Jody is at least 37 years old (we believe she was captured in Africa, so she’s possibly older than that) and she is best known for her elaborate nests, yoga poses, and just her overall proficient ability to relax. But, Young’s Hill brings about a different side to Jody. She’s much more active and even playful when she’s out there. Chimpanzees in Africa spend about 60% of their day traveling. We obviously can never replace the forests of Africa with a 2-acre enclosure, but it’s really nice to see the amount of exercise the chimps are getting out there! With a workout plan like this one, I can’t wait to see how skinny Jody will be by the end of summer!
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
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Speaking of Jody getting skinnier, I have noticed in many of the videos that Negra is definitely heavier than the others. Is that a result of the previous conditions they were kept in, or part of health issue she has?
I’m also curious about when occasional fights break out. Do they ever become serious enough to cause real harm? And how would the staff handle a situation like that?
Sorry if I ask too many questions, I’m just very curious about the details sometimes. 🙂
Great questions, Angela.
Negra is definitely heavier than the other chimps, which could just be due to genetics but she definitely doesn’t exercise as much as the others. I think her weight fluctuates but if you watch this video, you’ll see that she was much heavier when she first arrived here at the sanctuary: https://chimpsnw.org/2012/02/last-chance-for-sharin-the-love/ Obesity is very common in captive chimps, which is another reason why I am so excited to see Jody getting more exercise and am hopeful that once the weather is good, Negra will be out there getting some exercise too!
The chimps do occasionally fight, though usually it’s not too serious and is more commonly just a screaming match. When a fight breaks out though, the staff quietly observe to watch for possible injuries to look for later. Luckily we haven’t had any severe injuries.
Look at Jody go! Definitely crossfit!!
Interesting about Jody’s age. I often wondered about Negra’s weight also. GO JODY AND NEGRA!
It’s OK for Jody but I don’t think Foxie needs to get any skinnier!!!! It sure is fun to see them out there and good to see Foxie so at ease now. Thanks Jackie.