We all have preferences for food. Our likes and dislikes. The chimps are no different. I can’t tell you how many times Foxie has poked away something green and looked offended that I would even offer kale. Or how many times Honey B has politely given back pieces of food she does not want. I thought you might all want to know what foods the chimps think are the most delicious and the worst! Let’s start with what collectively everyone loves; cabbage and lettuce! So simple and plain, but the chimp house will erupt in excitement when they see a head of lettuce or slices of cabbage.
Now, let’s get into personal preferences. 🙂
Negra, as we all might know is all about chow and peanuts. Negra is a carbs girl so of course for our special holidays she gets the most excited for dinner rolls, well, maybe besides Burrito. They might be in a tie for that one.
Jamie will never say no to any type of pear. She really loves onions in any form, green onions, leeks, raw onion, baked onions! Jamie loves them all.
Missy might be the easiest to guess. She eats, sleeps, and breathes tomatoes. Missy also really like lettuce, sweet potatoes, and ice! For her birthday, we do tomato parties!
Foxie can be a bit picky. Do not give her green foods! Foxie mostly lives for smoothies and fruits! She also likes sweet potatoes (especially baked), tomatoes, and ohhhh she loves avocados! Foxie for her birthday gets watermelon bowls, which are one of her favorites.
Jody is a forager. She loves going on the Hill and finding prickly lettuce, dandelions, cattails, flowers, and whatever else she can find. Jody really likes bananas and carrots. There are many amazing things about Jody, but the best is when she is really content or happy Jody makes the dinosaur groan of satisfaction. That is how we know she is really enjoying something good.
Annie is easy to please. She really likes everything, except for mangoes. She is allergic to mangoes! Annie loves grass, flowers, green onion, and kale.
Burrito LOVES food! Obviously, his favorite is pasta, but he only gets it on special occasions! Burrito is also pretty easy to please. He really like all potatoes, regular or sweet!
*** Willy B, Mave, and Honey B are hesitant to try new foods. Often, they just stare at you when you try to serve them something new and delicious, like you are trying to poison them. For example, for Negra’s brunch we served waffles to everyone. The three just stared at us like we were crazy for offering! Eventually they tried the waffles and enjoyed them. ***
Willy B loves cabbage. He also really likes carrots and sweet potatoes. Willy thinks cucumbers are disgusting. He does not like tea or any other beverage that might look like a suspicious drink. However, Willy B is a fun individual to watch eat. For example, when Willy B eats a carrot or cabbage he eats it like Bugs Bunny!
Mave is a California girl! She loves a really good avocado and fresh pineapple! Mave was hesitant about baked goods, but now she loves baked onions, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes! Mave is always the first one up for breakfast, it might be her favorite meal. Mave will only eat a cucumber if there is nothing else, it is her last choice.
Honey B LOVES lettuce and smoothies! She also likes carrots, popcorn, and brussel sprouts. Something you all should know about Honey B, if you don’t already is that she is the world’s slowest eater! Honey B also rarely eats a cucumber.
When Honey B is eating, she likes to stare deeply into your eyes. We joke that her actually food is our souls. If looks deep enough she will steal it :). I believe this photo embodies that.
Mave eating is pure bliss.
Mave’s facial expression feels almost looks like a taunt. Like, you hungry? Or, you want some of this?
I managed to get an action shot of Willy B eating his cabbage like Bugs Bunny!
Don’t forget to check up on our Wish List! Thanksgiving may be tomorrow, but Christmas is just around the corner and we are slowly adding items on their list!
Deanna says
OMG! They are all so precious and I love them all!!! You are absolutely right… Honey B is trying to steal your soul!!! Happy thanksgiving everyone! I’m so thankful for all of you who take such great care of these amazing individuals! I’m thankful that you are able to take in more of the WWS chimps in need. In this year of turmoil there is still much to be thankful for and I’ll say it again and again… thank you. Have a safe Thanksgiving.
Linda C says
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving, Deanna!
