I can’t imagine Foxie without dolls. She is almost never without one, and they obviously bring her a lot of comfort and happiness. What many people may not realize is that dolls can also be an outlet for Foxie’s frustration.
In the past, Foxie has “adopted” troll dolls, Dora the Explorer dolls, Bratz dolls, and some Madame Alexander Happy Meal figurines. But most other dolls tend to get ripped to shreds immediately, especially stuffed primate dolls. And even her beloved trolls and Doras are not always treated with care.
I think it’s easy to read too much into her behavior, but some things scream out for interpretation. Clearly, Foxie shows some displaced maternal behavior with her trolls and Doras. She had five babies in the lab, and all were taken from her. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that she enjoys getting a chance to care for her dolls in a way that she never did with her real children. But most of the other female chimps at CSNW had children in the lab too, and they don’t show the interest in dolls that Foxie does. Maybe Foxie just has a more active imagination.
We’ll never really know how Foxie feels about her dolls. In school, we learned about chimpanzee behavior, but this is more like psychoanalysis. At some point, most chimpanzee caregivers stop trying to explain every detail of behavior in the chimps they care for and just accept what they see. Foxie loves her troll dolls. She also beats them up from time to time. That’s the Foxie we know and love.
Such a thoughtful post. LOL Foxie did not care much for the last doll on the video.
Sometimes dolls need to be disciplined 🙂 I love Foxie. It makes me sad she never had the opportunity to mother her babies. I wonder if it was traumatic having her newly born baby taken from her… FIVE TIMES! I’m glad she has the comfort of her dolls, no matter the reason she loves and takes care of them.
Do you see any patterns in the way Foxie treats dolls like young chimps and the ones that get “disciplined?” I noticed that the latter ones are non-troll/Dora dolls and a bit bigger.
Foxie does seem to prefer dolls that have infant or juvenile characteristics (big eyes, big ears, big heads, etc. relative to body size). But a friend from another sanctuary gave her a stuffed baby chimp and she killed it immediately. So it seems she likes dolls that are young-looking and chimp-like but not too chimp-like.
With regard to size, she has some troll dolls that are only about an inch tall and others that are two or three feet tall.
I wonder if it has to do with the fact that in the lab maybe it was the men who were mean or hurtful to her. She doesn’t really like that boy doll at all. Love when she’s spinning around on it!
Yea, might be something there as that doll looked like it was a male dressed in doctor garb – only thing missing is the white lab coat. Very interesting….hoe many years of hurt by figures like this…20-30? Yea. Makes sense.
Great post J.B.!
Every man sometimes needs to have a good woman standing on their stomach and decapitating them!
Keeps them in line!!
Will never tire of watching Foxie and “her dolls”.
I had the same thoughts as Michelle!
Seems like she has some negative feelings towards that male doll. Acting out against it must give her a release from them so she can feel safe. Keep spinning, Foxie!
Has Foxie ever had a life-size chimp baby doll?
Yes, a few years ago and it wasn’t received well – see my reply to Benjamin above
I first watched this video on my iPhone last night and was screaming with laughter!! Foxie has such style when she torments the last doll! There is one video from a while ago in which Foxie received a new doll and seemed mesmerized by it, holding it and gently examining it.
I especially like the part where she is break dancing on the doll, then plays bouncy ball with it decapitated head. Awesome video!
I don’t blame Foxie at all with that last one – that was one freaky looking dude doll…..
I like the way she enlisted the help of a little troll doll to pound on the larger dude for a minute at the end.
If there’s any fact to Michelle’s theory, it’s a good thing caregivers aren’t allowed in the enclosures with the chimps……right J.B? I’d hate to see her sit and spin on you! 🙂
I had to laugh at Lynn’s comment…I was thinking the same thing myself!! Right on Foxie….there’s just something wrong with dude dolls…especially freaky looking ones! I always thought that about Ken too!!
The best part about this is that because of your dedication and love., Foxie (and the gang) has been given a life of choices. Bravo CSNW team!
I guess we humans are always trying to project our feelings on others whether they be animals or humans. Whatever the reasons Foxie finally can do what she wants without any fear of punishment and that’s what’s important. The best Chirstmas gift she can receive!
Wow, JB. great video! I loved what you said about just sitting back and enjoying without trying to explain every detail of what they might be thinking. The first thing that popped into my head you commented back on about the boy doll looking more grown-up than the other dolls. But I guess we will never know! And that is OK!!!