Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

Chimpanzees who collect

by

Personally, I’ve never been much of a collector. I am not very neat, but I do enjoy when my surroundings are clutter-free. There’s a particular joy I get out of getting rid of things and thereby decreasing rather than increasing my possessions. But I’m fascinated by collectors and those who clearly get a unique satisfaction in their things.

It’s all the more fascinating to care for two chimpanzee collectors. Foxie is pretty famous for her doll collection, and most people who have been tuning in to our blog for a while know that Jamie loves cowboy boots. You might have also learned that she can be pretty into books too; when the two combine – books about cowboy boots – well, that must be something akin to heaven for her.

For a couple of weeks now, she’s been carrying around a book called Texas Boots purchased by a Jamie-fan through our Amazon.com wish list.

To say that she loves this book might be an understatement or a mischaracterization. Maybe there’s a particular word that describes the feeling collectors have for their things that transcends mere everyday love.

One interesting aspect of both Jamie’s and Foxie’s collections and how they interact with their chosen objects is that they share them with the humans. Jamie wants the staff and volunteers to put on her most cherished boots. Foxie passes her dolls to trusted caregivers for safekeeping and games of toss.

And now Jamie slides her beloved books and magazines under the caging so that we can carry them with us while we follow her around the outdoor expanse of Young’s Hill on her walks or just back and forth through the building.

This is the new routine.

Earlier this week, she passed me the Texas Boots book after we had finished up a session of Positive Reinforcement Training. I expected that we would carry out our usual post-PRT routine and walk around the hill, but it was a little dreary outside. So, instead, I sat on the other side of the caging with Jamie in the greenhouse and turned the pages of the book for her to see. She would focus longer on the images of people wearing boots, and she would nod her head when I turned a page, which is generally Jamie-speak for, “yes, I like that.” After flipping through the book a couple of times, I offered to give it back to her, and she took it.

She tucked it under her arm and continued to sit on the other side of the caging. We sat in contented silence in each other’s company like that for about five minutes (which is a really long time for an active chimpanzee!), until she got up to go about other activities.

It was one of the finest moments I’ve ever had with another being of any kind.

Jamie certainly has a way of implanting the desire to find more things that she likes – to fill her life with these moments of satisfaction that I can’t say that I completely understand, but that I appreciate beyond words.

Her boots, all of them donated to her, have been outgrowing their plastic bins for a while now, and it just so happened that the boot closet we were using for staff cleaning boots was emptied now that we have more space in Phase 1 of the expansion. So, I had the idea that we should put Jamie’s boots and other sundry things in that closet.

It’s in the perfect location because Jamie can see it from the playroom loft.

I had moved Jamie’s things into the closet when Anna was on vacation last week. Anna returned on Tuesday, and Jamie wasted no time in pointing out to Anna this exciting new home for her personal treasures. In case you too want to add to Jamie’s collection, I’ve added some more books to our wish list. When we receive items, we will put them in her closet so she can point them out for us to get for her.

In case you are worried that the other chimpanzees feel left out, I think they are just as mystified by Jamie’s attraction to certain objects as I am. Once in a while, I see Missy flipping through a book, and I even gave one to Burrito last week, which he unceremoniously tossed to the ground and walked away.

I guess you have to be a collector to get it.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Diana, I treasure this post. For 23 years I read aloud to children as an elementary school librarian. What a privilege to read to a nonhuman friend/family member who truly appreciates books!

    • It really was such a special experience with Jamie! How great that you had so many years as a librarian. I worked in libraries in college and in between working at animal sanctuaries. Libraries are a kind of sanctuary too.

  3. I understand Jamie’s love of books. I have loved books since I was a little girl. I read a book a week, and have 10 on my desk waiting for me.

    • Books are great! For me, I am okay reading them and then letting them go. A book a week is amazing to me!

  4. Thanks for sharing your special moments of silent companionship with Jamie, as well as “the whole story” in this post. Wonderful!

  6. I remember the post where a Jamie fan made a gigantic book of nothing but boots. Before it was passed to her under the grate, a caretaker showed it to her from outside the cage. She gazed for long periods of time at the page and then motioned to the caretaker when she wanted the page to be turn. It was the most amazing thing I ever saw. I do love Jamie so very very, very much. loved these pictures, Diana, of Jamie with book tucked under her arm.

