Age: 40ish. Her records indicate she was born in 1975, possibly in the wild. We celebrate her birthday on Mother’s Day each year to honor the nine children she brought into this world, all of whom were taken from her in the labs.
Nicknames: Jo, Jo-jo, Farmer Jo, Jody the Harvester
Favorite things to do: Foraging for wild plants and bamboo on Young’s Hill, making elaborate nests with blankets, sheets, clothes, straw, bamboo and other plants she’s harvested from Young’s Hill. She’s also an expert lounger!
What she is known for: Caregivers know her for her bouncy greeting mostly in the morning. Her foraging strategy includes gathering food in her hands, arms and mouth and bipedal walking with all of it. She also likes to lie on her belly while eating and is known for rounding everyone up for meal times. She’s also known for spitting out tomato seeds.
Distinguishing physical characteristics: Droopy bottom lip, knobby swelling, missing parts of some of her toes from old injuries, endearing face with expressive eyes, which are a little closer together than those of the other chimps.
Personality: serious, independent, kind, confident, earnest, self assured
Other: She makes what we refer to as “dinosaur sounds” (after she completes her nest, she often dives face first into it and lets out a loud “ahhhh” sound). Also, we’ve noticed that she seems to be quite fascinated with bearded men!
Jody was one of the first chimps to go out onto Young’s Hill this morning.
Here’s a good example of her droopy bottom lip.
Read more about Jody before arriving at CSNW here.
She’s so lovely …
What a sweetheart!
The fascination with bearded men may come from Coulston, in Alamogordo. Our supervisor had a full beard of red hair. Jody really liked him. It could also be the beard was why she really liked him.
I admire Jody’s independence and it is always such fun to see her standing on Young’s Hill with her arms full of fresh harvested goodies. Most of all I love her sweet face with her big bright, expressive eyes (and prominent eyebrows). Jody is such a special girl.
This blog tugs at my heart strings. if I recall, when she first arrived at the sanctuary, she used to do yoga with a big ball. She is an amazing chimp with an equally amazing life story. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have one baby taken from me much less nine. I guess she was taught some survival skills while in the wild that helped prepare her for a very difficult life until she arrived at CSNW where she is respected and surrounded with love and has consistency and can finally relax.