It hadn’t really occurred to me before today, but it hasn’t rained in any significant way since the chimpanzees arrived at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Today it poured.
When J.B. and I heard the playroom erupt in alarm barks, we realized the chimps may have never seen a rainstorm before! We went into the human area and saw the chimpanzees intently staring out the windows upstairs. When the rain started to slow down, some brave chimpanzees began to approach the doorway to the outdoor area.
Missy seemed most curious…
Annie followed Missy’s lead…
It was Jamie who finally ventured outside…
She immediately came back in to dry her hands…
And the rest of her…
What a great new experience for everyone!! Missy also took a couple of steps outside. Jamie went back out, wearing the cloth over her head, and Annie remained content sitting in the doorway. The other chimpanzees looked out the windows – maybe next time they’ll decide to go out too.
What an experience for them. I loved the picture of Jamie drying herself off. Leave it to Jamie to go back out. I bet she would even jump in a mud puddle if it was there, just for the fun of it! Way to go Annie and Missy and Jamie. The others will soon follow.
Thanks for the photos.
Spectacular. :o)
It just goes to show how many long , so very long years they have been locked up in a dungeon, they have never got to witness Mother Nature, so unbelievable!!! Now they will need umbrellas, in the wild they use big leaves, do they not, in captivity they will have to have an umbrella!!!
Diana if you are at work and see this ….go to your myspace and delete the HUGE comment I sent you, it was not suppose to turn out like that , it was suppose to scroll!!! And when you click on the Logo, I linked the CSNW website to the Logo!!! That is on the second comment!
Ohhhh THANK YOU for taking the photos and sharing this amazing story Diana!!! Such very precious moments ~ their first rain storm. Yes ~ Shelly C ~ it is these moments that in an instant, remind us yet again of the decades of solitary confinement in a windowless basement. Let it rain.
How exciting!! Can you imagine how amazing their first snow will be! I still find it magical, I can’t wait to see their reactions!
How smart Jamie is!! Will they start wraping their feet or wearing boots to go out in the snow????
Another first at CSNW! What a smart girl our Jamie is. I can’t wait to see what they do with snow. I saw a picture of zoo chimps making snowballs and then eating them! I look forward to seeing what the CLE 7 will do.
I agree with Shelly C…give them umbrellas! I bet they know exactly what do to with them.
Question Diana….I see Jamie isin estrus. How long do you think before all the girls get synchronized with their cycles? I understand it happens with chimps in captivity together.
Just like when we work in an office….we all get snippy at the same time every month and no body wants to appoarch the office….lol
In the next month or two they will all get plenty of opportunities to venture out in the rain. It typically rains quite a bit from now until snow falls around Thanksgiving. It will be interesting to see who will learn to love the rain who will just rather stay inside.
Be brave little ones…………..