Hi all! Calvin here. We often get asked about JJ’s age. It’s a good question, and one that’s not always easy to answer definitively, even with our best methods. Determining a chimpanzee’s age isn’t as simple as counting rings on a tree. In the wild, researchers often look at things like tooth wear, the condition of their fur, and other physical signs of aging. But here at the facility, JJ and the others receive excellent care, which can sometimes mask these typical signs of aging. They don’t face the same environmental challenges as wild chimps, so their teeth might not show as much wear, for example.
We also have the option of using DNA testing to get a more precise estimate of a chimp’s age. It’s a fascinating process. Scientists can analyze specific regions of the chimpanzee’s DNA, looking at changes that occur over time. These changes can act a bit like a biological clock, giving us clues about the chimp’s age. It’s a bit like looking at the wear and tear on a machine, but on a microscopic level. However, even with DNA testing, there’s still a bit of a range, a margin of error. And with JJ, it’s even more puzzling. He just doesn’t seem to fit the typical aging patterns. The usual physical markers are vague, almost nonexistent. And even his DNA doesn’t give us a completely clear picture. It’s like he’s defying the normal aging process, or maybe he’s just a late bloomer. It’s a bit of a mystery, and it makes you wonder. Is he just unusually youthful for his age? Or is there something else going on?
— Calvin Poe