It’s hot y’all. We’re in the midst of a heatwave here, but it is summer after all. Being in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains we’re fortunate to usually cool down at night so mornings tend to feel refreshing and cool for a short time before it heats up again. So the chimpanzees have been enjoying breakfast forages on Young’s Hill in the fresh morning air for the past few days. Negra headed straight for her cabin where she could enjoy her fruit in the shade:
The day has been playing out more and more slowly as the heat rises and the chimps have been making their way between ice cubes snacks, ice water buckets, and lounging in the cooler playroom. In fact right this minute, I can hear Foxie in the playroom slurping repeatedly on the straw of the water bucket, meaning it’s time for a refill! (As a sidenote, the chimps have access to water any time they want via several spigots throughout the chimp house. But it’s always more fun to drink from buckets and straws and cups, right?!).
Burrito and Jody chose an after lunch nap on the bench between the playroom and greenhouse where they were shaded, but could catch a good cross breeze:
Jody made sure to leave her corncob wadge within close range so she wouldn’t have to move too far when she wanted it:
Foxie and her Strawberry Shortcake dolls were the only ones dozing in the heat of the greenhouse, but the breeze blows right through. Summer, in full swing:
I was reading about the “Dog Days” of summer, a saying that originated from ancient Greek and Roman beliefs that the hottest days of the year occurred when Sirius, the dog star, appeared to rise just before the sun which they believed compounded the heat. There isn’t a chimpanzee star, but of course, we would all vote that there should be. Nevertheless, the Chimp Days of summer seems apropos in our world and are definitely upon us.
Dorie says
Hello. Thank you for all you do to care for these amazing souls. I follow and several other chimpanzee sanctuaries and I see that some of them have water mist machines to help keep the Chimps cool in the hot summer. Do you have any of these? If you don’t, would you use them if you received them as a gift?
Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication.
Dorie
Diana says
Hi Dorie! Thank you for this suggestion. We have thought about it before, and might just add one to our wishlist!
Jo Lathrop says
You all do such an incredible job and thank you so much J. B. and everyone!! Those calendars remind me of mine when I was running an after school enrichment program for 120 kiddos!!!!!! Ya gotta stay 20 steps ahead!!! Love and hugs to you all……
lisa says
i am curious to know if any of the chimps are on medication – and what for. it is just a curiosity. most sincerely, lisa.