Archives for August 2008
The saga of the trolls continues…
OK – I have the somewhat unpleasant duty to announce that Trixie got, um, well, a “haircut.” The day after our last installment, we found Trixie sadly lacking in the pink hair department. Foxie has been with Princess and the other new troll off and on since they were introduced, but each has also spent some time with Jamie. Jody even carried one around today! Foxie always has at least one of them with her, but has been sharing the other one. Both trolls are now also lacking hair – Jamie seems to think that trolls are more attractive sans hair.
This is a good opportunity to say that chimps are very strong and very destructive with the objects we give them, so please keep them coming!
PS. Not the best pic here, but I like what it captures: Foxie giving her baby a kiss!
Two months & a big announcement
A few days ago we reached a milestone – the chimpanzees have been at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for two months. Decades in research, and now two months in sanctuary. So much has happened in that short time. We’ve learned so much about each of the chimpanzees, and they seem to be changing every day. Jamie has stopped plucking her hair, Foxie now handles enrichment and has displayed rudimentary nesting behavior, Burrito has been working on some really great displays in his expanded space, Jody’s hair is growing back in and she’s developing some muscle, Missy is playing all of the time, Annie is coming into ‘her own’ and standing up for herself, and Negra is enamored with the views out of the windows.
And now the big announcement – the chimpanzees will be in their outdoor area on August 26th!! I can’t wait to share photos and experiences of the chimps touching ground for the first time. Thank you all for you support – you’ve helped make all of this possible!
Who knew?
We took these two videos the other day – one of Annie and one of Jamie. I spent the whole day marveling and saying over and over “How do they know how to do that??” What do you think? Did they learn these skills from watching construction progress outside? Or something from their past?
The Troll Soap Opera
We recently sent out a request for more troll dolls, and we were fortunate to receive quite a few from our volunteers and regular blog readers. Last night, we decided to offer a couple of them to Foxie to see if she’d be interested. Interested would be an understatement – she was thrilled! Here are some photos of Foxie with one of her new dolls, which we have dubbed “Princess” (don’t tell anyone that I have been naming dolls, please). Thanks, Cindy, for sending them. These are both “action” shots because Foxie likes to stare at her trolls and shake them…
And for those of you who are willing to admit that you suddenly feel sympathy for the inanimate doll known as “Trixie” (Foxie’s first adopted troll), I am happy to provide an update. Ever since Foxie took an interest in Trixie, Jamie has been threatening to take Trixie away. Now, I don’t want to sound judgemental, but Jamie can be a bit manipulative and she enjoys getting a rise out of her chimp friends sometimes. So we figured that she was just having fun at Foxie’s expense. But as soon as Foxie put Trixie down, Trixie was adopted once again… perhaps I was wrong about Jamie?
More party photos
Negra looks on as Foxie opens a birthday gift
Jody and Missy in a mess of wrapping paper. Missy with raisin board.
Annie opening a gift
Missy and Jamie looking out window at horses in field. The chimps are still using a lot of the gifts, like the sturdy yellow table Jamie is sitting on, from the last party donated by blog readers through our Target and Amazon wish list; and the humans are very gratefully using all of the kitchen stuff we received! We’re still adding new items to the Amazon wish list (see link at right) – the latest items received include a Little Tykes wrench and a mirror so we can see the chimpanzees when they are on the second level in the playroom. A huge THANK YOU to all who have donated their time, talent, gifts and money in order for us to care for this very unique group of seven.
Five chimpanzees on catwalk resting in front of the windows after a terrific party.
Foxie’s party photos
Happy Birthday sign from Robbi
Birthday banner from Margaret and Karen
Sarah sharing a special bithday card for Foxie from Syd – Jody looking on, Foxie with raisin board
Foxie with stuffed colobus monkey – birthday gift from a friend.
Foxie clinging to window cage – there were horses in the field the day of the party and Foxie was looking out at them. The way she is holding Trixie makes it look like she’s showing Trixie the horses 🙂
