Foxie’s love of her dolls is an endless source of heart-melting joy, fascination and mystery to us. If you’ve been following the chimpanzees for awhile you are probably aware that Foxie’s love of her dolls (that we’re aware of) began shortly after the chimps’ arrival to the sanctuary in 2008 with her subsequent discovery of “Trixie” the troll doll. For several years, Foxie lived and breathed troll dolls and showed little to no interest in other dolls or forms of enrichment.
Then Dora the Explorer appeared on the scene and for reasons known only to Foxie, she was utterly smitten. Dora quickly raised through the ranks to join the status of the trolls. While we’ll never know what mysterious criteria Dora met, we were happy to see Foxie branching out with her interests. She became particularly enamored with France Dora. She definitely has a certain “je ne sais quoi” and to this day I think she remains Foxie’s most treasured of all the Dora dolls.
Fast forward a few years and Foxie branched out even further to include Dora’s friends:
It’s hard to resist wanting to interpret Foxie’s behavior with her dolls and in our curiosity to make guesses as to Foxie’s doll criteria, we thought maybe it was the combination of big hair and big eyes. Most recently she’s incorporated the new Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Big hair: check! Big eyes: check!
And then…Foxie threw us a curve ball by falling in love with the new old-style Strawberry Shortcakes. Big hair: meh, not so much. Big eyes: no, beady!
When Foxie adds another doll to her collection that doesn’t mean her trolls and Dora dolls lose their status. Her comfort level just seems to expand allowing her natural curious nature to investigate new things. And it seems her heart feels increasingly safer to let new experiences in. And we certainly know that our fellow animals experience the same emotions we humans do. That said, it’s tempting to read too much into Foxie’s behavior and it’s emotionally appealing and comforting for us to think her love for her dolls is all about a chance to be the mother she was never allowed to be to her four children she gave birth to in the labs who were stolen from her. After such incomprehensible trauma, it’s clear the dolls bring Foxie enormous comfort and joy and I think it’s safe to say she does engage in mothering behavior with them, but at the same time she often beats them up. And I mean beats.them.up!
And so as curious as we are and as well as we know Foxie, justΒ as with any other person, we can never know for sure what she is thinking. Nor would we be so species-centric if you will, to assume. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter. Foxie is Foxie and her happiness doesn’t need definition. Nor does our love for her. Her happiness and well-being, that’s the only thing that’s our business.
It’s been a few weeks since Foxie has received a new Dora and when we surprised her with one a supporter had sent, it was evident that Dora’s still got it. Whatever “it” may be.
Lorraine Gordon says
That’s adorable. …it’s good to see her enjoying life
Tobin says
A great selection (consider the sources). I love Jamie’s PSA, and Foxie’s embrace of her new dolls is beautiful to watch. May I suggest three other videos:
“Chimpanzee hoots to bring quarrel to a halt” (I think that’s the title, or words to that effect). Negra hoots forth a haunting and beautiful hoot that almost sounds like a song. Maybe she was singing.
“Chimpanzee gets a Special Gift Just for Her”. The video of Jamie looking at her custom-made “Jamie’s Book of Boots” is so good on so many levels. Dare I say, I think that it’s the best video of the year.
“Rescued Chimpanzees Annie and Burrito Play”. This is far and away my favorite video that I’ve seen since I started visiting this website. Annie’s play-face and Burrito’s laughter are priceless! Who knew that having a chimpanzee play-biting on your hands while they’re behind your back (while chewing on a plastic toy) could cause you to laugh (mitigating factor: it helps to be Burrito and possess his decidedly unique sense of humor).
Katelyn says
Hi Paula, Foxie prefers the smaller dolls usually. I think the smaller ones are better suited to the play she engages in with them. Her favorite game with caregivers is to pass the dolls back and forth through the caging while we chase her. They also fit more easily on her back for walking around the hill or in her pelvic (hip) pocket when resting. π
Pam Linton says
I am curious, have they ever been around their babies since their days in the labs? If they have been near them, have they recognized them as their baby? I know they can recognize other chimps by smelling their butts, behinds?? Ive seen it on tv or videos on YouTube. I was just curious. It would be a wondrous time, thats if they knew the scent of their babies.
Thanks for all your hard work and keeping the updates coming. I am so delighted.
Pam Γ’β’Β₯Γ―ΒΈΒΓ°ΕΈΒΒ΅
Katelyn says
Hi Pam, thanks for your questions! The chimps residing here have not seen their children that we know of, though it might be possible they crossed paths in the labs at some point. It’s difficult to say if there would be any recognition, but probably unlikely as mothers were typically anesthetized immediately following birth or shortly after and their infants taken. A few other sanctuaries have been fortunate to reunite family members, but I cannot speak to their experiences. And yes, it is a common chimp behavior seeing faces to bums, but chimps recognize one another upon sight just as humans do. Without seeing a specific video, what’s actually occuring in those instances could be a few things. It’s a common way that chimps greet one another or seek/offer reassurance, especially a less dominant chimp to a higher ranking chimp. Also, when females are in estrus their anogenital area swells which indicates prime fertility to male chimps (and which males find very attractive and are often checking out). And they could also simply be engaging in grooming one another. π
Jo Lathrop says
Wonderfully Fabuloso!! Thank you so much Hugs and love to you all….
