Yesterday, as I was helping clean the Playroom, I noticed Foxie sitting at the door that leads to Young’s Hill.
Was she contemplating going outside? Was it too cold for her? Was she just waiting for somebody to return? I admittedly stopped cleaning and watched her for a few minutes. After some time, others began to return from their patrol around the hill.
Jody returned with some fresh picked greens.
Then Jamie returned with Burrito right behind her.
After their return, almost everybody spent the rest of the time on the top platform waiting for us humans to finish cleaning.
It’s hard to say what Foxie was thinking or why she herself didn’t choose to go outside, but today was different.
When cleaning was done today, Jamie requested Kelsi and Anna to go on a walk with her.
They were soon joined by Missy and Burrito. All three of them thought it was an amazing idea to sprint up the hill, which included making Kelsi and Anna sprint as well.
While Jamie, Missy, and Burrito were running around with the human caregivers, I caught two familiar figures out of the corner of my eye.
Jody and Foxie decided to have their own little adventure.
The Adventures of Jody and Foxie aren’t quite like the others. They can be equated to being like two old friends taking a walk in the park. Really just a casual stroll through the outside enclosure. If someone takes an interest in something, the other stops and waits for them.
Foxie decided to try to climb one of the structures. As she did, Jody waited for her.
When they were done with their adventure, they headed back inside the Greenhouse.
Right around the time Foxie and Jody decided they had enough adventure, the Trio’s adventure was coming to an end as well. It should come to no surprise that Missy was the first one to make it back. She usually sprints the entire hill, leaving everyone else in her dust.
Jamie and Burrito were not far behind though.
You may have noticed Jamie’s attire might have changed from the beginning of their adventure to the end. Both Anna and Kelsi told me she started out with a scarf, then half way through it turned into a waistband, and at the very end it turned into a sash. We never know how the chimpanzees will react and interact with the different enrichment items they are provided. Sometimes they are a hit, sometimes they fall flat. Jamie though has an ability to shape the items in such a way to her liking. We don’t give her instructions on how to use an item or force her to interact with it. It’s always her choice and her way. I cannot wait for Jamieween to arrive!
And here are some bonus photos I just wanted to share from earlier in the week:
