If there is one thing that we have written about more frequently than anything else I think it must be Jamie’s multifaceted personality. Jamie is the boss but she’s also good friend. She takes things seriously but she can also be quite silly when the mood strikes. Sometimes she shares her things and other times she’ll take what she wants from others. She’s a complicated individual. She likes boots, enrichment projects that challenge the mind, and doing things her own way.
Being friends with Jamie Chimpanzee is an intense ride but there is never a dull moment. Jamie keeps everyone on their toes and keeps life at the sanctuary stimulating. I simply can’t imagine the diamond of her mind trapped in the confines of her previous environment and I take every chance I get to provide her with a project. Yesterday that meant that I found more challenging places to hide the playroom lettuce forage. I filled the square building blocks you see in the pictures with lettuce, closed them up tight, and hid them in the playroom. Rather than foraging for the lettuce easily available on the ground Jamie made a beeline for the greater challenge of the blocks.
Today we gave her cleaning supplies so that she could participate in her version of the front room cleaning. I was pleased to see her complete that task with vigor. Although I was unable to get a picture of Jamie cleaning up after us today you can watch video of Jamie’s cleaning style here.
But it’s not always necessary to be on the move with Jamie. Sometimes she appreciates quiet down time with friends too! Grooming is a great social outlet for chimpanzees and, on occasion, the chimpanzees will ask to be groomed by their human caregivers. We are, of course, always happy to oblige a grooming request.
Kathleen says
Lisa, this comment of yours is so beautiful :
“I simply can’t imagine the diamond of her mind trapped in the confines of her previous environment”.
“Diamond”, what a perfect visual— a strong, precious stone and a hard stone at that — where hardness is defined as resistance. And Jamie lived a life of resisting — Resistance is defined as a refusal to give in or to something.
Also love Jamie’s sweet expression at the end of the video. Thank you for always challenging our precious gem!
Debbie says
I do believe that Jamie creates ‘enrichment’ for her caregivers more than they create ‘enrichment’ for her. Just her way of showing everyone how smart she is