This morning, while Elizabeth and I were cleaning the playroom, Annie was sitting in the window. She playfully opened her mouth for a “drink of water” through the glass. She’s not the only chimpanzee at CSNW that we have witnessed play this game. We caught a short clip of it:
This reminded me of something I saw, but failed to get on camera a few weeks ago. Jamie was sitting on this small toy horse and scooting along the playroom floor. She then lifted her leg up high and over in an exaggerated dismount. Two things stood out to me- the first was how interesting it is to me that chimps engage in this type of pretend play, and second- how truly little we know about the chimps’ histories. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing when she “dismounted”. We suspect she was a “pet” prior to the lab, but was she raised by a cowboy (hence the boot obsession?), did she just see this on TV?, or was she taught to ride a horse at some point? We may never know, but it was a fascinating moment none the less.
Here’s a photo of the horse, for scale. 🙂
Mainer says
Hello, Reading the story below this video about Jamie and Horses intrigues me. Are the Chimps at CNSW allowed to watch TV as a form of enrichment? I have read this before that some chimps really enjoy watching the tube, maybe pets that remember watching when they young. I wonder if Jamie had seen this somewhere like on TV or had been trained to ride a Horse. You said it, we ma never know. I wonder how she may react to seeing someone ride a horse on TV? Maybe you fear it may bring back bad memories and it is to risky to chance…… Interesting but with thier intellegence who knows?? Love reading and watching the videos. Enjoy watching the chimps that have come from some devistating situations seeing that humans can be kind even though humans have treated them so poorly in the past!
Candy (Tyler, Texas) says
Hello, Mainer, I’ve asked what animals they’ve seen since being at CSNW and Diana mentioned that the “7” have seen horses at CSNW.
Mainer says
Hi Candy, thanks I didnt realize that they had seen horses at CNSW. Very observant animals…..
Jackie says
We do show them movies from time to time, and it’s possible that some of them have horses in them. She may have also seen people riding horses around here.
Mainer says
Hi Jackie, cool, how do the chimps react to watching movies? I bet they enjoy it!
Jackie says
Foxie and Burrito are usually the one’s who seem most interested in watching movies, whereas everyone else is usually ambivalent. Check out https://chimpsnw.org/2010/01/foxie-the-next-lord-of-the-dance/ for a video of Foxie watching “Lord of the Dance”.
Re: the chimps seeing horses- the neighbors on both sides of us have horses, so it is possible Jamie picked up this behavior from watching them.
Margaret and Karen says
How ver y interesting. Jamie is full of surprises. Perhaps these things come from her history….or perhaps it is her very active imagination.
marie cross (uk) says
fascinating theory’s on Jamie , her cowboy boot obsession must have started somewhere , just shows we must never under estimate how clever and what long memories chimps have x
Candy (Tyler, Texas) says
Marie, have you and Peter ever seen the documentary, “Chimpanzees An Unnatural History”? If you haven’t, you should, it’s excellent. My point is in the documentary they reunite a couple of former owners with their chimpanzees and how they remember them, from years ago. The chimpanzees are excited to see their former owners and show nothing but happiness at seeing them.
Denice Mikkelson says
Cindy, I have watched this documentary and I too was surprised the chimps remembered former human friends and was saddened to tears over the sadness of the chimps when those human friends “left” them once again. It is evident they have feelings of joy of being reunited with friends and depression when being torn apart from a family member or friends, just as we do…
I can’t imagine what the CE 7 have been through, the ups and downs of friends and caregivers who cared for them to others who were crule and mean to them. We will never know their whole past but I think it is better to look forward to the life we can give then now and not what was for them. What ever personalities they want to show us at this time makes me smile and say “what amazing individuals”.
