We’ve always considered Young’s Hill a work in progress. This was partly out of necessity, because it started as an empty horse pasture and it would have taken a lot of time and money to build everything at once. But it was also in part by design, because life in captivity can be boring, and adding even a few plants or a simple climbing structure to the hill each year keeps things interesting for the chimps.
The structure we built last weekend is a big hit.
Annie:
Foxie:
Jody has been sampling the new bamboo plants, but it seems they are best enjoyed while relaxing in the greenhouse, so each day she breaks off a new cane and hauls it downhill. Yet another reason why we need to keep planting more…
Love your blogs, JB. What a good idea to add structures from time to time to keep the chimps engaged. Love that this new one is so natural to the environment. The chimps look like they are wild chimpanzees!
They do, don’t they! Well except for the troll doll 😉
Bamboo good, need more. 🙂
So wonderful to see the chimps enjoying the new structure. Thank you for taking such good care of these very special beings!
These photos are excellent. As Karen and Don stated, I love the way this new “ladder” blends into the environment. How exciting for the chimps to have new, interactive elements added each year. Young’s Hill has blossomed over the years and I look forward to seeing what will pop up next. So happy to see Jody foraging fresh stalks of bamboo that are bigger than she is! She is amazing.
I get so excited when I see the chimps expressing their inner “wild child”. Thanks CSNW!
And Dora went too