Chimpanzees are weird. I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course. But there are days when this job borders on surreal.
As many of you know, Jamie has a very strong personality and when she wants something she has no problem letting us know. Usually she just wants a pair of cowboy boots and we are happy to oblige. But for the last couple of months, Jamie’s demands were incessant and we could not figure out what she was asking for.
We tried all of the usual things…boots, a drink from the hose, a magazine to flip through, more boots…to no avail. We’d bring out entire bins full of enrichment and take each piece out one at a time looking for signs of interest, but our efforts only made her more frustrated. As caregivers, we felt like failures.
Somehow we stumbled upon the answer. And when I tell you what it was, you’ll see why we had so much trouble figuring it out.
She wants us to wear cowboy boots.
And walk with her.
All the way around Young’s Hill.
Two to three times.
And when we get back, she wants us to give her the boots off our feet.
The primate behavior textbooks we read in school did not prepare us for this.
Chimpanzees are incredibly intelligent and they have strong individual preferences. Add to this mix a childhood in the unnatural environment of the lab, circus, or human home and you end up in a strange place. All chimpanzee caregivers will tell you of a chimpanzee they know with an odd predilection – the chimp that demands that the TV be turned on when Oprah comes on at 3pm or the chimp that will only drink a specific brand of tea. Chimps that like Halloween masks or particular types of hats or Sponge Bob Square Pants pillows.
When you think about it, this strangeness is a window into a complex, creative mind that is caught between two worlds. Biologically, they’re all chimpanzee, but mentally and culturally, they’re not quite chimpanzee and not quite human. We do what we can to bring the “chimpanzeeness” out of them, but at the same time we can’t deny their histories. So we dance for Negra. And we run around with troll dolls in our pockets for Foxie. And now, we run laps around the enclosure in the ugliest boots you have ever seen.
Don’t judge me:
Off we go:
You would assume that Jamie has fun doing this, but there’s no smiling or laughing. It’s all business:
Once and a while she glances over at us or, more specifically, the boots:
Once we get back, the boot is given back to its rightful owner and the game is finished…for a little while, at least:
Absolutely hilarious! You are too good to all of them. They are lucky to have you there!
OMGosh, that’s hilarious! HOW did you ever figure THAT out?! LOL! So glad you did, though. Thank you so much for telling us the story…have you ever thought about writing a book? That was VERY interesting reading written very well!
What a GREAT read! Of course this is ALL BUSNIESS for Our Bossy Girl. This is a BIG DEAL for her, and I think it is awesome you Guys figured it out … you make a good point as well. They ARE Chimps, but the history of where they have been & what happened to them plays a huge role in their behaviors. Thank YOU GUYS for giving them Sanctuary whee they CAN be as much Chimp as possible. Thank God for the Sanctuary!
This truly is another example of how alpha and intelligent Jamie really is….to the point of bossing her caregivers around too and making sure they comply with her wishes…or demands, I should say! How did you ever figure out that this is what she wanted?? And I love that you all do as they say! 🙂 J.B. what do you mean ugly boots?….I bet you look pretty dapper in those! 🙂
Amazing. This is one of the reasons I support this particular sanctuary, you are able to focus on these specific seven animals and give them all they need to at least live the best life they will have.
What a great laugh that was!! Gonna get a laugh headache for sure!
Thanks to the caregivers for being so accommodating!!
Knowing now that the chimps want you all to wear the boots, you better let us know what size boots each of you wear so we can keep an eye out at the local boot barns!! 🙂
There may be a deeper symbolism here. Maybe Jamie wishes she could “walk a mile in your shoes,” have the freedom and control of the world outside her enclosure that you do. So she is making you take something of hers (objects that symbolize her individuality) out into your world, where she can exert her will through you, then return them to her. Jamie should probably be running for mayor somewhere.
LidaRose — brilliant! It sounds just like Jamie.
I think she just likes to smell your feet.
I so appreciate your posts and stories. Very entertaining and educational. You definitely have your work cut out with that girl!
Now, the set of boots she’s holding in that photo….those are the ones I want to see you in, with your pants tucked inside 🙂
Thank you for posting this!! I love that you will do this for Jamie and all the rest. I love that you tie it back to their truly unique situation (Chimp/not quite human culture). They are blessed to have you all creating a culture that is unique to their needs. Keep these posts coming!
how do we get boots to you? i have some of my hubby’s old cowboy boots that i would love to give jamie – mail i guess? i’m in mukilteo.
Joan, I live in Seattle and volunteer at the sanctuary approx once a week. I’m happy to meet you someplace in between the two of us -eg., Lynnwood — and pick up boots from you to deliver to Jamie. Feel free to email me: patti.sims15@gmail.com.
Thanks Joan and Patti! For anyone else that would like to donate boots to Jamie, we can accept in-kind donations via USPS at PO Box 952, Cle Elum, WA 98922 or via UPS and FedEx at 25351 Highway 10, Cle Elum, WA.
Used boots are best, because they tend to get destroyed fairly quickly and we don’t want to be too wasteful. Also, we have to be very careful about the stuff we give to the chimps for their health and safety, so if you’re going to donate items please have a look at our guidelines. This will help ensure that your gift can be used:
http://www.chimpsnw.org/you_can_help/wish_list/guidelines/
my husband’s old cowboy boots have stories to smell… looking forward to getting them to jamie thru patti! thank you all at the sanctuary for all that you do – we really appreciate you!
Loved the information and story, not to mention all the photos. That Jamieis a real pickle. Surely you have your work cut out with her. I so love when she puts the boots on her own feet. By the way J.B… those boots aren’t all that bad..lol
Funny and very interesting. Now I have a picture in my head of the chimps watching Oprah and drinking tea. They are certainly full of fun surprises. I can’t remember which one it is but I love how one of the ladies likes to take notes. I wish I could send paper for them to write or draw on. Maybe we could buy some of their work. 🙂
A GREAT story. For me, the first picture drives the point home for me: they come so close to looking and being human but not exactly.
Perhaps Jamie wants to know what the boots smell and feel like after they’ve walked around in freedom outside the fence?
I think she is just loving that you will be so goofy on demand. I picture a little balloon over her head that says Humans are so weird.
I think Diana may be initiator of this. Didn’t she blog a while back about coming back from something where she was wearing her own nice boots and went to visit the chimps upon her return (before changing) ? and I THINK she then ran around Young’s Hill with Jamie. That may have sparked this.
In the last picture Jamie appears to be smiling and recounting the whole production in her head and most likely saying “and THAT’S how you get “them” to do things, muahahaha”. She’s a GENIOUS!
I also really enjoy the the tone each caregiver sets when telling us about the chimps day. I almost don’t have to look and see who actually writes each post, just by the written personality. JB is a dead giveaway
Y’all have the most insightful and awesome posts! Yes, chimps are weird! Luckily for them, so too are the people who work for them.
Thanks again for the wonderful posts and keep them coming.
Christine
Well, now that we’re on the subject of if the shoe (or boot) fits, wear it, and confessions of having in fact done so :), I want to add my own weird thought. Why couldn’t we take up a collection to get Jamie her own pair of custom chimp foot cowboy boots?? Assuming there is somewhere in all this world a cobbler who would tackle such a project — but would it not be beyond thrilling for her to have her shoe fetish fulfilled at last! Jamie would be in Paradise I think.
Hi Dawn: Great minds think alike: https://chimpsnw.org/2011/05/these_boots_wre_made_for_walkin/
I believe that Vegan Wares is going to making another pair for Jamie sometime soon.