We know a lot of the people who regularly read this blog also support other great ape sanctuaries and zoos. And we know you all really enjoy seeing the Cle Elum Seven enriched, so we are seeking your ideas, perhaps things you’ve seen at other facilities, for what we have been calling “enhanced enrichment” – enrichment that creates a challenge and encourages exercise and/or tool use. Jackie put together a great video yesterday (see at end of post) that shows a few of the things that we do already.
Below is a photo of our enrichment calendar. We have themes for our regular enrichment (toys and such put out after cleaning in the morning) and projects for enhanced enrichment (usually set up in the evenings after dinner). The scheduled enhanced enrichment all began with a desire to consistently keep smart Jamie from getting bored. As you’ll see from the video, all of the chimpanzees can appreciate a challenge. Free-living chimpanzees spend hours each day traveling, looking for and acquiring food, so presenting food puzzles is a good way to keep those innate parts of their brains exercised.
lovely video ! thank you Jackie ! enrichment is one the best gifts we as humans can offer the chimps x i did wonder have you tried those heavy duty rubber Kong dog toys ? these go down really well at monkey world here in the UK , stuffed with treats then blocked with carrots or parsnip the chimps have to then work to get the treats out
We have given chimps kong toys. Someone sent us some really cool square ones that are great. We could use some more kongs for the chimps. Here’s Missy in action with one of the square ones: https://chimpsnw.org/2010/08/missy-and-the-kong-toy/
I know they like to open wrapped boxes and you may have done this and I just don’t know, but have you tried multiple boxes (maybe 4 or so) and when they open the 1st wrapped box they’ll find a 2nd smaller wrapped box and then a 3rd, 4th, etc. and when they get to the smallest box there will be something they absolutely LOVE inside. (Maybe just a light smear of peanut butter on each box just to make them want to open each box and when they get to the last box something yummy that they don’t get all the time.
Just thinking out loud……………….
This is a great idea. I don’t think we’ve done this yet. Maybe we’ll try a few at x-mas!
I keep saying — let Jamie take over maintenance around the Sanctuary. It would lighten JB’s workload and keep her busy for at least a few minutes… 😉
http://wkprc.eva.mpg.de/english/files/enrichment.htm
I found this site surfing for enrichment ideas. Have a look!
Theresa, I’ve been site surfing too and I think that all the chimpanzee sanctuaries and zoos should consolidate all their enrichment ideas into one location or organization.
Here’s the right link for Primate Enrichment- http://www.facebook.com/primateenrichment
I just posted the link you shared back in Nov. for the Gorilla enrichment tree
I know someone who is working on this and we hope to help by providing photos and video of the enrichment ideas in action. We’ll keep you posted!
that is such a great idea 🙂
Have you ever seen chimps operate wing? i’m thinking some kind of box with 5 sides and an open bottom, a bolt through the whole thing to a large wing nut holds a bottom inset, and obviously food inside, that way they have to undo the nut to get to the food.
*wing nut* lol, editing gone wrong.
Wow! Great ideas everyone! Keep ’em coming! 🙂
This is a cool enrichment tree {made for gorillas } https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_nlHNFTYqc&feature=player_embedded
how’s about for fun and exersise take some of those heavier plastic barrels upside down some w/ food treats undreneath and a favorite chimp specific toy or object also and other containers /with a scent of the food not the food itself[ i ‘m sorry i don’t know what their sense of smells are !] with a token consolation prize if you will ha ha . and maybe on the containers themselves you could put big visuals like burritos picture all over the barrel with his favorite pomagranites see if they go to their own barrel or just haul but for randoms!! hee he he also maybe mirrors on outside as tempoary distraction or not!!!!! or shiny bright foil tops or chimp specific things [missy’s socks], negras night bags foxies trolls heavily or cleverly attached to containers outside[ boy this is sounding labor intensive for u -guys ha ha] too see if they realize each container is different and designed special. also could put obstacles near and around perhaps encourage team effort to get to and int them. or theres always the good old fashioned obstacle course challenge!! just thinkin MERRY CHRISTMAS PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO CHIMPS AND ALL!!! i would love to come and volunteer i love you all and i have more time than money and would love to help your and our cause leslie garnesss chicago , illinois