Meet Regis Born: December 28, 1988 Aka: Regie, the Rege, Regie Begie.
Here’s The Rege, hiding up in the rafters, ever-observing, munching on his apple with a favourite smoothie close at hand! A sensitive and creative soul and a bit of a joker, Regis particularly gets a kick out of spitting water at humans–especially the one carrying the expensive camera gear. ;-) He actually has a love of water–from playing with the hose to sitting in a bath. Regis was the first chimp at Fauna who figured out how to extend his smoothies by adding a little water to them.
Each chimpanzee at Fauna has come from a difficult past which has had a profound effect on their personalities and behaviours. Regis, CH-645 in the lab, was only 2 when he was treated for his first stress related event–he completely chewed off his finger nail. Following this he was treated for depressions and anorexia–all before he had even participated in his first study. When he arrived at Fauna, stressed and anxious, it took him over an hour to leave his transport cage and enter his new sanctuary home.
Regis becomes terribly stressed and anxious when something happens around him he doesn’t understand or that might remind him of his past. The reverse beeping sound of a truck is very difficult for him (as it is for several others) as it is reminiscent of the beeping sound made by the vehicle in the lab that was used to lift the chimp cages. It was a traumatizing sound for the chimps as they didn’t know if it was their cage that would be moved and if they were next to be darted. These are memories not easily forgotten.
Like a few others living at Fauna, Regis enjoys being up high, staying hidden and peeping out from the rafters. He enjoys taking his peanut butter and jam sandwiches and a cup of tea off to a quiet place where he can look out the window–he is indeed a very easy guy to please. Visit Regis and read his fascinating profile. You will fall in love with this guy.
Why not buy some peanut butter and jam sandwiches for the chimps?! How to help.
