It’s been over seven years since the chimpanzees’ previous lives as research subjects came to an end, and they moved into their new home at the sanctuary. We’ve seen so many changes in them in that time; not only physically, but in their personalities, their interests, their likes and dislikes. I’m going to do my best to describe each of the chimpanzees as we know them today.
Annie:
Annie is sweet and shy, but is less and less afraid to stick up for herself. She adores her best friend Missy, but has also learned to appreciate alone time. When she’s feeling relaxed, she lies on her back and makes “bird noises” by holding her hand to her mouth and blowing air through. She loves to look at caregivers’ bare feet.
Burrito:
Burrito is boyish, excitable, and always hungry. He loves his caregivers, and turns to them when he’s feeling playful, which is always. He is learning to navigate the social waters of a chimpanzee group, but he still steps out of line from time to time and gets in trouble with the ladies. He has been joining boss Jamie on many of her perimeter walks around Young’s Hill, despite the fact that he’s a little afraid of her.
Foxie:
Foxie is silly and childlike. She is the peacekeeper of the group, and works hard to make sure everyone is getting along. When she’s overjoyed, she does backflips, pirouettes, and a variety of breakdancing moves. She is rarely seen without her beloved troll and Dora the Explorer dolls. She loves fruit smoothie, and likes to tickle her caregivers with her toes.
Jamie:
Jamie is strong, focused, and very, very smart. She is an insecure leader, but what she lacks in confidence she makes up for in determination. She is obsessed with humans, and wants very much to be included in our activities. She enjoys projects and challenges – the trickier, the better. Nothing makes her happier than spending time with a caregiver and a good pair of cowboy boots.
Jody:
Jody is confident, independent, and serious. She is the self-appointed group manager, and often hangs back at the doorway when the chimps are shifting into a new area and ushers the other chimps through with an extended arm. She loves to make giant nests with mountains of blankets, and dives into them head-first with a low moan of contentment that we call her “dinosaur noise.”
Missy:
Missy is an adventurous, athletic thrill seeker. If she were a human, she’d be the type to enjoy activities like sky diving and bungee jumping. She’s extremely loyal to her chimpanzee group, and will stick up for any of them at anytime, no questions asked. Her propensity for tending to the other chimps’ wounds has earned her the nickname “Dr. Missy.” She would do anything for tomatoes.
Negra:
Negra is regal, impatient, and wise. She stays out of most group conflicts, and lets the other chimps know when to cut it out with a decisive pant hoot. She is the cranky grandma who everyone’s a little afraid of, but respects nonetheless. Her ideal day is made up of blankets, naps, peanuts, and quiet.
Great post! I love the chimp’s expressive eyes and faces!
Wow, thank-you for posting this. This is SO interesting, and it’s hearing and seeing these things here and on video that make me the most interested and keep me coming back. I LOVE learning about how each Chimpanzee is a distinct individual, with as many distinct tastes and habits. Visiting my man Burrito in person one day and looking him in the eyes up close is one of the tops on my bucket list, but until then, gleaning every juicy detail will have to do.
Querstion: Has Jane Goodall ever visited you? I know she has the Fauna Foundation, but didn’t know if she had even contacted or visited y’all. How cool would THAT be??
How many staff/caregivers/volunteers do you guys have?
Ooooh! Maybe you can do this one day as a blog and vlog post: A day in the life of a caregiver. Either shadow them with a camera or have them wear a lipstick cam so we can get a close-up version of what a day working at your sanctuary would be like!
*sigh* For me, you guys might as well be on television–that’s as close as I’ll probably ever get. *grin*
Thanks, again! (Please blow Burrito some big, sloppy kisses for me, k? <3)
Hi Carla! Jane Goodall hasn’t made it out to the sanctuary for a visit yet, but she has an open invitation! We currently have 6 staff members and about 50 chimp house volunteers (13 of those volunteers have been trained as caregivers).
Thanks for the blog post suggestion! I don’t think we’ve done exactly what you’re talking about, but here are some past posts that give you some idea of what our staff and volunteers do on a daily basis:
https://chimpsnw.org/2013/05/behind-the-scenes/
https://chimpsnw.org/2009/10/dirty-work/
https://chimpsnw.org/2014/11/on-the-3rd-day-of-thanks/
https://chimpsnw.org/2015/04/the-folks-behind-the-curtain/
https://chimpsnw.org/2009/07/saturday-at-csnw/
https://chimpsnw.org/2013/09/virtual-tour-of-the-chimp-house/
Elizabeth, ….sigh…….perhaps my favorite post of all time. Reading your descriptions of each chimp below these wonderful closeup photos made me feel so proud of each chimp. Through your blog I have seen them grow, change, and venture into situations I would never have the courage to delve into. They are so resilient, each one an individual deserving respect. Thank you for saving them from the darkness and offering them time and freedom to discover their new, beautiful life. For seven years they have been surrounded with possibilities and opportunities I am sure they could never have dreamed of! Their growth is a testament to your loving care.
Great blog Elizabeth. Really enjoyed reading your perspective of each of the Seven. Keep up the good work.
I agree with Kathleen…one of my favorite posts of all time. Thank you Elizabeth
Thank you for your wonderful descriptions of our chimps. We feel so good to be in the “loop”. The pictures are so cute. Hi Negra, so good to see how happy and relaxed you are. You have my love. And thanks to you Elizabeth for the great narratives about the distinctive traits each of the Seven have. Thank you to everyone for caring and loving our chimpanzees????????????
So interesting to learn about the individual differences of each chimp and how they fit into the community of 7. Thanks Elezabeth. Loved this post!
Yes, great post Elizabeth! Love hearing about their personalities and how they continue to grow under all the love they receive from everyone at the sanctuary.
I agree – a top favorite post – in both words and photos
Perfect !