If you were on Facebook this morning, you might have noticed that I posted a link to the video from the chimps’ first day out on Young’s Hill—exactly one year ago today! I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by—I remember that day like it was yesterday. A lot has happened in the last year and we’ve seen so many changes in the chimps. Burrito hasn’t been the most confident in the open air but he is going farther and farther. Missy is a fearless running machine. Annie has gotten to walk through grass that she hadn’t seen since her infancy in Africa. Jody and Foxie were both hesitant in the beginning but will now spend hours exploring the hill. Jamie never showed any hesitation to exploring every inch of the hill, and protecting it from intruders (deer on the other side of the fence). Negra still doesn’t spend too much extended time out there, but she goes out most days first thing and soaks in some sun before heading back in to her favorite spot in the greenhouse or inside the playroom. Today, she was the first one out when I opened the door! She quickly grabbed some forage and went back in before I started filming, so I don’t have any Negra footage, but I caught shots of all the others enjoying their anniversary forage.
I can’t wait to see what changes and growth this next year will bring. Any ideas?
Happy Young’s Hill Anniversary to the Cle Elum 7.
I’m so proud of all the chimps for the progress they have made in the ongoing recovery from the trauma of their past.
May they continue to grow and flourish in life as we all watch and support them with enthusiasm.
It has been quite a year, I’ll never forget tat first day though. They all look confident and happy with their enclosure and Negra must be content to do it in her time and way. Thank you all for giving them this great gift of the outdoors.
Love it! What a perfect day for them to be out and have a forage – too bad we did not see Negra so will look for her next time.
Thanks for sharing with us.
I was just wondering, why the chimpanzees get frozen fruit instead of the normal version. Has it something to do with hygiene or do chimpanzees prefer them that way?
The chimps get fresh fruit and veggies most of the time, in fact that makes up almost all of their diet. Sometimes they get prepared meals like rice or farina, and they also get forages that include nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. They also have a daily fruit smoothie that include protein powder. But primarily, they eat fresh produce. Frozen produce is a treat for them, I think because it is a little bit different and because it’s harder to eat so they savor it more? I am completely projecting, but I do know that they really love frozen fruit, especially whole frozen fruit! They food squeak (really happy food noise) every time we put out a whole frozen fruit forage.
Who wouldn’t like a banana popsicle? I guess I’m projecting too but I think it must be a treat, like how most (all?) of us would rather each a dish of ice cream than drink a dish of milk 🙂
I guess this is rather typical for the United States. I come from Germany and here people sometimes eat ice-cream in the summer but rarely or never frozen fruit. When I was on holiday in the U.S. one time , I also observed, that people put ice cubicles in their drinks, sodas, teas, even when it is not very hot. I would have a sore throat all the time, if I did this…
Thanks for the answer. It is strange that chimpanzees love frozen things, considering the fact that they come from regions that have no snow or ice, but sometimes reality is different from what one supposes…
I’m still amazed to see them out in the open – wow, has it been one year already?
Changes and growth….hmmm…..would there ever be the opportunity for them to spend the night outside? Build a blanket nest in the hammock or under the stars?
I’d still love to see a tree with big branches…I know that would take longer than a year….how about fresh blueberry or raspberry forages from fruit bushes within the Hill boundaries?