The video above is a pretty good follow-up to the snippet of Willy B that I shared within this video a few weeks ago.
I took the footage for today’s video last week, but didn’t want to usurp Foxie’s birthday so I saved it for today.
For a glimpse of actual happenings today, visit our Instagram page, and behold some highlights below from the breakfast forage on Young’s Hill.
Jamie was just scratching her face in that image above, but I like how it looks like she might be saying, “oh, geez, Missy”
Jody once again dominated the willow forage:
and Negra seemed to be just fine with our secret lettuce-for-breakfast-outside weight loss plan aimed to slim her down a bit:
Kathleen says
Poor Willy B, what’s a guy gotta do to get some privacy and peace. (I think the gang of seven gave back as good as they got!) Well done Willy B, message received.
Excuse me, but are you implying that our beautiful Queen is over weight?! Perhaps Negra needs to spend less time under her blankets and sign up to attend Jamie’s Jam Sessions around Young’s Hill instead. But that will never happen nor should it. Negra gets to do exactly as she pleases, just as it should be. Big heads of lettuce for any/every meal, whether you loose weight or not, must be Negra’s dream come true! (Gee, maybe Negra is holding onto lettuce water weight!)
Wonderful photos, thanks Diana.
Diana says
Kathleen: lettuce water weight – that must be the explanation! We have noticed that she has been less active this spring and summer, so it’s a dual goal of encouraging some exercise and implementing some calorie reduction. It’s perfect that she loves lettuce!
Kathleen says
I have a quick question. Referring to your link of Willy B from a few weeks ago where Willy is trying to conjure up a display but it fizzles out. I never thought about this before but I assume there is no point in displaying if no one can see or hear you correct (seemed as if everyone was out and about foraging that day)? So did Willy B’s display fizzle because no one was watching him, whereas today he has a screaming fan club with all eyes on him? Last weeks feeble display attempt really cracked me up but I never stopped to think about his incentives, or lack thereof, to let it rip.
Diana says
Kathleen. I had to think about this for a bit…
True that displays are an outward communication generally meant to impress, warn, or remind others of your toughness. The way the building is set up and how chimpanzee vocalizations carry, the two groups of chimps can hear displays pretty much wherever they are, even if visual access is obscured. If Willy B or any/all of the group of three are loudly displaying in their part of the building, they can even be heard by the chimps far outside on the hill.
Right now, the Courtyard is open for the group of three only when the rest of Young’s Hill is closed to the seven because there’s just one layer of electric fencing separating the two areas. Our expansion plans include eventually splitting the outdoor habitat into Young’s Hill and The Bray with several layers of electric fencing separating different groups – https://chimpsnw.org/2020/06/the-king-of-the-courtyard-and-his-growing-kingdom/
Most of the time, though, the group of seven have great views of the Courtyard and the Chute through the many playroom windows (and more opaque views if they are only in the greenhouse, which is rare since we generally clean the playroom first).
When the video in this post was taken, the seven were displaying in the playroom. I think they were much more boisterous that particular day, so Willy B was perhaps responding in kind whereas his fizzled display from the other week was when the seven were not so loud. Or maybe he’s slowly working up to bigger displays in the Courtyard and these have all been practice sessions.
I find it interesting that he ended the display facing in the opposite diretion from the playroom, so it wasn’t very directly threatening, perhaps more commentary on the other group’s displaying than a challenge to it.
Kathleen says
Thanks so much for your reply Diana. I am glad you mentioned Willy facing with his back toward the seven. I was wondering what that was all about, curious if he was sending a specific message. On his 4th and last display Willy sits a little more in profile than full back. And I also thought that maybe Willy just feels as if he king of his outside domain and enjoys a display to prove it, even to himself. It also intrigued me that each display was perfectly timed, almost within the exact same time as the last. Amazing. I guess we can never really know what they are thinking but your experience and insight on this is really appreciated.
And I never stopped to think about the security needed (electric fencing) to keep groups apart from each other if one did decide to make a charge at the other group. Chimpanzees and all great apes are so fascinating and intelligent. In my next life I am going to be a primatologist! Thanks again for your time.
CeeCee says
I love that cirque du soleil shot of missy !
what amazing balancing skills.
Linda C says
I didn’t realize you guys were making a concerted effort to slim Neggir down, Diana, but I have seen a difference in the last year, I feel.
Linda C says
Neggie
Barbara H. says
What I like about Willy B. and the other chimps is that they seem to know exactly
what they want to do and then they do it. We won’t ever know the what and why
of it but that is OK. Animals are just amazing when we watch them. Thank you.
Pat Malcolm says
I just love the replies to Willie’s display that we hear coming from indoors. And how the end of his vocalization sounds like an elephant trumpeting. Thanks for sharing!