Next of Kin

Diana Goodrich, Outreach Director at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest:

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is home to seven chimpanzees released from biomedical research two years ago. Missy and Annie, in the photo attached, are best friends at the sanctuary (Missy is on the left). Kissing like this is not uncommon in chimpanzee society and is often used to provide reassurance or share excitement over something. The photo, taken by our Director of Operations, J.B. Mulcahy is copyrighted by the sanctuary.

Perhaps not surprising to readers, chimps make several appearances in my upcoming book The Science of Kissing. To learn more about the animals in the photograph click here and you can find out how to help support the sanctuary here.

The title of this post is a nod to Roger Fouts’s Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees.