb. the keepers are working hard to try and break the habit.
Correct. It is stress-related. They are unlikely to break the habit as adults will continue to do it too. At Chessington, UK, female 'Shani' lost her mother when she was nine months old- as an adult of 20 years, she still holds one hand like this sometimes. The silverback male 'Harry' at Dublin Zoo appears to do this a lot of the time too, as in many photos he is doing it.
