Honey B is a smart, funny, curious chimpanzee. One of things we have discovered that she loves most is rolling around in paper – it is something so simple that never fails to make her happy. Willy B couldn’t resist her playfulness today (see video above).
As an update to Mave, Willy B, and Honey B’s lack of outdoor habitat adventures, I tried a few different things today to try to encourage them to venture into their outdoor courtyard. 1) I placed some nuts and seeds along the wooden walkway, some within reach of a chimpanzee sitting at the end of the chute. 2) I had the door open to the courtyard when they went into the chute, rather than opening it up once they were in the chute, and 3) I did my best to act super casual (this may not be my forte) and moved away from the chute and even around the corner.
I’m sorry to say that no one ventured out, even with these measures, but when I was out of his sight, Willy B did work up the courage to reach out and very quickly grab a few nuts, which must have felt like a big victory to him.
Even little steps are steps.
Absolutely precious. Thank you for sharing!
I wonder if Honey B likes the paper because it sounds like rustling leaves in the forest…just thinking about their natural habitat and archetypal sounds.
I think you are on to something with the nut trail and open door theory. Maybe you need to up the ante next time with the top of a pineapple. I can feel it, some beautiful sunny afternoon they are going to surprise you. For now, it sure looks as if there is tons of fun to had just playing inside. Life is good and the laughs are plentiful!
I dunno, Kathleen, if the ladies see both Willy B AND the top of the pineapple out there, they just might put chimp-shaped holes in the windows, cartoon style! 😀
Awwww. Change is hard, but watching these two run back and forth through doors! Doors may have been scary to them for parts of their life. Perhaps there was a time where nothing good came through a door. And now they have fun with them. Wishing the best to the Californians 🙂
Loved the view of all the rooms the chimps ran through. Gives us a better idea what the layout of their indoor enclosure it. I forgot to say how much I enjoyed a few days ago the video of a cow kissing JB. What I wouldn’t do to pet a cow. JB looks pretty happy about it too.
The video reminded me of 2 kids playing. Very cute. I was not surprised at the paper
playing. I had a dog several years ago who LOVED chewing and shredding envelopes
all day long. So easy to please, as I was recycling envelopes from the mail I put them
in a tipped over waste basket and he’d get one at a time and go to it. He loved the
ones that had clear plastic in the front. Loved the sound. As I loved watching the
chimps play in the paper – could be the sound. Enjoyed the blog.
I so appreciate all the work that you do at the sanctuary! I noticed in watching the video that the paper sounds like kids playing in piles of rustling leaves so thought about the power of forest sounds and memories, both current and ancient…watching these videos is a special treat. Thank you for posting them!
That Willy B with his mega smile is a “nut” himself…I get such joy watching the ten chimps being goofy & happy, & playful with their friends…No matter what they’re doing, it touches my heart…
just when you think “basic” is the last word you’d use to describe Honey B….