The chimpanzees are very in tune with what time of day it is. When meal times roll around, you can usually spot several individuals waiting expectantly in the playroom, peering through the window to the kitchen to get a look at what’s on the menu. Negra was prepared for lunch a little early today. She got out of her nest and made sure we knew she was ready with some hand clapping and food grunting.
She did try her best to be a little patient though:
When lunch was ready, the chimpanzees were served in the greenhouse (which was filled with golden sunlight). They enjoyed carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, and primate chow. Some of the chimps chose to get each course of the meal and take it away from the group so they could savor their lunch in peace.
Missy:
Annie:
Foxie had the idea of carrying her troll doll over to distract me from photography. She spent her lunchtime eating veggies and then repeatedly dropping the tiny purple doll out of the caging for me to pick up and give back to her. A meal is always better with a little bit of entertainment!
Annie has the most beautiful smile on her face……ahhhahhhh
It’s amazing that vegetables and primate chow fills them up . How do you make sure each one is getting enough and is not hungry ? How much food do you prepare for them at each meal? Nice to know they enjoy their food and treats so much.
Hey Sherry,
During most meals we serve each chimpanzee’s portion of food directly to them. Some meals are scattered around the enclosure so the chimps must forage (a natural behavior that we like to encourage). The primate chow has extra protein and nutrients (in many laboratories it is their main source of nutrition), but it is always better to have more variety in their diets. We don’t measure an exact amount of produce for each chimpanzee, but we usually give out 3 different types of vegetables at lunch, two servings of fruit (and a smoothie) for breakfast, and a combination of fruit and veggies for dinner.
Gorgeous pictures. The sunlight! Looked like a lovely lunch.