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Reassurance

September 23, 2011 by J.B.

As I mentioned earlier, we’ve been putting forages out on the hill to encourage the chimps to go out. Negra will do anything for lettuce, so we’ve been using trails of lettuce leaves to lead her across the log bridge to the lowest platform. Tonight she climbed to the top of the platform for what I think was the first time.

On her way back she heard something that startled her. Determined to stay with her lettuce, she sought reassurance from a caregiver from afar, and then from Jamie who approached from below.

Negra amazes me. Imagine the courage that it takes to venture out into the wide open after living 35+ years in cages scarcely bigger than your own body. I am thrilled to see her on that hill.

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Chimpanzee BehaviorNegraYoung's Hill

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Comments

  1. Teresa in TN says

    September 23, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    awww, I’m so glad Jamie came and reassured her. I love Negra 🙂

  2. Marcia Douthwaite says

    September 23, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Thank you so much for all of the updates. Amidst all of the changes, they still are kind to each other. All of these stories are so sweet–wonderful to see them outside and hopefully Jody will join them when she is ready.

  3. Ryan says

    September 23, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    Does a caretaker have to stay outside and watch them/ be there for encouragement?

    • J.B. says

      September 28, 2011 at 8:29 am

      We don’t need to be there for encouragement, necessarily, but we do have staff outside at all times observing the chimps on the hill for security reasons and to see how the chimps are reacting to the new environment.

  4. Linda Butcher - Tacoma, Wa. says

    September 23, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    This is all just fascinating. Thank you for the editorial comments on what transpires on these new adventures for them. It’s so amazing :~)

  5. marie cross (uk) says

    September 24, 2011 at 1:42 am

    lovely info thank you xxx

  6. leslie sodaro says

    September 24, 2011 at 8:24 am

    love these pictures of neggy and her friend … made my heart sing … neggy and the others are NOT alone anymore …

  7. Kathy B says

    September 24, 2011 at 8:52 am

    It is so wonderful to see them outside, and helping each other through this new change in their lives.

  8. Ritamo says

    September 24, 2011 at 10:09 am

    What are friends for if not to lean on when you need comfort and assurance? Negra is a lucky girl. Love the pics and updates!!

  9. Jeani Goodrich says

    September 24, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Thanks again for the wonderful updates. It is such a thrill to see Negra out there. With the caregiver so far away, does the reassurance work at all from you?

    • J.B. says

      September 28, 2011 at 8:19 am

      Yes, Negra will often extend an arm towards a caregiver for reassurance, and she does seem to respond positively to a head nod or similar gesture from us, even from afar. We are happy to reassure her in a situation like this, however, we are careful not to inject ourselves into a conflict within the group. If a chimpanzees asks for reassurance during a fight, we must not respond, otherwise we may unwittingly alter the dynamics of the conflict. In those situations, the chimps have to work things out for themselves without our involvement.

  10. Sara Lissabet says

    September 24, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I love the expression you caught in profile on Negra’s face in the first photo. I too am surprised by her willingness to venture out. I would have thought from her behavior these past few years she would have been one the last ones to venture out.

    Speaking of being startled, what wild animals live there that they might see around the enclosure? Large birds? Mice and chipmunks? Any deer? Have any of them had any kind of encounter with another animal during their time at the sanctuary?

    • J.B. says

      September 28, 2011 at 8:24 am

      The chimps will be able to see many birds, including red-tailed hawks and bald eagles. There is a large group of deer that lives on the property, numbering as many as 13 individuals in the fall. Our neighbors horses can get to within 100 feet of the enclosure, and I swear I have never seen such a puzzled group of horses as I did the day the chimps were let out onto the hill. They probably thought they were hallucinating.

      Very small animals are able to get into the enclosure (with the exception of snakes, we hope). I saw Missy and Jamie run after a squirrel the other day, and they chased it for about 300 feet. Going uphill, the squirrel was much faster. There should be mice out there as well.

  11. Candy (Tyler, TX) says

    September 25, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I loved the fact that Negra sought reassurance, from a caregiver, shows that the caregiver is part of the troop. Did Negra touch her hand or give her a hug? Does Jamie even hug, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a picture of her hugging another chimp.

    • J.B. says

      September 28, 2011 at 8:25 am

      I have seen Jamie hug other chimps, but I can’t remember if there was any physical contact between Jamie and Negra after these photos were taken.

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