J.B. planted the chimp’s 2015 Christmas tree on Young’s Hill several weeks ago. Since then, Jody has taken it upon herself to dismantle it slowly piece by piece. Pine is the ultimate breath freshener!
Archives for April 2016
Missy waking up
What do you do when you catch the elusive Missy sitting in the portrait studio first thing in the morning?
Step 1:You take a multitude of photos (while holding your breath and hoping she doesn’t decide to go back to bed in the Greenhouse).
Step 2: You edit through them, but you can’t bring yourself to delete many because it’s such a rare thing to see her hanging out in this particular area.
Step 3: Share them all with supporters!
Overcoming Fears
As a rule, Negra does not like to be touched by humans. For over three decades, Negra lived in a research laboratory where human touch was usually painful or scary. Sometimes she seeks out touch from her caregivers at the sanctuary by pressing her back against the caging for a little massage, only to panic and threat bark at us when we actually make contact. Some of her anxiety in this area seems to have subsided over the years, but still, we are always a little amazed (and a lot honored) when she allows us to touch her.
Home
When I look at pictures like these, I wonder what is going through the chimpanzee’s mind.
I wonder if Annie knows that her days full of anxiety are a thing of the past. I wonder if she knows the rest of her days at the sanctuary will be filled with moments when she can feel peaceful.
Does Missy know that she will never be confined to a space the size of a bathroom stall again? Does she know that for the rest of her days, she is free to run like the wind, climb as high as she can, and tightrope walk whenever she feels the need?
Does Negra know that Young’s Hill will be open for her to come and go as she pleases each and every day (as long as it is safe for the chimps to have access to the outdoor space)? And does she know, that for the rest of her days, whenever she looks up, she will be able to see the sky overhead?
Does Foxie know that her beloved dolls will never be taken from her (well, other than for cleaning)? Does she know that she will always have her companions as long as she wants them?
Does Jamie know this will always be her home to patrol and protect? And does she know that she will always be the one to call the shots?
Do they know their days used as test subjects in the lab and as entertainers are a thing of the past? Do they know they are now in their forever home, surrounded by a community of people (all around the world) who will continue to love and support them for the rest of their lives?
I can only hope each day they wake up knowing that the day is theirs to choose to do what they wish, whether it be running and leaping, resting, grooming, playing or gazing out of the windows to the valley below. I hope they wake up with a sense of hope and wonder for what the day may bring. And I hope that at the end of each day, they can close their eyes, knowing they are safe in the comfort of their forever sanctuary home.
Thank you to everyone who makes it possible for them to know their sanctuary home!
Thinking Ahead
Not only are chimpanzees adept at using tools and solving puzzles, but they are also good at planning ahead. When Jamie is confronted with a difficult problem, she often disappears for a while and returns with a tool that will help her solve it.
Resting Serious Face
Jamie can be a difficult person to read. For some reason, her face is less emotionally expressive than those of the other chimps.
Over the last 8 years, we’ve studied her face intently and gotten to know the subtleties of what little expression she reveals. It’s serious business around here, because Jamie’s mood can make or break your day. And though I can’t tell you what it is exactly that differentiates one seemingly solemn expression from another, there is something noticeably different when she is in a good mood. The seriousness is still there, but it’s like she has temporarily forgotten about all the responsibilities she has as the group’s powerful but insecure leader and the Machiavellian struggles that she engages in with her family and the humans that care for her on a daily basis. It’s the same face, but the weight has been momentarily lifted.
Once and a while, though, she relieves us of the need for such detailed analysis and tells us in no uncertain terms that she is happy.
The face might be serious, but the troll scarf says otherwise.
Curiously Sweet
Annie has changed in many ways since arriving at the sanctuary eight years ago. As the chimpanzee who occupies the lowest position in the hierarchy, Annie has plenty of reasons to be cautious. When she first moved here from the lab, she was anxious, shy, and prone to panic attacks. Nowadays, we see a much more confident and outgoing Annie.
But one thing that hasn’t changed is that Annie remains possibly the sweetest chimp you’ll ever meet. Chimpanzees are not known for being gentle. Any chimp caregiver will tell you that they’ve been poked, spit on, or worse by the chimps they take care of countless times. That’s all normal chimp behavior – particularly among captive chimps who have limited power over their environment – and we see those behaviors every day from the Cle Elum Seven. All except for Annie, that is, who doesn’t seem to have an aggressive bone in her body.
