I think we’ve mentioned a few times on the blog how much Negra enjoys nuts. We frequently scatter nuts in the outdoor area on warm days or the playroom if it’s a bit colder so when the chimpanzees go into that area after we are finished cleaning, they spend fifteen to twenty minutes foraging. Burrito is particularly good at finding food in the straw and really seems to enjoy looking. This time of year is great because nuts in the shell are easy to find, and this adds more for the chimpanzees to do – they have to crack the nuts to get to the meat inside (they use their teeth). Negra squeeks with anticipation as soon as she sees us bringing out the nuts for scattering. Here are a couple of photos of Negra taken just the other day as she was gathering and eating nuts in the outdoor area.
Disclaimer: This post is a bit of a set up. Denice has shopped around for the best deals on nuts and will let you know about what she’s found in case you want to give some mixed nuts in the shell for the chimps for the holidays. Nuts in the shell can last up to two years if frozen and a year in the fridge, so we can follow the lead of the squirrels and stock up now!
What about teaching them to crack nuts with a rock? I would hate to see them break their teeth. Negra is so beautiful! I would be happy to buy some nuts for them to enjoy. Keep us posted when Denice finds the best deal.
I just had to comment that Negra is looking absolutely GORGEOUS these days! “freedom” definitely had made a difference in these 7!
she is absolutely gorgeous .. everytime I see a close up of Negra’s face & eyes, reminds me of that video Diana took of her giving her a knuckle rub on her belly — when she panned back up to her face, her eyes twinkled and sparkled right into tjhe camera .. look at that face!
lookin’ good Negra!
I have been shopping around for nuts in the shell and I think the best buy is at Costco. Their price has gone down to $1.99 a pound and I think the sack is 4 pounds. I like this bag of nuts from Costco because it has a good mix of nuts. Walmart at last look was $2.54 a pound and at the grocery stores it’s about $3.29 a pound. What you save at Costco will pay for the shipping costs.
Like Diana said we should stock up now while they are in season and at a good price.
The chimps love to forage for the nuts, it’s a little unfair as they can watch us hid the nuts before coming into the day room. They bolt out of the doors the second they are opened and everybody runs to gather what they can. It’s really a lot of fun to watch, after they get all they can hang on to they go to a quite place and start their snack. I like to try to hide a few nuts in the blankets, like tie a knot in a blanket and put a few nuts in the knot.
I have to say that the nut forage is two fold not only do the chimps enjoy the activity but I love to hear the squeaks of delight once they realize nuts are on the menu for the day. You just have to smile inside and out…..
Just look at Negra, that’s a happy chimp. Lets see if we can get a years worth of mixed nuts so Negra (and the rest of the group) can enjoy this snack all year round.
Nothing makes me happier than knowing Negra and the other chimps squeek with delight!!! Denice, thank you so much for taking your time to do the research on the best deal on nuts! 🙂
Negra really does look SO MUCH better, doesn’t she? What a beautiful girl!
Love the set up! Great fun and good idea. Lucky chimps!
I stopped by Walmart tonight, after work, and got a 2 lb. bag of Extra Large Mixed Nuts (walnuts, brazil nuts, filberts, almonds and pecans in the shell) for $5.58 and a 1 lb. bag of Extra Large Pecans, in the shell, for $3.48. Both packages were in the fruit and veg. section of the store.
I think because of more room to move around and better food that Negra has lost some weight. She looks a lot younger.
You can hardly recogonize Negra compared to when she arrived – and that’s a good thing!
What a difference stimulation, good food, and companship can do for a chimp.
I agree Candace; Negra looks much younger than when she first arrived. She was beautiful then, but now she’s breathtakingly beautiful!
Thank you Denice for your research on the nuts. I don’t have a Costco but I am sure my local Sam’s will have just as good a deal. I would love to see a video with the squeeks included on a day of foraging for nuts! I also agree that Negra is breathtakingly beautiful! Good health and happiness sure does look good on the chimps, doesnt it?
That is such a wonderful picture.And the thought of the squeeks just wrms the heart! I agree with previous comments, Negra and the others do look younger these days! Not only younger but happier and healthier. I like the thought of having a years supply. Is there room at the sanctuary? Or does anyone have space for storage if they need it?
Special thanks to Claudia Milne of Cashmere Washington for donating about 30 lbs. of walnuts from her yard.
Way to go Claudia Milne.
Hi Tamela, I agree Negra is growing more beautiful each day. Last week I ended up at your web place and It’s great so many pictures, you did a good job putting it together. My problem is finding it now, could you help me find it again? I feel like a nut asking.
Thanks, Katie
trying to order some nuts on Amazon- all out of stock- can you guys add new nut choices to your wish list so we can send? xo
Hi Katie, You’re very kind; thank you. I’d be glad to: TamelaArtUnderGlass.com Are you ever on the forum?
Tamela thanks for responding and I have wondered around in the forum. I get lost alot however. Have you been in the chimp eden
forum? I really get lost there, but I love every min. reading and learning about the chimps.
For those of you who live out of the area and would rather put your money toward the purchase of the nuts rather than on postage – I would be happy to buy the nuts locally (I have a Costco near me) and can take them out to the Sanctuary when I volunteer. If you are interested in doing this, just send a check to CSNW and then Diana, JB, Sarah or Keith can tell me how much to buy.
I do have a freezer that I have stored fruit in for the chimps – and it still has quite a lot of room to “squirrel away” nuts over the winter!
heya Pam – great idea .. thanks!