Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for August 2009

Play, play, play

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The chimpanzees have been so playful and carefree lately. This morning when JB and I arrived at the chimp house and opened the door to the chimp area, we both stopped short at what we heard. The chimps were chasing each other, tickling each other, and laughing. Loudly. Chimpanzee laughter is not typically loud, but this morning it seemed to fill the space and bounce off the walls.

Here’s a video of Annie and Missy entertaining themselves, as usual, while we cleaned the playroom after breakfast. Even Negra is feeling playful these days; I’ve included a brief clip of her playing a rhythm game with JB.

Play Face Sponsorship

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Thank you, Barbara Lauterbach for being a play face sponsor for the Oct. 2nd Celebrate the Seven auction and helping to put these faces on Foxie and Missy! We need more sponsors – please consider becoming one yourself or having your business sponsor. Check out the benefits here.

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Sweet, sweet Jamie

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I took these photos a couple of weeks ago. When J.B. posted the video of Jamie nesting, I remembered I had them. It’s pretty unusual to see Jamie actually sleeping. She is so active and watchful that I often joke that she never sleeps.

But when the nest calls…

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Nap time

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Most chimpanzees that have been raised by humans have trouble negotiating the chimpanzee social world. Jamie is lucky; she somehow managed to escape a decade in entertainment and two decades in research with a pretty good understanding of how to be a chimpanzee. That understanding, combined with her cleverness and strength, has helped her become the most dominant chimpanzee in her group.

But she has not left behind the human world that she grew up in. Jamie craves human attention. Usually this is positive, such as when she plays or grooms with her caregivers. Other times its negative, like when she “hazes” new volunteers to be sure they know their place. But sometimes she simply wants to be near people. Today, while I played with Foxie, Jamie came down the stairs and into the front rooms with some sheets. She quietly made a nest next to me and fell asleep.