Jamie received a new pair of boots from our wish list this afternoon. She has a specific series of rituals that must be followed when she receives a new pair of boots. First, one of the staff or volunteers must wear the boot and join Jamie on a walk around the hill. After returning, Jamie expects the boot wearer to meet her in the greenhouse for a grooming session.
Jamie begins by inspecting the boots carefully.
She encourages the caregivers to show her all of the features of the new boot, such as Velcro or zippers.
Then she begins to groom the boot with a tool – in this case, a wooden chopstick given out earlier as part of a food puzzle.
Eventually Jamie will ask to groom the caregiver herself, pointing and gesturing toward specific areas she wants to groom. Sometimes it’s a freckle, other times it’s a scab or hangnail. She also likes to untie our shoelaces with her grooming tool. Her dexterity is incredible, even when she’s holding the tool with the very tips of her fingers.
With a brand new pair of boots, Jamie will often insist on being given them immediately after the grooming session is finished. With boots that she’s had for a while, she will typically ask for them back when the staff are doing their closing rounds. But you can only give them back to her when she’s ready. If you drop them in the chute too early, she will take them out and throw them back to you (or rather, at you) from an opening high up on the playroom caging. When she is truly ready to receive them, she will wait by the chute and issue a low moan of contentment as they are dropped in. Eventually she will make her nest for the night include them or even use them as a pillow. Only then can you close up for the night, knowing that Jamie is satisfied.
Lynn Wilson says
Pretty amazing! What an interesting ritual with Jamie. I am intrigued by it.
Cherie Erwin says
She is in complete control of her life! Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty, she’ free at lastThank you for giving her a wonderful life.
Cara Berman says
Wow! So intelligent, very impressive.
CeeCee says
I love her, She is so intense.
Next time I get new boots, i’ll have to get out a chop stick!
Dorie-Ellen says
Truly fascinating ?
Kathleen says
Jamie blows my mind. J.B, with your new boots that Jamie spotted from afar (in the post Eagle Eyes), did she do the same ritual or is this something she only does when she knows the new boots are a gift to/for her?
I was talking to someone about Jamie the other day. Seeing photos of the chimps in my kitchen (yes, I keep photos of The Seven in my kitchen because why wouldn’t you want to see their beautiful faces first thing every morning? Plus, they are great conversation starters for guests!) they were curious to learn more about CSNW and the chimps. When I described Jamie and her boots, perimeter walks, and her dexterity in untying the firehose enrichment toy, he was speechless, humbled. After a pause to digest everything, he said “How did she ever exist in a biomedical laboratory with such intelligence?”. Then another pause and he said Jamie and the chimps are proof that chimpanzees are sentient beings. But his first question hit home, it’s something I think about when I read a post like this. How does someone who is so intelligent live in a small cage with zero stimulation for decades and survive? I will have to share this post with him.
Jamie’s beautiful mind blows my mind.
J.B. says
Hi Kathleen – That’s a good question. She does seem to know when the boots are not meant for her – she never asked for me to give her my new muck boots.
Regarding your friend’s comment, I think about that all the time. We often celebrate the resilience of the chimpanzees that make it to sanctuary and flourish in their new home, but I can’t help but think about all the chimps who endured for decades and never saw the outside of the lab cage.
Kathleen says
Yes J.B., I too have thought about all those chimps who lived their life in laboratories or road side zoos, only to age and die in those conditions. And I worry about the chimps now awaiting their promised release who still may not live long enough for their day to come. Sigh….. so many lives equally as beautiful and precious as each of the chimps at CSNW. Thank you for doing your part and beyond in Bringing Them Home. CSNW is like ‘the little engine that could’!
Sandie Allaway says
That is one intense ritual. They never cease to amaze me. How, what, why they do the things they do. So very deliberate. Coming from a lab existence and relearning how to process life with love and freedom, the intelligence used in their interactions, just mesmerizing to me.
Elaine Reininger says
I never cease to be amazed by Jamie. It’s hard to say which of the 7 are your favorite but I think Jamie comes pretty high on the top of the list. It was Foxie’s story that brought me to this site, I never gave much thought about Chimps, but boy I can’t start my day without opening up ths site to see what’s going on there. Looking at that close up of Jamie’s hand I wondered DO YOU CLIP THEIR FINGERNAILS?
J.B. says
Hi Elaine – most chimps keep their fingernails reasonably short, either by chewing them or by wearing them down. But we do have a couple chimps with long fingernails (like Annie). If we are doing a procedure under anesthesia, we will trim them just to be safe but so far we haven’t seen anyone suffer from a broken nail (the way our dogs’ claws will spilt if we don’t trim them regularly).
Debi Domantay says
Thanks so very much for your sharing these personal stories about each of the Chimps…They’re so enjoyable, & something I always look forward to…I know your stories over time have gone a long way in greatly deepening my already heartfelt affection for all seven…
They bring a lot of enjoyment into my daily life…
Jamie has always fascinated me, & (Well, okay…I admit they ALL constantly fascinate me… : ) she & those darling quirks of hers are always incredibly endearing to me…
Much love for all your respect, dignified, warm & loving tenderness paid to these magnificent animals, as well as their new neighbors……… The “Chickens & Cows”… : )
With much heartfelt gratitude for your caring & loving spirits…
Debi
aka…”Poppy”
Chelle says
Hello all the way from Perth Western Australia
I just love these posts. I really have a soft spot for Jamie, but they all have such wonderful personalities.
Seeing what they get up to makes my day.
Please continue all your good work keeping the happy.
Chelle C