We often mention on the blog the changes that we observe in the chimpanzees and how we’ve seen them grow over the past five and a half years. There’s no doubt that they are still coming into their own, after living the majority of their lives in lab cages and having no control over their choices and no ability to predict what could happen next.
One of the tragic things about captivity is that the chimps are entirely dependent on us caregivers—we provide food, blankets, enrichment, and we shift the doors between their enclosures. For this reason, it is very important to have a routine so that the chimpanzees can have expectations, and can make decisions based on what they know will happen next. This is what is truly the epitome of being in a sanctuary.
Through these choices, we really see the chimpanzees develop their idiosyncratic likes and dislikes, and we see them grow and change over time. Foxie used to only want to play with trolls, and then some time ago she expanded to nurturing Dora dolls (though she still loves trolls). Jamie has a extreme love for boots, but recently it’s been more fashion boots that she prefers over cowgirl boots (her old favorite). Missy loves socks and slinkys, Burrito loves to have wooden toys to bite on, Annie loves to rub water on her face, Jody likes edible flowers and soapy bubbles, and Negra likes peanuts and nesting.
Having choices has allowed the chimps to relax, enjoy the sunshine, friends, good food, and space to run—and that has made them so much healthier and stronger than they ever were in the lab. See for yourself, check out the before and after photos of each of the chimps on their story pages here.
Although we see so many wonderful changes in the chimpanzees due to all the choice they have now, there are some things that never change. I was looking back through some old blog posts from this time in 2008, before the chimpanzees arrived. Diana’s first impressions of the chimps were spot-on and still six years later, they enjoy the same things she predicted they would when they came to CSNW. She talked about Jamie and choices, Negra and nesting, and Missy and Annie’s close friendship and their desire to play, play, play. These are things that the chimpanzees love to do everyday, but unlike in the lab, they are able to fully appreciate and express their preferences.
Today, the enrichment theme was “grooming day.” Jamie had lots of enrichment to choose from. Boots, scarves, emery boards, scrub brushes, trolls, pillows, blankets, paper, and even a toothbrush. Out of all of that, she chose to make a big nest out of a tube of exam table paper. (Thanks, Carol!)
Negra cuddled in a giant nest:
Missy and Annie:
And just for fun, Missy’s enrichment item of choice on grooming day:
I so look forward to the changes that are to come and see how the Cle Elum Seven will continue to flourish in sanctuary , but I know I can still count on some stability in the foundation of what they each love, and will continue to enjoy more and more for the rest of their lives.
Karen Young says
Humans have a lot to learn from the chimp spirit of survival and making the best of each opportunity, living in the moment. Do you think they have memories of lab life or have they forgotten and moved on? Do they take things as they come and look forward to each new day without ever, in the quiet recesses of their minds, thinking about the past and remembering their days of being bio-medical chimps? I am sure there is some residual trauma inside them all, but they are amazing at how they move about sanctuary life with confidence as if they have always been in this life situation. I personally think it is because they can trust the humans in their lives, and they feel “chimp ” love for their caretakers. With love comes trust and with trust comes the ability to relax and go about a life of discovery. The wide open spaces of the hill allow them to be as close to wild chimps as is possible in captivity. They are so healthy and fit. I applaud you all for your undying dedication to them and their care.
Debbie says
Karen, I’ve often wondered this, too. We can really never know. In general, I think chimps live more in the moment than humans. For instance, they do show signs of grieving, but they move on from loss much sooner than humans do. However, I would assume ex-lab chimps still have residual trauma, but with each passing day those experiences are moving further and further away. Negra showed many signs of depression and PTSD when she first arrived, and though she still spends a lot of time by herself, she is interacting with the other chimps more and more and I wouldn’t characterize her as depressed any longer. She plays with the other chimps on a much more regular basis—in her own slow Neggie way 🙂
kerri says
it looked as if you were about to be dismissed again. i wonder what her ‘deal’ is w the camera, and has she always been ‘camera shy’?
kerri says
(a follow up to my own question, with a new one). Ive been looking back at some of the first posts of the 7, and found one JB wrote about why so many posts are about Jamie. So, apparently, back then she liked to be around humans a lot, and was close by when ever one of you were taking pictures. SO, do you remember when she changed her mind about the “paparazzi”, and can you give insight on what may have caused the change?
Debbie says
Sometimes Jamie gets a little territorial when we are filming—we get pretty close to the caging so it makes sense that she sometimes wants us to back off her turf. I wouldn’t say that she’s camera shy necessarily, but sometimes she’s in a less tolerant mood and will bang at us to stop what we’re doing—it really puts us in our place! Other times she’s totally fine with it. I don’t think this has really changed that drastically over time. She still likes being near the humans, but has always been a little touchy with us watching her do projects depending on her mood. Sometimes we just cut out that part from the videos 🙂 This blog post does a really good job at described just how complicated Jamie is!
kerri says
Thank you, the post did a great job at explaining. Thanks again.