Candy (Tyler, Texas) says
Denice, during that moment when their human friend left, I kept saying, “don’t leave, don’t leave”, I saw sadness in the chimps, when he left. I loved the part where the former owner went to visit Toddy, at the Center for Great Apes, and the moment he mentioned “let’s go to Dairy Queen for an ice cream,” she became so excited, loved it. I shed quite a few tears during that documentary, especially at the end. I would love to Allison Argo do a follow-up to this documentary, she had powerful images in this film. I show this film to people to help them understand why I’m so passionate about lab, entertainment and sanctuary chimpanzees and getting them to sanctuary.
Kat Morrell says
I just can’t picture Jamie scooting around on that tiny horse.
Chris says
I too, am saddened beyond words to watch and read some of what so many chimpanzees have been through but also think it’s important for the general public to see these documentaries, etc. It helps them understand and brings awareness of their plight in “our” world, as they have lost their own. The chimpanzees can use all the compassion we humans can give them, along with so many other of our wild friends in the world!
Theresa says
Exactly, Chris! Education is so very important. It’s hard to see the dark side of what people do these wonderful animals but it also incites empathy for them which is so important. People want to help what they come to love and that passion, especially in chimpanzees, helps band us together. As a group we can make a bigger difference in the lives of chimpanzees whether captive or wild.
marie cross (uk) says
thank you so much everyone , we haven’t seen that docu , whether its not been shown in the UK im not sure but i will certainly look into it , it puts me in mind of Lucy the chimp who featured in cfga wauchula woods accord book , she brought my heart and it made me so angry what happened to her
Jackie says
I highly recommend “An Unnatural History”, Marie. Everyone should see it. You can purchase it through the Project R&R website: http://www.releasechimps.org/store/pbs-documentary-chimpanzees-an-unnatural-history.htm
marie cross (uk) says
thank you for the link Jackie x
Kaite says
Marie – NPR/RadioLab did a piece on Lucy which was so profoundly disturbing that I cried for three days. That was the moment that I decided to commit my resources and my attention and my efforts to working for sanctuary for all chimps in captivity. The situation for chimps in captivity (as distinct from sanctuary, of course) is an abomination. There is no other word for it. When the harsh realities of the situation gets to me, I come here and watch these videos, and keep my mind strongly focused on the outcome that we are all working and praying for – healthy, happy, loved and cared for chimps, safe in sanctuary at last. Keeping that focus renews both my commitment and my spirit. That, and celebrating our small victories (like the safety (for now) of the Almorgado chimps, for example.) – This community of caring and dedicated people is a blessing! -K
marie cross (uk) says
Kaite , i know exactly how you felt after learning of Lucy,s plight it did and still does at times give me sleepless nights when i think of her , i love how hyou have expressed that looking at the amazing work thats goes on here at csnw can be quite healing and a ray of hope in going someway to redress the balance of all the horrible things that have happened and still are happening to primates the world over , i sometimes feel i need to come here and other places for the safe reassurance that so much good is happening as well and there are so so many dedicated caring and loving people doing all they can to help xxx
Theresa says
Ladies, you are spot on! Watching the Seven become happy and healthy chimps has given us all strength and hope I think. When it looks hopeless and there are more and more orphans added to sanctuaries around the world I sometimes wonder why I am even trying. Then, I come to the blog and see these happy chimps learning to trust and love after all they have been through and it makes me more determined. We have protested Great Apes in advertising and made a difference. Sometimes it’s only baby steps but if baby steps is what it takes then baby steps is what I will make. Even if we help only one chimp at a time it’s a victory for us. Chimp lovers are the most passionate group of people I have ever known and we ARE a force to be reckoned with!
Julie Harding says
Oh my goodness!…..how I love CSNW and its blog readers! We WILL/ARE doing good things to help chimps out of the entertainment industry and biomedical research! Keep blogging and sharing what we know and learn!!
Gayle says
You just have to get a video of this scooting!!!!! I just have to see this : )
Jackie says
Gayle, I haven’t seen her “riding her horse” since, but if I do, I’ll do my best to catch a video of it! 🙂