In addition to grooming one another, the chimpanzees sometimes enjoy grooming their caregivers. To keep everyone safe, our fingers never penetrate the caging, but the chimps can extend their fingers through the caging and make contact with the backs of our hands (or the bottom of our shoes, as you will see in this video).
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Nice video, Elizabeth! If you’re wondering about Jamie’s mouth movements while grooming, check out my comment on a previous post about grooming, found here: https://chimpsnw.org/?p=1502#comments
Looks like such a sweet quiet moment. What I wouldn’t give to have one of the beautiful CleElum seven groom the back of my hand!
Very nice video. A touching few moments with Jamie grooming you gently. I’m with Carrie..I would give just about anything to have one of the seven groom me!
Great post Elizabeth
I know Jamie is a pretty intense individual, but she is really concentrating on the task at hand (ha). I have a age spot on the back of my hand I would like her to work on.
You must have had the barn doors open as I can hear the wind chimes in the back ground.
How do the chimps indicate they want to groom you?
What a great way to make some money for the sanctuary………even though no visitors are allowed, we can sign up for 1 min. and 30 seconds of Jamie’s gentle hand-grooming!! I know I’d personally pay at least $25.00 for that any day!!
Have they ever allowed themselves to be groomed by humans? Has any human ever tried? I guess they would have to put themselves against the bars to be “scratched.” ?
It would be oh so tempting to allow the chimps more access….but wow, most of us have either seen or heard of how quickly accidents can happen. Watching the video, I thought about how much I’d want to be closer…..but then also obviously understanding the true risk for both chimp and human. We just have to love the chimps from a safe distance for their sake as well as our own.
I’m glad to know the mouth movements are common. Everyone laughs at me when I am concentrating and my mouth and tongue move in harmony to what ever I am attempting. I keep good company!