Jamie got a new pair of boots today. She has a pretty consistent new-boot ritual that I love watching. After we give her the boots, she walks around and gathers blankets and other materials for a nest. She sets the boots aside momentarily while she gets her nest situated.
Once everything is in its place, she can devote the necessary time to inspecting the boots closely.
Are there particular things that are allowed and not allowed for Jamie’s boots?
We do have some safety guidelines regarding the enrichment we give to the chimps. Captive chimps sometimes have a habit of eating things they shouldn’t, so we have to be careful with materials like rubber, foam, and soft plastic. We have to reject boots that have soft, foamy insoles that can’t be easily removed.
A girl can never have too many shoes or boots!!
Are there any thoughts as to why she is so fascinated with boots? What amazing creatures these are. Seven amazing personalities!
We’ve certainly wondered, but it’s just impossible to say. It could be related to a positive memory from her past, or it could just be that she thinks boots look really cool. 😉
Oh the stories those boots must tell! Sort of like us cozying up with a nice cup of coffee in a comfortable chair with a good book! Jamie is too much. Thanks for these photos, they are wonderful.
What happened to her head?! Looks like 3 white scaring dots on her forehead!! Ouch!
Those are just some old scrapes. Jamie’s pretty tough – she probably doesn’t even notice them. 🙂
I love these pictures. Are there ever boots Jamie rejects or seems to not like? Is this her ritual with every new pair? Thank you for the updates. I love them.
I can’t recall Jamie ever disliking a pair of boots, though she does seem to get even more excited than usual about some. I don’t think I’ve noticed a color or style preference, though her current two favorite pairs are both all black. She does like boots in larger sizes because they’re more likely to accommodate her chimp feet. 🙂
When we show her a new pair of boots, she typically does one of two things: 1) makes a nest and settles down with them right away, or 2) demands that a caregiver put them on and accompany her on a perimeter walk around Young’s Hill before giving them to her.
i love these pics…i adore the chimps so…