    • That video is from late July, early 2017, in which the Boss is introduced to “Jamie’s Book of Boots.” I named it the best video of 2017, and I’ve watched it many times. It is simply beautiful to observe Jamie’s fascination with the visuals of her and her fancy footwear.

  7. What a marvelous experience and post! Thank you for sharing it with us!
    I’m learning to pass on most of my books, and only buy them when it’s something I might read more than once. However, when I travel, I collect bookmarks: they’re small, cheap, don’t take up space in my suitcase, they’re functional: when I use them (I read a lot for work) they remind me of the places I’ve been.

    Saint George’s Day is Tuesday, April 23. Celebrated in Spain by gifting a book or a rose (these days, it’s both-men used to get the books and ladies the roses, but I think the women caught on to who was getting the better part of the deal).

    I’m so glad that someone sent Jamie a book on boots; I had my eyes open for one, but haven’t had time to shop lately.
    I looked at the wish list, Diana. No books on it. Did your readers move that quickly!?

    • April 23 is also “Love-a-Chimpanzee Day”. I am sure that if Jamie would appreciate a good book to peruse, at least one of her friends would enjoy a rose…to eat.

    • Yes, they moved fast to buy up all of those books!! Collecting bookmarks is a good idea – small and useful too. I’m glad you liked the post, Linda. April 23rd is even more special than I realized.

  8. As April posted the book she ordered above, I’ve got two on order for Jamie by the same author.
    One is his COWBOY BOOTS, and the other is his THE COWBOY BOOT BOOK. Unfortunately, I clicked through without changing the address, so they’ll come to me first and then I’ll send them on to you. But they’ll get there! (Just as well–I was at Wally’s yesterday, and they had some cute packs of treat containers with Poppy Troll on them, and I grabbed 2 or 3 6-packs, thinking that they would make for fun foraging at Foxie’s next birthday party! I can send it all together)

  9. I. Am. Deeply. MOVED. Wow. I am moved to tears. I am a collector. I’m pretty sure every graphic designer is a collector as we can’t enough of beautifully designed things. And I hold on to my favorite books as if they were exotic gemstones — irreplaceable, valued. My books are feathered with colorful post-it tabs so at any given moment I can direct myself right to my favorite passages. And I collect books on chimpanzees (great apes) and dogs. Beautiful photography books, books on sanctuaries and shelters/rescues, and books on behavior. While I am fortunate enough to always be around countless dogs, this is not so with chimpanzees so my books are the next best thing to being there. I too feel ‘good’ just holding a favorite book. It’s magical. Even when you are not reading it, and you are just holding it, you feel the magic of the story and the photos hidden inside and your mind wanders and you feel like your world has grown tenfold in size. I bet this is how Jamie feels holding her books. It’s a key to her heart and inner most desires. It is magical and personal. And I am so moved that Jamie shares her secret wonder with you, silently.

    I always say you have THE best job. For all the hard work involved, to have the moment you just shared with Jamie makes your profession paramount. Why is it that we foolish humans place corporations and politicians to rule the world when there are people like you Diana, and all your caregivers and volunteers, working in sanctuaries around the country and the globe who should be recognized and raised above the fray? Believing in sentience in all living creatures is what this world needs. If only everyone could have such a profound moment with beautiful Jamie. If they did, I know the world would be a better place.

    (Now I have to go and blow my nose because this post flattened me — in the best of ways.)

    • It’s true that we have the best job. That moment will carry be for quite a long time. Thanks for all you do to enrich the lives of the chimpanzees, Kathleen!

  10. Jamie, I am in awe of your book loving and sharing abilities. It is a joy one gets and receives. You look so content.
    Diana what a treat for you. I have a pair of size nine cowboy boots my dr gave me for Jamie. I will get them to you at one of the volunteer activities.

  11. My eyes are burning with tears…Extraordinary post & photos, & even though I’d be hardpressed to choose my absolute favorite (there are just too many), this particular post would be at the top of my list…I truly love all seven chimps, (All primates…especially chimps) have fascinated me as long as I can remember, & I’m almost sixty-six years old) fascinate me) but I have an extra soft spot for Jamie, Burrito & Foxie…

    • Debi – I’m so glad you read and had such a reaction to the post. Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. It’s wonderful that you have found our blog given your lifelong fascination with primates. Thanks for following their stories.