The chimps have had an exciting day of forages! Breakfast in the sunlit greenhouse, lunch on the stunningly lush Young’s Hill, and dinner in the playroom.
In the wild chimpanzees spend the majority of their days traveling and looking for food. Here at CSNW we serve most of the chimps’ meals by hand to make sure that everyone gets their fair amount and it also gives us the opportunity to check out any wounds and see how everyone is doing. That said, we take every opportunity to present the chimps with choices and activities that encourage their natural behavior. Forages are a great way to get them active and engaged and I imagine they often appreciate the opportunity to do as they please and not wait around for the humans to serve them their portions.
A beautiful lunch forage with Foxie and Dora:
Missy in the treat rock:
Burrito in the hammock! (Annie to the right):
Annie standing, Burrito to the right:
Annie checking out the tire swing for sweet potatoes, Burrito foraging in the grass:
Sweet Annie:
Missy had to stop several times to keep putting food back in her mouth and picking up pieces she’d dropped. She was not going to leave one piece behind!
Whew! She made it back to the greenhouse with her corn stash!
Jamie:
Beautiful Jody:
After lunch Jamie asked me to put on her boots and sit with her near the open panels of the greenhouse that face Young’s Hill so she could groom the boots. She eventually made a nest and decided to lie down next to me and enjoy the cool breeze. So I decided I should also have a nest and got a blanket to lie on next to her, a safe distance from chimps and caging. Before I knew it Burrito came over and sprawled out in the corner next to us, and Annie and Foxie curled up on the top platform facing the hill and we all just enjoyed a few moments of rest together on a peaceful spring day. Some of us (chimps) got to rest longer than others (me), but it was lovely while it lasted. 🙂 Sanctuary for us all.
Kathleen says
What a perfect ending to a perfect forage! Gave me a wee chill just thinking about the sheer pleasure of relaxing on a blanket nest close to the chimps. How sweet others joined you and Jamie. You lucky duck you!
I find it interesting the chimps gather their food to bring inside to eat. I know they must eat some of the forage goodies outside but it seems we always see photos of them with arms and mouths full walking back to the chimp house. I guess that’s the reality of having part of you in the wild and part of you in captivity.
Katelyn says
Kathleen, we were just talking about some of their different foraging styles as we watched yesterday! I’m sure you’re correct in that they understandably just feel more comfortable bringing their stash back to the comfort of the greenhouse to enjoy and sometimes it’s a bit cooler in there. They all differ slightly, of course. Jody’s tactic is usually to head out and collect her first course and bring it right back in to enjoy before going to get more. Others will often forage for awhile and then collect some to bring back with them. Burrito of course eats most of his on the spot. Foxie usually eats as she goes as well and we guessed that this may be due to not having enough hands to carry everything back when she’s carrying her dolls! 🙂 But who knows, she likes to explore on her own. It can also depend on the weather as well.
Kathleen says
Thanks your reply, never actually thought about Foxie having less hands due to her trolls and Dora dolls but you are so right! Lots of fun to see each individual and their personal styles. This post was full of wonderful photos showing all your hiding places, I enjoyed that too. The chimps look wild in the tall grass, just lovely!
Jo says
How perfectly wonderful!! I envy you the pajama party!! But I’m glad you got to experience it and soooo glad you shared it with us! U R wonderful!! Hugs and love…..
Francoise says
Oh what a beautiful morning, what a beautiful day! What a life they have now, so deserved. May they live long and healthy in such a paradise.
Arlene and Michael says
What a special time you experienced with the chimps – laying down near Jamie and having a few more of the chimps want to join you! It is wonderful to think of them so at peace. Thank you?