Today we celebrated Jody’s honorary birthday by scattering large amounts of whole fresh produce and browse across Young’s Hill. The chimps each collected their own individual lunch bouquet (a perfect tribute to Mother’s Day).
Negra and Missy each had their own respective lunch forage hauls.
But when Missy made it back to the greenhouse with corn and lettuce, Negra pulled rank and ordered Missy (somewhat reluctantly) to turn over her lunch:
Missy made up for her loss by gathering almost every single lilac we had put out in the greenhouse:
Annie was on high alert due to a snake sighting early on in the forage:
Eating on an elevated platform seemed like the best choice for her today:
Jamie has been collecting corn on the cob all day! She seems to keep finding a piece, every time she goes outside.
Then there was the birthday girl… This day was truly her day.
Jackie says
Happy Birthday to the beautiful Jody!
Maureen O'MALLEY says
What beautiful photos today, especially! Happy birthday, Jody! Glad they had such a great time gathering food. Sorry dear Negra hijacked Missy. Glad Missy got a replacement. Lilacs are my favorites, though I’ve never eaten one. Keep having the time of your lives, Friends! Love to you all.
Andy Olson says
What a great birthday girl. Happy birthday Jody
Tobin says
I absolutely love these pictures, and I adore that beginning and ending photograph of my beloved chimpanzee pal, Jody. Aside from being the den mother to the other six, I can’t think of a better way that Jody would want to spend her birthday than foraging a bounty to smell and eat. I trust that she somehow knows that this is her special day in her honor. What a blessing of joy she is to all who khave the privilege of knowing her. I wish dear Jody a happy birthday and another happy new year of life.
Jojo says
Happy Birthday Jody!! Here’s hoping 44 will be your best year yet! It looks like everyone had a super fun day filled with delicious snacks and sunshine. As usual the pictures are superb so thanks for sharing. I really like the first and last of Jody the best.
Kathleen says
Happy Birthday Jody! I agree with Tobin, the photo of Jody with lilac is, well all I can say is be still my beating heart. Never stop being your beautiful, motherly self Ms. Jody. I wish you comfort, love, the best of health, and wild forages all year long!
I can’t believe Missy acquiesced and gave over her lettuce head to Queen Negra. Oh Neggie. But Missy looks liked she recovered quickly thanks to her score of lilacs. What a day. Thank you for these beautiful photos.
Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday Jody. Party on…..XOXO
Linda says
I agree with all here–that pic of Jo with the lilacs is so beautiful!
I love to see the triumphant “Farmer Jo” returning with her loot! No matter what she gets, the look on her face says she’s convinced that she got the best of what was out there!
So funny………Diana had indicated that the hierarchy study showed Annie was low on the list, but I can’t help thinking that Missy is always the one who has her lunch stolen by Jamie or begged off her by Neggie…..I feel like leeks would have been more filling than lilacs, as much as I like lilacs…….hope she got some chow later…..
Do you guys supervise each meal/forage, Anna, to make sure everyone’s getting at least close to the calories they need?
Anna says
We generally try to balance out forages by making sure to serve the majority of the meals directly to the chimps. For Jody’s b-day forage, we did save the chow back to be served a little later in the day.
Arlene and Michael says
Happy Birthday sweet Jody? The pictures are so lovely. It looks like the Chimps enjoyed the day with foods and friends they love. So happy for them and thank you for all you do for them – Happy Mother’s Day to all.
Linda says
I agree…I often see photos that I wish we could purchase……maybe the best we can hope for is to have them put on the calendar next year, so we could buy that? I think this one’s great, and my fav is Ms Fox sitting in the window of the greenhouse with her legs stretched out in front of her, smiling at the camera through the window.
Margaret Mckenzie says
The lilac photos are so beautiful I wish I could buy copies
Elaine Reininger says
The first and last photos of Jody (I think they are one and the same) are just beautiful. She looks like she is smiling and so happy with what she got. Felt sorry for Missy having her forage stolen from her. Great photos and so happy staff shared them with us.
Debi says
Lilacs for such a lovely lady…
I can’t tell you enough how much I love your daily photographs & accompanying stories…They fill our hearts with so much love for these magnificent & fascinating Chimpanzees…Thank you so much for sharing them with so many caring animal lovers every day…I wish you could “feel” our love…
Debi
Barbara Huljak says
Those pictures all brought laughs and wonderful smiles to my face.
What a gift these chimps have been given after their “previous” life.
I love that so much and love supporting them.