Katelyn says
Thanks, Pat! Foxie will be thrilled. We’re not near many stores, but thanks for the info should we find ourselves near Value Village when we venture to the city! π
Francoise Vulpe says
Carla, interesting question, and I think you’ve said it nicely. My guess is that there are a heck of a lot of volunteers out there happy to step in, learn, train, and add to the incredible team that care for the chimps. Changing the routine for the seven probably would not go down well, add to their stress they will experience with the presence of unfamiliar chimps in close vicinity. Even in another building, they will be able to her each others’ hoots and screams. Likely they will be in another housing area for as long as it takes until J.B. and Diana feel it appropriate to do any mixing. Personally, I think the chimps, indeed, all exploited chimps, deserve being catered to. They’ve paid a huge price, as you know, and we owe it to them. I know you agree on that point. Happy New Year! Wouldn’t a “reunion” of all CSNW supporters be just awesome??
Gabi Ford says
Foxie!! Those pictures of Foxie loving on her dolls are so touching. Is Foxie a mama?
Katelyn says
Hi Gabi, Foxie is a mama. She has two daughters (one of whom resides at Save the Chimps in FL). She also had a rare set of twin boys who have sadly passed away. Annie, Missy, Negra, and Jody are also mothers who all had their children taken from them at, or shortly after, birth. This was common practice for chimpanzees in labs as they were bred specifically to supply more chimpanzees for biomedical research. You can read more about Foxie’s history here:
http://www.eyesonapes.org/cle_elum_seven/foxie/
Kathleen says
This is an excellent collection of CSNW 2017 top picks and I so enjoyed watching them all once again. I especially love #1 Fun with the mister.
Here are few more to add to the list:
Your holiday video of this year
Safe and Sound (December). Might be one of all time favorites.
A Small Miracle (October)
And in February you did a series of individual videos on each chimp called “Fall In Love with….”. Each video describes all their favorite things, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Guy Time : Burrito and J.B. playing together through the caging. (August)
Short but oh so sweet:
A Royal Decree (May. And as Tobin describes, Negra sings a beautiful Hoot)
A Quiet Moment With… (February ??)
A Queen’s Eye View : Negra enjoying her apple (May). Seriously, my heart skips a beat when I watch this one!
Hummm, maybe I could make this easier and simply say all of your videos are my favorites. ????
elaine reininger says
Wow what a great collection of videos – loved everyone but thought for sure Jamie looking at her big boot book made by a follower would be included. I marveled in the first video that she knew what the paper towel was for (drying off the water you misted on her head) – that amazed me that she knew what it was for. And “Do chimps make good pets?” was hysterically funny–a little scary — but still funny if you’re not in the room with Jamie while she has a hissy-fit. Thanks for starting my New Years off with a laugh, a tear-filled eye and a lump in my heart for these dear creatures.
Jo Lathrop says
Hugs and love to you all….Thank you so much for fabo post and pix!!
Kathleen says
Thanks for this sincere explanation of Foxie and her friends. Selfishly it brings me great joy to see Foxie enjoying (and spinning on top of) her dolls. If it makes Foxie happy, it makes me happy! And all of these big beautiful Foxie and Dora photos make me unbelievable happy! Thank you Katelyn!!!
Katelyn says
Hi Kathleen, It’s one of the greatest joys, seeing hers, and the joy of each of the chimps. Same for your pups I’m sure. <3
karen/Don says
It was a severely traumatized Foxie who attracted us to the brand new sanctuary. Until she found troll dolls, she was not interested in other forms enrichment if I recall correctly. When we visited the sanctuary close to the first year annoversary, I foolishly brought stuffed chimps for the 7. Well, Foxie had her troll doll and beckened me with her fingers under the door to the nighthouse to give her a stuffed chimp. Sarah Baechler threw it over the wire and Foxie proceeded to kill it! After she had torn it from limb to limb, she stromped on it to make sure it was dead, put the troll doll on her back and walked away! Jane Goodall said that there are good chimp mothers and bad chimp mothers. In the wild, I think we can count on Foxie being the best mother in her community. She is fixated on dolls like Jamie is fixated on boots. Could it be replacements for the trauma of having babies taken from them? Only they know. If only they could talk!
Arlene and Michael says
Those pictures of Foxie and her doll are so touching. Thank you to all of you for letting all of these Chimps lives their lives in such a compassionate environment, allowing them to be themselves.
Barbara Bucy says
Most beautiful photos of Foxie I have ever seen. She is a very special soul and it warms my heart to see her happy.
Katelyn says
Thank you, Barbara! She is very special. π
Francoise Vulpe says
Happy Birthday Manuela! (Birthday wishes were in French, Kathleen, but Manuela is an Italian or Spanish name, I think.) Even if it’s Klingon, everyone that loves the chimps is welcome, and those that don’t — YET! I love the quote you added in your post.
Why are chimp feet so cute?
Katelyn says
It really is amazing, Kathleen, isn’t it? Yes, in a previous post there was a comment from Nadia in Rome! π My Italian is rusty but it translates roughly to: “Greetings from Rome – Thank you for all you do for these wonderful creatures. Your love is so great that you have gotten here! Congratulations!”
π
Kim F. (Tiki Kim) says
Thanks for the reply Katelyn. Do you think the reaction to the Chimp dolls is related to past trauma from her babies being taken? Seems like it might be. Poor Lady. Have the others reacted similar when they’ve seen the Chimp dolls?