Today, while observing the chimpanzees forage on Young’s Hill, volunteer Patti said she likes how Negra goes about things.
While Missy is running from one structure to another, finding all of the food that was placed or hidden high up on the structures or the treat rock:
And Jody is busy running around collecting as much as she can, mostly from the ground (low hanging fruit, you might say):
Negra wanders about until she finds some food:
And then she plops herself down and simply enjoys what is at hand (in this case, a beet that she seems to have splayed open and a prized pineapple top):
After finishing, she’ll sit for a bit and look around before moving on to the next station:
J.B. described this as a lack of a strategy, but I think it’s still a strategy to have a laid back, “see what happens” way of approaching the forage.
Either way, she looked very happy out there. ❤️
I think it’s a strategy of Negra’s enjoyment of what she has now. I like that.
She knows how to be content with what she has, doesn’t she?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Dear Neggie, I wish you the top of the pineapple….always!(When I saw the top photo, I had my fingers crossed that it was the pineapple top!)
You know, I’ve been thinking about it, Diana. Someone posted below one of your videos on YouTube that Neggie was the typical senior: lovable, but driving with the blinker on. And you know? I don’t know that I agree.
In the animal world, isn’t it a sign of intelligence, being able to score food while expending as little energy as possible? Bees do it, prey animals do it……they pick out the smallest or sickest in the herd, because they’ll get food for less effort. So maybe Neggie’s on the right track when she lets others forage and then begs, because she knows they’ll give her something. Not very nice, necessarily, and definitely lazy……but not smart? Not sure I agree.
Have you ever seen the other chimps deny her something when she begs?(Besides Jamie, of course)?
I think Negra has some things figured out for sure. She knows who to beg from (Missy will give her food without question, and us humans can be pretty big suckers too). I don’t even know if I would say she’s lazy, per se. When she wants something, she’ll expend the energy. She’s just more likely to do the calculation of whether it’s worth her effort :).
Exactly. And that sounds like a kind of plan to me! Just not the same plan as everyone else! 😀
Life is a puzzle.. and each piece fits into the others… everybody has their method… it is so cool to see and read how their puzzle pieces fit together and keep the group a functioning and friendly family unit.. Makes my day.. as always! Thanks Diana 🙂
I absolutely believe Negra has a strategy, one that fits her pace. Slow and steady wins the race, so don’t be fooled by Negra’s meandering out there. I mean look who is holding the pineapple crown! I agree with Linda, Negra knows how to play it. I think she knows her limitations and she knows who she can work over. If I were a volunteer, one look at those beet red lips (literally) and I’d be putty in her hands! ; )
I love those beet-red lips, too! Maybe Carla Rene should include that little touch on her sketch when she’s done with it!
I call it a lesson in Mindfulness. Thank you Negra.