One of the park's most lovable, well known characters is Seamus. Today this cheecky chap turns nineteen and growing up fast. What a long way he's come. Back in 1999 a then nine-year-old lady chimp Cherri delivered a male infant (despite the birth control implant she was given which obviously was removed from over-zealous grooming among chimps!) just after switching groups. The paternity of the baby was uncertain but considering that Cherri lived in the merged group ruled by both Paddy and Rodney during most of her pregnancy it is likely that the father could be either of them....but im thinking Rodney since there is some resemblance. Unfortunately Cherri was pretty much a youngster herself and after a few weeks she lacked the ability to raise him and the ever dependable Jeremy Keeling took over as chimp carer. Seamus eventually moved into the chimp nursery and reared by a very maternal chimp surrogate mum, Sally where he was spoilt rotten! After years as a bit of a terror, the then too boisterous Seamus was moved into the bachelor group in 2007 after he could not integrate into Hananya's two years earlier (where he saw his birth mum again). With the bachelor apes, Seamus has definitely mellowed and although he is not high up the pecking order he is a much loved group member. His mum Cherri has given him three more sisters, his full sister Pip who passed in 2009 at the age of eight and his half twin sisters Thelma and Louise, the latter died just two weeks after birth. His remaining half sister Thelma will be 5 in September and is relishing being the centre of attention at Hananya's, where she is being successful raised by their now around twenty eight year old mum, Cherri who has improved in her mothering skills significantly since she had Seamus. I guess all she needed was time. His persumed father Rodney, who was moved into the new group what is now Hananya's a short period before the pregnant Cherri arrived, passed 13 years ago after leading for around seven years, leaving the group now under the control of his remaining litte half sister's father, Hananya.
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