This morning, as I was putting away a squeegee, I accidentally knocked a broom off of the tool rack. I watched it slide to within inches of the playroom caging and before my brain could finish processing the thought that Jamie might be able to grab it, Jamie grabbed it.
Now, the most important thing to convey here is that Jamie really likes to stab and/or threaten to stab humans when she obtains contraband like this. So the first thing you do in this situation is take a big step back. Then you watch helplessly as she tries to knock smoke detectors off the ceiling (a real possibility) and jimmy open every door and window in the chimp house (not going to happen with a broom stick, thankfully).
But today was different. As soon as she had the broom she walked off with clear purpose and intent. And the whole gang gathered behind her as if Jamie had given the cue and the secret plan they had been hatching for weeks was finally called into action.
Their mission: To see inside the new addition.
We’ve given them glimpses into the new quarantine and introduction area connected to their playroom before, but during the construction process we’ve largely kept the door covered with a piece of plywood to protect workers from getting spit on and to keep the building heat in. Clearly we didn’t consult the chimps about that plan, and they were forced to take the matter into their own hands.
They blow me away constantly with their intelligence and wit!
How exciting for them….as you said…they had been planning and looking for an opportunity for a while…
OMG ! Jamie is so smart and funny.
This is a great Video, the “slightly used” broom at the end
made me laugh out loud 🙂
That’s exactly what happen to me…a big belly laugh! Oh those chimps! Oh so curious! and clever!
This is the BEST post and video ever!
I keep thinking about how very intelligent chimpanzees are. It is unfortunate that they didn’t evolve to be able to speak. If they had the anatomy for it they may well have been able to argue their way out of the abuse they have suffered at human hands. Heck they may even have become the dominate species.
How I wish that all primates had the vocal chords and abilities of the lowest form of
life (humans)…
This is one of the best yet!!!!! Luckily, Burrito’s not good at puzzles, so he’s not much help. Jody looked like she was ready to make a run for it, if they opened it, and Foxie was just plain excited to be there……….I risk dating myself by saying it, but today the Cle Elum Seven were the MAGNIFICENT Seven! Yes, returning the broom in that condition is hilarious……..”here, it’s useless. You can have it back now.” Oh, that Jamie!
That’s multipurpose, Linda. Thanks for the belly laugh!
Yw! 🙂
Yw! And my apologies, Annie. YOU were the one ready to make a break for it, not Jody! Should have known, you’d be right behind Missy!
Priceless, precious, perfect post!! They are just THE best!! As are you!
J.B. you had me at the edge of my chair the way you unfolded this tale. You bet the gang has been scheming and plotting since the day you removed their medical trailer. I can see them holding meetings around the “sandbox table” like a broad meeting, with Jamie at the head! And the fact the Jamie actually knocked down the plywood with her contraband broom is hysterical! (BTW, the new building looks fantastic. Can’t say I blame them for being curious, I was too!!) I might suggest that as you move forward with the completion of Phase 2 that you check all night time nests for lock picking tools and shivs and be sure to quadruple check every lock before leaving them alone. ; ).
I just love Jamie and her genuine genius.
Hi, Jeeb,
Love this. That HAS to be the weirdest think tank I’ve ever seen or worked with. 😀
Querstion: was that the “howdy” door you were filming there at the end? Or, it appeared there was a tunnel there so maybe that has something to do with the shuffle walkway?
Cheers.
Hi Carla – This is kind of difficult to explain but I’ll do my best. The hydraulic door I was filming through in the new addition will be the main door allowing chimps to cross between the new and old sections of the building. About 8″ away on the opposite side of that same new concrete block wall, we will install the howdy door, which will allow us to go in and insert different panels to allow various levels of contact when the hydraulic door is open. When outfitted with a solid panel, the howdy door will also keep two incompatible groups from banging/kicking against the same door, given that the two new doors are 8″ apart. Once the new hydraulic door and the new howdy door are installed, the large mesh doors that Jamie was working the broom stick through will be completely removed so that the newly-built concrete block wall of the new addition will become the west wall of the old playroom. Building an addition to a chimp building while the chimps are still living there is not easy!
I love these brilliant, charming, curious chimps. Perhaps you forgot who was in charge? Jaime is reminding you that she must have access (at least visual) to all phases of construction. Cinematography was outstanding though. 🙂 I also agree with Kathleen that nests should probably checked daily. I hear these guys have a lot of friends on the “outside.”