Lynn Gold says
I have 2 rabbits in my FURMILY-so now when i see & hear them eating crunchy vegetables i will think of Willy B.i love hearing about all their difference preferences.Once again i am with beautiful Neggie!
Marc says
I was so intrigued to learn how much they love eating onions. That was such an interesting fact for me and while I do love onions myself, eating a whole onion or green onion makes have a few tears. It is so cool to watch the lot of them eat and I would relate myself to Burrito, I eat just about everything!
Marcia says
I’m thankful for this post and for you Kelsi for writing it. I’m with Marc and love almost all foods, so I love to hear about their preferences and repeatedly watch all the eating videos, especially Burrito’s since his enjoyment is so absolute.
Speaking of eating video’s I have my fingers crossed for a good one tomorrow!
Tobin says
This post made me hungry, and the accompanying photographs are sumptuous! As an addendum to the list, mention should be made of the premium amongst the Gang of Seven for pumpkins and the top of a pineapple! Talk about Sounds of Stegosaurian Serenity! Oh, and Her Majesty has a documented record of sweet corn swindling and/or receiving royal tribute from her subjects. I look forward to tomorrow’s documentary of the Thanksgiving feasts.
Tobin says
And, a quick inquiry: In addition to grasses and grains, what are some other foods which the cattle eat?
marianne says
Great blog Kelsi, I have learned new things ( not many chimp people like cucumber and I can totally relate to that), thank you.
I do love Mave eating a carrot or eggplant ( video’s I watch over and over when I need some cheering-up ); and the one with Willy B chomping on cabbage…brightens my days.
And I am sure Honey B knows that eating slowly is needed to keep a good figure to sport those headbands and fannypacks….
Now, on a totally unrelated subject to this blog, but one that has me wondering for a long time: What is the pupose of those flat stones on the high side of Young’s Hill where the humans walk? I can see there are different texts on them; they look like memorial stones or something of that order.
I would be greatfull if you could you tell me.
Greetings from the other side ( of the globe ) 🙂 .
Kelsi says
Hi Marianne! You can’t beat watching chimps eat, right?! Oh, that is a great question! It’s one of my favorite donations people can do :). They are personalized stones. They could be in memory of someone or anything you would like! I love going on walks with Jamie and reading all the different stones. Here is a link if you want to know more: https://chimpsnw.org/you-can-help/personalized-stones/
marianne says
Thank you Kelsi, very informative. ( and fast answer ).
Kathleen says
Thank you Kelsi for breaking down the gangs favorite chomps. This was such a fun read! And these photos are just the best! **Bookmark this page for when you all produce that book on CSNW sanctuary that I keep hinting about. ; )
So if I break it down, Negra is carbs, Jamie is a sweet & savory gal, Foxie is anti-greens (this cracks me up) with a wicked sweet tooth. Jody is an independent nature girl, and Annie is easy and natural too, and then there’s Burrito. Perhaps his name tips off his love of food…stuff it full, roll it up, and enjoy! I assume with time, the Californian’s will trust more of the culinary delights you serve them, it takes time to realize there’s more positive flavors over the recalled negative ones. For now it seems as if Willy B likes to enjoy a good crunch (like Marianne mentioned, I too love watching the videos showing “The Willy B Chomp”!), Mave’s a rich flavorful girl and Honey B devours souls (what a treat for you)! I think my heart would stop if I had Honey’ B’s beautiful pink-eye-lidded eyes boring through me!
To be the one offering all these scrumptious food delights must make you very thankful every single day. Nourishing, healthy food is essential to their well being and it’s just another fortunate experience of living the sanctuary life.
Today, and everyday, I give thanks that 10 magnificent chimpanzee people live a safe, loved, healthy life, full of choices — a life they have always deserved but didn’t always receive. I am also forever grateful that 4 gorgeous bovines also call CSNW their happy home. Life IS good on Young’s Hill. Thank you Diana, J.B., Kelsi, Chad, Anna, Anthony, Katelyn, Dr. Erin, and everyone who has a big place in their hearts for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Much love to you today and everyday.
Linda C says
Honey B eating your soul, lol. I felt that!