If you saw the blog from last week about Negra playing a fun tug-o-war game, and yesterday’s blog about her playfulness with Annie and Jamie, it should be of no surprise that Negra was playful again today. It’s really great seeing someone who was taken from her home in Africa to be used in biomedical research—housed in complete solitude for several years—be so playful. And with Annie, no less! Annie and Negra are definitely both coming out of their shells, and it’s a wonderful thing to see.
MS says
It’s amazing to see Negra play so much. And at “Negra speed” that is a frantic play session! 🙂
I think she has had it proven to her that she is in a safe and nurturing place where there won’t be any more darts, biopsies, injections, and solitude. She can now let her guard down and know that her chimpanzee and human friends do love her and will be there for her.
leslie sodaro says
a totally uplifting sight to see: neggie is apparently finding a piece of herself that she lost so long ago. i agree with you MS, she’s at home with her family. thanks all of you at CSNW for helping make neggie’s life so sweet.
Mary Otterness says
I am very happy whenever I see Negra playing!!
Amy G. says
All I can do is echo MS and Leslie except to say how touched and happy I am to see these posts of Neggie playing. She looks relaxed and happy and I thank you for that.
Linda (Portland, OR) says
Ditto to what MS, Leslie & Amy said!! Brings tears to my eyes every time I watch any of them playing.(Happy tears of course!!).
The dictionary’s definition of a hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life for another be it animal or human in nature.
CSNW you are heroes to ALL of us and I thank God for you and what you’ve done for the CE7, every single night!
Marcia Douthwaite says
Truly heartwarming to see these two play so happily. Thanks all.
Does Burrito interact with all the girls or have special buddies?
Debbie says
Burrito grooms with everybody, but he plays mostly with Foxie. No surprise, there—Foxie is pretty playful!
Candy (Tyler, TX) says
Leslie, I loved what you said “about the missing piece”, it’s so true. I’ll tell you this, the moment Negra does a Foxie pirouette I’ll have to be revived with smelling salts.
leslie sodaro says
we all will!
Chris says
So wonderful to see her play like this! I was heartbroken to hear that she had to endure yrs. of isolation. 🙁 I’m wondering…do any of the chimps former caregivers…if that’s what you could call people that were responsible for their care in the labs…ever contact CSNW to inquire how they are doing or are they even aware of the chimps whereabouts?
I too am thank-ful everyday for what you have done for the beautiful SEVEN and have hope that more of their brothers and sisters can be saved!
Debbie says
Great question, Chris. Yes we’ve heard from a former caregiver and we know that a few follow the blog and are interested in how the chimpanzees are doing now. Perhaps there are others out there that we’re not aware of who also follow along.
There’s a group for former laboratory primate caregivers who are experiencing the negative impact of what they’ve witnessed and participated in, called LPAG.
Sara Lissabet, Fairfax says
It seems as if there’s been a more noticeable modification of behaviors since the opening of the Hill. Have you noticed different relationships and behaviors since the Hill that you can attribute to that change in their environment?
Debbie says
Sara, that’s an interesting question. I think that we’re seeing aspects of the chimps’ relationships that perhaps we hadn’t seen before—but I’m not sure if these are new relationships, or ones that have always been there we just hadn’t seen them as much. For instance, we have always known that Missy and Annie are best friends, and Foxie and Jamie play a lot with each other, but in the first few weeks of Young’s Hill we noticed different combinations of friends helping each other out. Missy helped encourage Foxie to be more brave and venture out with her. Annie and Jody have spent a lot of time together on the hill. I think we will continue to see just how good of friends they all are with each other as time goes on.