We love sharing stories with all of you about the chimpanzees’ daily experiences at the sanctuary. This pleasure is all the greater when we have something particularly exciting or momentous to share, as we do today.
Our frequent blog readers are familiar with the saga of Foxie’s nesting behavior. When Foxie came to CSNW, she wanted very little to do with any enrichment. Blankets, in particular, seemed almost offensive to her. If a blanket occupied the space where she wanted to rest, she would often flick it aside before sitting down. While some of the other chimps were making giant, cushy nests out of dozens of blankets, Foxie would build a “phantom nest”, showing ritualized nesting behaviors but using very little actual nesting material. She’s made slow and steady progress: she’ll incorporate the occasional toy or fire hose into her “nest”, and once or twice we’ve caught her with her head resting on the very edge of a blanket. But overall, she’s remained pretty steadfast in her distaste for blankets (or anything soft, it seems). Here’s a review of past blog posts that have highlighted Foxie’s nesting progress:
April 13, 2009
May 15, 2009
June 2, 2009
June 6, 2009
December 2, 2009
January 23, 2010
February 3, 2010
December 24, 2010
Considering all this, she surprised and delighted us all the other day when she went full steam ahead and built her first big, multi-blanket nest.
OK, this had to have brought a tear to your eye. It did for me just watching the video.
(Although I did laugh to see her yank the blankets through. Definitely a “Hey, gimme that!”)
Denice says:
April 13, 2009 at 2:10 pm
OH……. Foxie, I’m so proud of you and I know that some day you will build a very large nest to sleep and rest in.
And Jamie, I’m also proud of you for accepting a substitute, I know that must have been hard for you.
I knew this day would come and that we humans just needed to be patient. I consider myself pretty stoic but when Foxie put the blanket over her head I lost it. This is a true testament to the sanctuary and all involved that these beings can recover from decades of abuse. Job well done to all.
She was so excited with each blanket! This just makes your heart sing to see and yes, brings tears to your eyes. Next step, one to lay on! Atta girl, Foxie!
oh my laughing and crying at the same time here ! loved the blanket dragging through the mesh and the excited clapping , such a proud day well done foxie !
I loved it. thank you for sharing this with us. she was so excited to get each blanket. She will one day actually lay on top of the blankets.. today her head and shoulders and maybe tomorrow she will lay her whole body on the blankets. Such accomplishment for her. I love them all and all of the workers that work with these chimps.
My heart is bursting! To see her clap each time as if to say, Another blanket please, was hysterical. I am so touched to see her finally relaxed enough to let herself touch a pile of softness. Thank you for sharing this with us. Way to go Foxie!
I loved seeing her with her Little Mermaid doll…all snug in her nest.
The Little Mermaid doll is her latest obsession. She hasn’t parted with it for days. 🙂
That definitely made me cry. And she was so intent grabbing each blanket – so funny. How wonderful that she is feeling safe enough to allow herself a comfy nest. Thank you so much for sharing that.
This is so heartwarming! Just think of all cushy nests in her future. 🙂 Her own approval at having a nest (I assume that’s what the clapping signals) – it’s sort of like something just clicked for her.
“Oh. Oooh!! Hey – something new is ok!”
It’s fabulous that you caught this on video!
The clapping is actually part of what we call her “phantom nesting” behavior, as seen here: https://chimpsnw.org/2010/01/phantom-nesting/
What a great nest! It looks so soft. I wouldn’t mind having a snooze in that. 🙂
Ahhhhhhh, what joy to see friend so happy. Just curious, can the blankets be washed and used over and over? The colors were so delilghtful. Cant wait for the Valentine Day Show.
Yes, the blankets are collected and washed everyday and clean blankets are given to the chimps everyday. Doing the laundry is a large part of the staff and volunteers day. The washer and dryer are running 8 hours a day 7 days a weeks 365 days a year.
What a wonderful wonderful event! We am SO happy for Foxie. How wonderful that she is using real chimpanzee behaviors. Congratulations dear Foxie. There are only more good things to come! 2011 is a breakthrough year. Who knows, maybe sometime in the summer we will see Foxie take a blanket out on to Young’s Hill.
I (Margaret) am thinking February 2 should be another Cle Elum Seven holiday! The day FOxie made her first nest. Certainly something to celebrate. 🙂
aw lovely idea !
Yea for Foxie! May the future bring her plenty of warm, soft blankets.
Oh happy day!!! Perhaps the little mermaid reminds her of one of her favorite caregivers. Who do we know with beautiful red hair? 😉
Oh my, yes the tears of happiness did flow! It was just over a year ago that I wrote that one day Foxie would surprise us and the day has arrived!!!! What a day to celebrate. Yes, Margaret and Karen I agree Feb 2nd should be a day of celebration from now on. Thank you for sharing this wonderful moment. I can only imagine what it felt like to be there in person.
Great to see! I’m so glad! What a great video.