We’ve had the utter delight of knowing Missy for ten years now, and we’ve learned that she wants two things in life: tomatoes and adventure. So for her 43rd birthday today, caregivers risked life and limb by scaling the various climbing structures on Young’s Hill to create a tomato-themed obstacle course for the birthday girl.
Happy 43rd birthday Missy. You guys are great to scale the structures!
What a cute video! Although my favourites are when we get 5 whole minutes of nothing except hearing them munch down on their veggies and then the night bags. 🙂
Question: I know it might seem unfair to the others, but are you able to separate certain chimps so that they get a head start on forages or parties when it’s their special day? It’s probably impossible with the logistics, hunh? I know when I watch these and gorilla videos, I’m constantly mad at the alpha/silverback for getting to steal all the food at the party, including the cake which was meant for the infant turning 2, and they never get any because if the silverback hasn’t taken the entire cake but one bite, then you can be sure that mum will come along and take the one final bite straight out of the mouth of the birthday infant!
With knowing that these great apes are highly capable and have been seen exacting revenge on others, and holding grudges for years, you’d think they might have more of a sense of fair play, especially when babies are concerned. I know we wouldn’t expect them to know you’re celebrating birthdays, but it just seems like there might be a way to make sure the birthday person gets at least some of the cake intended for them. Or in this case, tomaters. 😀
Cheers, and happy birfdays to the Missy girl!
It’s important to us to keep the group together as much as possible. The only time we would isolate someone from the rest of the group would be for medical intervention. It can sometimes be hard to see the more dominant chimps pull rank, but we feel it’s important to let the hierarchy play out naturally. As you can see in the video, Missy got plenty of tomatoes. 🙂
You go Missy! Happy happy birthday to you beautiful girl! And, congratulations to the team for keeping it all together. LOL You all never cease to amaze.
Happy Birthday to Missy! She looks like a teenager, especially in the way she moves! (Is there a more adorable little bod than hers?) Missy must feel as if today was dream she didn’t want to wake up from, tomatoes everywhere! WOW! So I want to know, what did it feel like for the humans to cross the shaker bridge? Yikes.
Sending Happy Birthday wishes to you Missy, with all my love! XOXOXO
(I loved this happy, silly video. The music synced to Missy’s movement still has me smiling)
what a delightful video. as I was watching Missy scrambling at high speed over the structures I thought “I wish I could see the humans placing all the tomatoes on that shaky playground” when all of a sudden came the pictures showing the tomatoes being placed everywhere. You guys think of everything…. you even anticipate the thoughts and desires of your contributors/followers.
Happy Birthday Missy. Way to go. You seem to have found a great many tomatoes for your birthday celebration.
Happy Birthday Missy! What a great birthday celebration! You looked like you were loving all of it and you certainly had fun finding all of your tomatoes. Your birthday video rocks!
Dear Missy, I hope you had a great birthday!
Happy Birthday Missy! Looks like she had fun finding all those tomatoes. You are all so amazing at what great lengths you go to for these wonderful chimps. Thank you for all you do to make their lives happy.
I wish Dr. Missy Chimpanzee, DVM, a happy and healthy, adventure- and tomato-filled new year of life. If I were a chimp and had health insurance, I would definitely want Missy as my G.P.