This is what greeted me when I arrived at the chimp house this morning:
For at least ten minutes, her concentration was so acute that she couldn’t be distracted. Jamie is so busy these days that it’s almost impossible to imagine how she occupied her time during her decades in laboratories with nothing to play with or explore. What a different world this must be for her!
They should have put the “researchers” in a cage and let Jamie study THEM!
That’s our girl!! What was she actually sweeping?? Looks like flour, sugar??
Reminds of a Tibetan sand painting, art produced and destroyed. She did pick hair off herself in a pattern in another life in PA. How much more interesting and healthier life is now!
Linda, it was sand that she was sweeping. Later that morning, at breakfast I “happened” to drop a half of a peach in the human area just out of her reach. She was able to “fish” it towards her and finally after about 20 minutes she had her prize of an extra peach serving. She loves a good project to work on.
From Karen: Jamie, ever the artist! I loved watching her make an change patterns. She is so talented and dear. Yes, if only she could have had the freedom to express her creativity in the natural life she was entitled to within a chimp community living in freedom where she belonged. How previledged I feel to see all of them and at the same time it fills me with sadness.
My god…there are no words….
Thank you for filling her life with the enrichment she deserves.
what a busy productive girl xxx
I am fascinated by the intensity of her focus, and the apparent clarity Jamie has about what this one step is about. Did she go on to tie this step to another? Getting the sand into the dustpan lying nearby? Getting the sand to any other location? Leaving it, finally, in one pile instead of strewn around? Or did she eventually just tire of the process and move on to something else?
Anna – great questions! Unfortunately, I don’t have any answers for you, as I eventually had to tear myself away from watching Jamie to go start my morning chores. 🙂