If you are new to the blog, here are two things to know about the boss female chimpanzee Jamie: she loves boots, and she is constantly ordering the humans around.
You can see the force of her personality in these photos:
She’s also very particular about the things that she wants, and sometimes it takes the humans a while to understand what she’s asking for in a given moment.
Usually, when Jamie wants us to put on boots and walk around the outside of the outdoor habitat “with” her, she wants us to change into her favorite pair of boots du jour. We turn to the drying boots from the previous days enrichment or to her own personal boot and book closet to find the pair that she’s been most interested in lately.
Over the past twelve years, caregivers have worn various boot brands and styles. Right now, however, many of us are wearing XtraTuf boots. Kelsi, Anna, and Katelyn have a pair, as do I now. Chad and J.B. were the latest caregivers to upgrade to XtraTufs. Anthony still hasn’t succumbed to conformity. We have not received any funds from XtraTuf for this endorsement, but maybe they should send Anthony a pair so he will find out what he’s missing 😉
We female caregivers have the “Salmon Sisters” style that can be worn fully up or folded down to different lengths, revealing the unique fabric on the inside.
As with most fashion, there tends to be more variety for women’s styles, and Chad and J.B.’s boots are of the kind that don’t fold down to reveal fun patterns – they just wear them up.
A few days ago, Jamie got my attention and was gesturing for something. I assumed she wanted to go on a walk, so I pulled out all of the boots that I knew were favorites of hers, but she just continued to gesture empathically. After several minutes, I finally figured out that she wanted me to change into my cleaning boots, which I did, and we proceeded on our walk.
Today it was a similar routine, but both Kelsi and I were already wearing our cleaning boots, so we couldn’t immediately figure out what Jamie wanted.
Later in the afternoon Kelsi had a moment of insight and tried unrolling her boots to their full length.
That was it!
Jamie was off in a flash, with Kelsi happily catching up to her.
I wish I knew more about what goes on in Jamie’s head, but it’s always rewarding to figure out what she wants, even if it doesn’t make a lot of sense to us.
I love a chimp who loves her boots and has such a strong beautiful face!
Stay safe!
What an intelligent, wonderful character is Miss Jaimie! I love hearing these stories of just how wonderful and beautiful each of these animals are! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us all!
Oh, Diana, as soon as you started describing the fabric, I knew this was gonna be one of those “good” Jamie stories! She’s having quite the week, isn’t she!?
So she wants you to wear them the way the guys do….was it Chad’s day off? Was she missing Chad, maybe?
She must have noticed that the routines have changed, that some people are there more often, and others are missing. I wonder what she thinks…
Jaime sounds like a girl after my own heart as I too LOVE boots!!! In my dreams I have a whole closet of boots!!! All these chimps are blessed to have caretakers such as yourselves and you are truly blessed to have the awesome responsibility and privilege to care for these chimps!!
Me, too, but no matter where my weight is, my calves are always problematic. Add in 3 injuries on 1 leg, including the ankle, and boots become nigh impossible. I can make a shoestore sales person cry by walking in and saying, “I want knee high boots, please.” So the ones I have are very dear. Like Jamie, I look at boot catalogs and just dream of being able to pick out ones I like that fit.
It takes a brilliant mind to communicate with another species.
And a big heart to care enough to kerp on trying
Four exceptional portraits of Jamie. Those expressive eyes seem to be tethered to my heart because when I look at her I feel a tugging in my chest. I love this girl. What fun it must be trying to figure out exactly what Jamie is asking you to do. I guess this is your “enrichment” for the day! Anything to please the Boss.
It keeps work from ever being boring, doesn’t it?