Way back in grad school at Central WA University I did my master’s thesis on chimpanzee play initiation. I watched a lot of video of the chimpanzees at CHCI (mostly Moja and Tatu) begin play sessions. I loved seeing them in person and on the videos indicate to each other that they wanted to play. I found that the CHCI chimps often used objects and clothing when initiating play. And so do the Cle Elum Seven! Sometimes it’s Missy pulling on a sock, and sometimes it’s an object that I personally wouldn’t normally think of as a barrel of fun, like a plastic tube.
Pre-play: Jamie adjusting her scarf, holding plastic tubing, Jody lying in straw, Foxie looking at her troll
Beginning play: Foxie takes the end of the tubing
Foxie and Jamie run around for a while, then Missy chases Jamie
During play, the object is often transferred between partners – like keep-away. Missy got the hose from Jamie and climbed up the fire hose
When Missy jumped down, Foxie decided to join in again
A little bit later, another object comes into play – the scarf that Jamie was wearing.
The Cle Elum Seven sure do know how to have fun!
Diana — THANK YOU!!!!!!!! This is SO informative! And, of course, wonderful to see our chimp peeps having fun!
Really interesting, sounds so much like human interactions can be. It’s so great to see the girls interacting, enjoying themselves and each other!
In the last photo, Missy has one set of knuckles on the ground and all of her other three appendages are in the air. Cool! She’s on the move …
It was a good day to play, the sun was warm, the wind at a minimum, big fluffy clouds passing by (followed by big dark clouds that dropped a shower or two). All in all it was a good day and you can tell there are happy chimps at the Sanctuary.
Great information! I love to see them having fun. I also love the 4th picture where J.B. has some company while he watches the play. God, I love these chimps!
Great shots! And Theresa I so agree with you, it was nice to see JB and Foxie watching. I also liked the last pix which showed the troll doll actually out of Foxie’s hands! You go girls!!