The chimps love forages. Rather than serving food hand to mouth or through the food chutes, we like to occasionally set out all of the food in the front rooms before the chimps come in for their meal. They get to watch us set everything up, and the anticipation makes the meal all the more enjoyable. When they are finally let in, they search through all of the bowls, buckets and boxes for their favorite foods. Here you can see (from left to right) Annie, Missy and Burrito munching on lettuce, frozen oranges and herbal tea (many thanks to the Cle Elum Safeway and Roslyn Natural Market for donating produce). Listen for the food grunts – a signal that they are enjoying the meal. J.B.
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JB I think this is my favorite video to date!!! I love it the food grunts!!! And seeing them look so happy searching through the food for the “best parts”…..and knowing that before they mostly ate crummy, dry biscuits like dog kibble……..wwoooowwww this has to taste GREAT!! I feel like I’m watching a little party 🙂
We have thunder and lightning here…..is it storming in Cle Elum? If so, how are the chimps effected by the thunder especially? Knock on wood that you’ll never need it, but is there a fire escape plan just in case…? Oh and fireworks coming up tomorrow….hmmmmm. Maybe “Rescue Remedy” in thier water??? (a natural product that calms both humans and animals).
This is definitely my favorite video to date. All they need now is an old style movie projector playing some classic Marx Brothers or Danny Kaye flicks on the wall during dinner.
Hi Shelly,
I haven’t been with the chimps during a storm yet, but my best guess is that thunder and lightning won’t cause much anxiety. But chimpanzees, especially males, have been known to display in response to loud and powerful natural events like storms and waterfalls. We’ll see if Burrito feels the need to “out do” mother nature…
Hi JB ~ thanks so much for your response ~ I really do feel better now knowing that it’s not likely that thunder and lightening would cause them anxiety. Maybe that means fireworks won’t bother them either – if there are even any set off close enough to the Sanctuary to hear. Hope you all have a chance to celebrate the holiday! Please say “hi” to all for me.