Annie didn’t go outside at all yesterday, but she must have been psyching herself up all night because this morning she was ready to bolt out the door. She made her way up the log bridge to one of the lower climbing structures and climbed to the top. After a few minutes of bravery, she was ready to head back to the comfort and safety of the greenhouse. That may have been enough for one day.
Missy has been a good friend these last few days. She is completely at ease on the hill, but she often waits by the end of the tunnel for Annie to join her before she heads out, knowing that Annie needs someone to rely on. But Missy is not going to deprive herself of enjoying Young’s Hill, so if Annie won’t join her, she heads out on her own.
This morning, Missy was by herself on one of the structures at the top of the hill. Back down in the playroom, there was a moment of tension in the group and Annie let out an anxious scream. According to Jackie, Debbie, and Lisa, Missy heard the scream and immediately ran full speed down the hill to the building and into Annie arms.
How beautiful to see such reliable friendship.
That is so sweet. There’s nothing better than a best friend. Can’t wait to see them hugging out on the hill!
The fact that she is now able to “run full speed down the hill” makes my heart sparkle.
Those sweet friends–Missy knew just what Annie needed and the photos are so heart warming. Thank you for this update, JB!! Friends forever more.
I have been surprised and I don’t know why, but the chimps have been very kind to each other, with lots of hugs and reasurance abound all around. It is good to know that Annie went out even for a very breif time today and things went well for her. I can just hear her montra last night. “I’m going out tomorrow, I’m going out tomorrow……………”
I just love checking the blog several times a day! What wonderfully good friends and such a fantastic visual of Annie and Missy hugging.
Yes, Denice, I hear the montra too, It is so Annie.
Thanks for the double blog and keeping us up to date everyone. 🙂
My thoughts, exactly, Jeani!!!
awww, poor Annie, why did she scream? Thats so great that Missy ran back to comfort her
The log bridge has been an excellent idea.
Not so much to avoid touching the terrain but because it gives a reliable reference path to the hill and, most importantly, back inside. What’s most scary about the hill is not being outside or the unfamiliar environment, the scariest part IMO is how big it is and the possibility of getting lost alone out there.
Not having walls is nice, but for the first days the boundlessness also feels like scary lack of reference points.
I know it’s not a real danger at all, but for some of the chimps it will take a while to get to the same conclusion.
Another good idea are the climbing structures, because they are familiar and reassuring islands.
I guess they all exited the first day just because the others were going outside and even the less adventurous of them just followed the group without overthinking it. Then later in the day, when they fully realized what they did, they may have freaked themselves out, imagining how potentially dangerous the whole thing could be. That could be why some of the girls stayed inside the second day.
Maybe they even had nightmares about it the first night.
Obviously don’t take any of this as criticism of your work, quite the opposite I think that you’re doing a wonderful job and I’m very grateful for it.
Did any of the chimps try to touch the fence to check if it’s actually electrified?
Did you notice less propensity to stay outside when it’s windy? I imagine the wind could be extremely unnerving the first few days, because it’s a constant reminder of the huge emptiness all around them.
Negra touched the fence multiple times on the first day. She had a difficult time figuring it out but she understands now. Annie touched it once…she wanted to fetch a watermelon that had rolled close to the wire. She knew that it was dangerous but decided to go for it anyway and accidentally got too close.
We have not had much wind lately, but that is a rarity in Cle Elum so we will find out soon enough how they react. Colder weather is blowing in this weekend too.
I am reminded now on the first day how Missy “helped” Negra explore the hill. Missy would walk ahead of Negra and turn and reasure Negra that it was alright to continue. Negra would follow Missy for a couple of feet and stop and wait for Missy to turn around and give more comfort for Negra to move forward again.
Also, after Negra had a hard time learning about the fence she went inside to her spot in front of a window to just take some time to her self. I noticed Missy with a hand full of food going back inside, after a few minutes I did see Negra enjoying some of the same foods that Missy had brought inside, I can only surmise Negra got the food because Missy gave it to her.
How do/will you get the chimps to come inside for the night?
At this point it isn’t a problem. The chimps are tired at the end of the day, and when they bed down for the night, they want to do it in a place that is safe and familiar. So we just shut the door after they are already inside. In the future, as they get more comfortable out there, we may have to serve dinner inside the building to entice them back in.
Missy’s a sweet gal, I’m touched by these stories of her looking after Annie and Negra.