Did you guys ever have rainy day recess? That is what today felt like, except the chimps did have access to outside. Some people like Jamie went on a few walks (or sprints with the Gator) but in general the chimps kind of all decided to spend most of their day at the top of the platform in the Greenhouse or playing in the Playroom. Today, I got a few special moments caught on camera. My favorite is Jamie wearing a troll scarf and reading a magazine with boots in it. As Jamie is flipping through her magazine Jody approaches her. Jody has a loose bottom lip and is a little pilo. Jody looks longingly into Jamie’s eyes. Jody reaches out to groom and hesitantly Jamie accepts the offer and they groom for about 10 minutes. After, Jody comes over to us caregivers for some reassurance and then climbs up the Playroom caging to nest. Jamie casually goes back to flipping her magazine like nothing ever happened.
Here are a few extra photos I got today!
Jody cozy in her nest:
Burrito with one of his favorite toys:
Foxie was very excited about playing troll toss, which was what happened immediately after these photos:
Foxie later took a nap on the floor but she had no use for blankets:
Awwww…thanks for sharing the sweetness and fun!
Love the troll scarf ?! Jody grooming Jamie is so sweet ??
That was supposed to be a scarf emoji!
Foxie has the best expressions on her face in a few of these photos! Jamie looks marvelous in her troll scarf as usual. Is the troll scarf only Jamie’s favorite or do the other chimps enjoy this haute couture fashion statement too?
I am sort of curious about Jody grooming Jamie. Why was Jody a little pilo? I am assuming her big beautiful lip means she was relaxed but was she pilo because she was nervous asking Jamie to groom? Was the grooming request just a request to groom or was something else behind the ask? Just curious since you also said after grooming Jody went to a caregiver for reassurance. Is this all politically motivated or just a good old fashioned desire to groom The Boss? ; )
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for taking the same questions “right out of my very
mouth”…HaHa
Seriously, I also wondered about the same things you asked about pertaining to Jody’s behavior…I’m always so interested in learning more about Chimp behavior…(particularly about these magnificent ” 7 “…I find it beyond
fascinating… : )
BTW…Will anyone else admit to not knowing the definition of “pilo” (& had to “Google” it) in spite of thinking they had a pretty “Robust” vocabulary??? HaHa
You folks are terrific…I really enjoy reading your comments…
Debi
Hi Kathleen!
These are great questions! I really only find Jamie wearing them though that is not to say others haven’t, but I think Jamie may favor the style more.
Jody may have been pilo because we was excited and perhaps nervous. Nervous maybe only because Jamie could have ignored her which she sometimes does. Jamie might ignore because it could be about politics or could be because Jamie just didn’t feel like it, just depends on the day. But you are right Jo’s lip was loose and I think Jody was just really excited about foraging for big nuts and building her nest! Jody got herself so excited she needed some reassurance from a friend Jamie who decided to groom with and after grooming with Jamie, Jo needed a little extra reassurance from us human friends on her way to building her nest. Overall, I think it was just some good old fashion grooming and some drive by reassurance from some humans 😉
I love the one where Jody goes up to Jamie and they look at each other. It’s like Jamie’s going to say okay now what? But is kind to let Jody groom for a bit. They are so much like us without most of the ugliness. Thank you for all you do. It must be like an adventure every day.
At risk of sounding like a broken record, these photographs are just beautiful! i love Foxie’s play face, and Jamie looks ever so debonair with that scarf. If only this could have been caught on camera. I would gladly pay and sit through an afternoon of such footage of these great apeople.
Yes, Jamie is an absolute knockout. Did she knot the dolls into the scarf herself? Been wondering ever since this great post appeared. Thanks!
I think the staff does it…..I’m not sure why, though…..maybe a way for Foxie to carry as many at one time as possible? Or enrichment is Foxie untying the knots to get them loose.
What surprised me about that top photo is Jamie’s expression. She usually doesn’t like to be in photos and on camera, but in that photo, she looks almost pleased to be in the photo. Almost as though she’s smiling.
Thanks, Linda. Knowing the Boss can tie knots, maybe she’ll come up with her own doll scarf soon! Anyway all these photos are priceless.
Hi Trish! We staff or volunteers make the scarves though I am sure if the chimps wanted to make them they could. The chimps really like them as enrichment. It is true Jamie loves to wear them around her neck and Foxie does like to untie the dolls!