• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

  • Our Family
    • The Chimpanzees
    • The Cattle
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Visiting the Sanctuary
    • Philosophy
      • FAQs
      • Mission, Vision & Goals
      • Privacy Policy
    • The Humans
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Founder
    • Annual Reports
    • The Future of CSNW
    • CSNW In The News
  • You can help
    • Donate
      • Become a Chimpanzee Pal
      • Sponsor A Day
      • Transfer Stock
      • Be A Produce Patron
      • Be a Bovine Buddy
      • Give from your IRA
      • Personalized Stones
      • Bring Them Home Campaign
    • Leave A Legacy
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • See Our Wish List
    • Events
  • Resources
    • About Chimpanzees
    • Enrichment Database
    • Advocacy
      • Apes in Entertainment
        • Trainers
        • Role of the AHA
        • Greeting Cards
      • Chimpanzees as Pets
      • Roadside Zoos
      • Chimpanzees in Biomedical Research
      • Conservation
        • African Apes
        • Orangutans
  • Shop
    • Merchandise Store
  • Contact
  • DONATE NOW

Just Right

March 28, 2020 by Diana

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.

 

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin8
BootsCaregiversJamieSanctuary

Share

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin8

Subscribe To the Blog and Get Notified of New Posts First!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Diane DePoe says

    March 28, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    I love a chimp who loves her boots and has such a strong beautiful face!

    Stay safe!

  2. Caroline says

    March 28, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    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!

  3. Linda C says

    March 28, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    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…

  4. Deanna says

    March 28, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    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!!

    • Linda C says

      March 29, 2020 at 5:18 am

      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.

  5. Betsy says

    March 28, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    It takes a brilliant mind to communicate with another species.

    • Linda C says

      March 29, 2020 at 5:19 am

      And a big heart to care enough to kerp on trying

  6. Kathleen says

    March 28, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    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.

    • Linda C says

      March 29, 2020 at 5:21 am

      It keeps work from ever being boring, doesn’t it?

Previous Post
First Patrol
Next Post
Jody’s trip to the clinic

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe To the Blog and Get Notified of New Posts First!

Archives

Calendar of Blog Posts

March 2020
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Feb   Apr »

Categories

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Footer

PO Box 952
Cle Elum, WA 98922
[email protected]
509-699-0728
501c3 registered charity
EIN: 68-0552915

Official DDAF Grantee

Menu

  • The Chimpanzees
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • You can help
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Donate

Proud Member of

Connect With Us

Search

Copyright © 2024 Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. All Rights Reserved. Site by Vegan Web Design