Jamie had one goal today and it was to pry that howdy door wide open. As you will see in the video that is not the case. Though, we will be starting the long awaited introduction soon. Jamie decided today she did not want to wait anymore! Jamie started with a toy that was put out for them an the playroom. She began hammering at the door and eventually modified the toy (tool) into what seemed more helpful for Jamie. Tool modification is also a behavior seen in the wild. An infamous example for wild chimps modifying tools would be fishing for termites. The chimps take a twig, strip it clean, dip their tool in the termite mound, the termites grab on to twig, and violà! Termites on a stick! When we put out a food puzzle for example: pvc tube with peanut butter, we often offer a tool like a chop stick to help. That way it is the chimps choice in using their finger or finding a potentially quicker way for them to get the peanut butter. Some chimps may adjust their tool to better help them obtain their goal! Or maybe even a better example is when there is food outside of the caging. The chimps will find an item such as a tooth brush, piece of paper, or a tube that will be able to allow them to pull the food closed so they can reach it. Jamie will sometimes find a piece of cardboard and rip the cardboard until it is the perfect tool to grab the food.
Jamie is an amazing tool user. However, Jamie’s goals are usually a bit different. Jamie is fascinated by actual human tools and will modify toys or objects to help her in her “projects” like opening the howdy door.
Francoise says
Hey there, I’m Jamie. I’m just chilling here, waiting for someone to open this blasted door so I can meet these new neighbors. They’ve been here too long for me, er, we, for us not to have been consulted on their acceptability.
Anyone have a battering ram?
Judy says
I have some work that needs to be done on my doors…. and I am guessing that many “fix it” folks would approach the problem in about the same way…. and of course… many would have the correct tool for the job… Jamie clearly has mad-skills in the making!…. Bubble over Jamie’s head says… “If ONLY J.B. or someone would leave the RIGHT tool for the job behind….” Such amazing people they are. 🙂
Kathleen says
Come on. We all know what Jamie is thinking …… if J.B. would just offer up his tools she would hammer that freaking Howdy Door wide open in mere seconds. Her frustrations are not with the the new neighbors or the door, her frustrations are with the inadequate tools the sanctuary provides her with. I wish, just for one day, you could give her big boy tools. Seriously, wouldn’t it be fun to see what Jamie would really do! : ). Eeesh, she is so amazing. Thanks for the video.
Linda says
Forgot the hammer, Kathleen…Jamie wants a blow-torch…
Tobin says
All these comments are very funny. Somehow, I don’t think that the Boss currently has the highest estimation of J.B. and Co’s construction skills. Really, what’s the point of having a “Howdy Door” that Jamie can’t open?
Linda says
JB, when you decided to go into Primatology, did you ever imagine you’d need welding skills!?
Good thing you’ve got them, and that they’re enough to hold up against Jamie, Annie, and Burrito!
Patrick says
Kelsi and Team
I know nothing of chimpanzees, nor am I any kind of animal behaviourist or human psychologist….but I love what you have done with your original group of chimps. Can I share my misgivings about Phase II and ask your thoughts?
The ClevElum 7 have experienced limited and damaged lives as caged experimental subjects combined with – in some cases – additional trauma (being used as a pet, spending time as a “performer”, being removed from Mum near birth and so on). After years of your amazing work, they have reached confident identity as individuals and as a troupe. But there is still daily conflict – short lived, but intense and often violent.
Now you introduce 3 new chimpanzees as a closely contiguous group in a property which is (for example) much smaller than Chimp Haven.
I can see the curiosity and excitement of the chimps in both groups and I can certainly see the behavioural fascination (scientific and lay) for us as humans in your project. But I can also see the possibility of additional serious and violent conflict. In the wild (as I understand it) such conflict could well be violent and cause death – but the nomadic nature of chimpanzee life would mean that one troupe or the other (or both?) would wander on to new territory. In the CSNW that is not the case: the “enemy” (if that is how it turns out…and it may) will always be 8 inches away beyond That Door.
I cannot help wondering….is this truly the right thing to do? Are you in fact creating an environment for high level repeated stress which may destroy the place of safety you have created?
I ask these questions as Advocatus Diaboli, not as troll! Please explain why I am wrong!
Best
Patrick
Diana says
Hi Patrick.
We have definitely thought through the same misgivings that you express. One thing to correct – the total space that we have here CSNW is not smaller than some of the spaces at Chimp Haven where introductions have taken place. There are a variety of enclosures at Chimp Haven and they vary in size!
Chimpanzees by nature can be violent. As you pointed out, there are regular fights in our group of seven. There was nothing really planned or magical about the forming of the group of seven – they just happened to be the last seven chimpanzee living at Buckshire. So, we do not think of them as an ideal group. In fact, the group is less than ideal in many ways and we strongly believe many members of the group will greatly benefit from having more social partners. Their own behavior and clear interest in the new three has strengthened this belief.
Thinking of the three – they could certainly benefit from having a greater variety of social options. They too have been through a lot in their lives and are deserving of the opportunity to live in a larger social group.
It really comes down to weighing the risks with the benefits. This was the message we received from Amy Fultz from Chimp Haven when she came to advise us. It’s clear to us that the potential benefits for all ten chimpanzees are worth some risk, and that we should give the chimpanzees the chance to expand their lives.
Candy from Tyler, Texas says
Even though I’ve been away from the blog for a long time it’s nice to see that Jamie is still the same, inquisitive. I am eager for the introductions to begin and I hope you’ll explain every step taken to introduce them and the order of the introductions. Does seeing the new chimps help in the introductions in any way?
Diana says
Hi Candy! Welcome back!! Jamie is indeed very much the same inquisitive person. We will do our best to explain the introduction process and to answer questions. Having the chimpanzees see one another prior to the introductions has certainly give the humans a lot of information and has been reassuring to see the positive interactions and even eagerness from many in the group of seven to connect with the new three.
Barbara says
I am very impressed with the intuition that Jamie has to make things work for her.
Chimps are amazing animals and so very interesting.