Each night after dinner the chimpanzees receive their food puzzle for the evening. This is typically a pretty exciting time and once everyone has their puzzle they find a quiet spot to enjoy their treats in peace and the chimp house begins to wind down for the day. This evening’s puzzle was frozen applesauce and banana in PVC tubes and I caught Foxie enjoying hers:
When the chimps finish their food puzzles, they usually head straight to their chosen sleeping spot for the night, blankets in tow, and begin making their nests (with the exception of boss Jamie who still has a lot of things to do). But this evening, Foxie decided to hang out as we finished the closing routine and seemed to be enjoying the peaceful time, occasionally glancing out the window next to her as the sun began to sink lower over the sanctuary.
About this time we gave Jamie her “boot package” for the evening. Jamie often requests her favorite “boots du jour” before we leave which we fill with enrichment items for the evening (such as a toothbrush, cup, comb, nail file, scarf, etc) and pass to her through a chute. As she also requested the boots she had me wearing at the time, I happened to be barefoot. And at the sight of bare human toes, Foxie thought it would be a fantastic time to play one last game of chase, interspersed with pirouettes, through the chimp house (never mind that people were settling down to sleep).
After a few minutes of play, we said goodnight to everyone and turned off the lights in the chimp area, answered by the chimpanzees giving nest grunts goodnight in return. Nest grunts are a vocalization that chimpanzees make when they are settling into their nests for the night as a way to check in with each other before they go to sleep. (Admittedly, it’s one of my absolute favorite moments of the day).
As I was closing the door to the chimp area I saw Ms. Foxie head out to the solitude of the greenhouse. I went to say goodnight and found that she had decided to camp out on the top platform, looking out over Young’s Hill, as she held Dora (with some wild hair) close to her. Goodnight dear Fox.
Ok, now this is my favourite post! Love the pictures – love hearing about the end of another day in sanctuary …
The chimps never cease to amaze me. I look at their wonderful faces and eyes and I can’t help wondering what they are thinking. Good night dear chimps!
What a sweet, good natured person Foxie is.
What a wonderful way to end my night, reading about how the chimps end theirs! Love this post Katelyn, thank you! Foxie is so photogenic. Funny how she looks so sweet and innocent in these photos and yet she looked so very mischievous in Tuesdays post!! Ha ha haaaa.
Sending nest grunts to all — hoohuhhoohuh!
Sorry, quick question! It just dawned on me, did you give out the Night Bags right before you left tonight? That’s my very favorite part of their day!!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Kathleen, thanks! I suspect night bags are one of the chimps’ favorite parts of their day as well. While the chimps always receive these at the end of dinner, before their evening food puzzles, since Burrito’s dental surgery they have all been on a soft diet for a few days until he heals so night bags have been on hold.
Fantastic blog and such wonderful photos of Foxie.
These pictures are so arresting. You have a great eye that captures the essence of your subjects. You so clearly respect and love the chimps in your care; it is a joy to share in their transformations. The blog is articulate, inspiring and well edited. It is lovely to read a blog that has a great subject matter, is really well written, well spelled and grammatically correct! I have enjoyed this site for a couple of years but today’s beautiful post compelled me to register to share my admiration for your work.
Very nice to hear about the good night grunts – reminds me of the Waltons. 🙂 Great pics too.
Wow, wonderful pix. I didn’t realize how handsome Foxie is.
What a face! Foxie is quite the looker!
Enjoyed reading this very much.