Jamie and Foxie had a pretty epic play session while we were cleaning the playroom this morning. A few things to note about this video:
- Everyone was playing all morning – this is just a small slice of all the craziness.
- I love how Jamie shows Foxie how to get this game started – “Here, I’ve got your doll and you’ve got to try to get it back!”
- If you ever question whether chimpanzees are stronger than humans, try hanging from the ceiling for 10 minutes and let me know how that works out.
- Jamie employed a new move in this play session, which I have dubbed “The Motorcycle”. See if you can spot it.
- Jamie is 43 years old and seems to have unlimited energy. I am 43 years old and would like a nap. I don’t know how they do it.
Oh, and I’ve got some good news to share – we’d like to thank the Glide Foundation, and all of you who donated this past year, for helping us purchase our very own portable digital x-ray machine! As you may know, we have been fortunate to be able to borrow an x-ray unit as needed from a generous local veterinarian, Dr. Kellar, but with additional chimpanzees on the way we knew it was time to have one of our own. Not an easy decision when you are talking about something the price of a nice new car, but we consider it a necessary investment in the health of our growing family and we’re so grateful that you all made it possible. We’d also like to thank our friends at Project V.E.T.S. for sending along some gently used radiation protection equipment to keep our staff and consulting medical professionals safe!
Great video! Loved seeing them play. Gave me a smile on a stressful day.
Thanks for the cute videos. JB this might be a little bit off topic but I have a question that’s been on my mind lately. Everyone is so healthy and happy now. Especially Mr B. I am so worried about him getting injured or worse yet, killed if you try putting him with a new group again. I know absolutely. Nothing about integrating chimps and i bow to your expertise. What are your plans for the future? 3 groups? Thank you for taking the time to answer my fears. I am so worried.
Hi Martine – No need to worry. We have no plans to integrate the Seven with anyone else in the near future. Our hope is that the three Californians will integrate with the six new chimps coming this spring, but we do have the ability to keep three separate groups if that doesn’t work out. Of course, at some point all of the groups will likely need to be rearranged or merged as folks get old and pass away, but that’s not something we need to worry about right now.
I love this video it had me smiling all the way through. Not only did I see the motorcycle move vroom vroom on the ears LOL but I think they also played totem pole:)
This is so endearing. That room is amazing and I am so glad they have a safe place to live where they can do what they like and play with each other like this. Thank you so much for taking care of them. And how wonderful that you got that new equipment.
Oh and Missy is too cute hanging around in the background LOL
This was so much fun. I thought there was going to be a head coming off the doll but no. I always enjoy watching them play.
I love this video because it allows me to see, better than others, I think, how you have created an environment second to none for chimps. The rafters. The ropes. The hoses. The ledge seats. The windows. The natural lighting. And the dark sky. True sky darkness is as important as natural sunlight. Together it creates a truly chimp-friendly home. While watching them play and move about and just linger here and there, I could put a filter over the images, of trees and branches and boulders where chimps congregate and idly interact as they watch what’s happening below, above and across from them. As chimplike as you can get, I think, under the very unchimplike conditions. You’ve created the model of how to do it right. Chimp Haven is fortunate. It has islands and forests and acre upon acre. You have how many acres? And yet you created as “chimpish” a home as can be imagined within that limitation. And your management of it is amazing. All I can say is well done and wow.
Ditto all of that Françoise. And I’ve seen other sanctuaries copy their (CSNW) enrichment, too!
Hi Francoise: Thanks so much for the compliments! We love Chimp Haven, too. The enclosures and habitats at Chimp Haven aren’t actually all that different from those at Save the Chimps, Project Chimps, CSNW, etc., although I would certainly love to have had some natural forest to enclose on our property. It is without a doubt an enormous operation, though! They have many different types of enclosures for their different groups, ranging from closed-top steel mesh enclosures to 1/4-acre corrals to those wonderful 3- to 5-acre forested habitats (I believe that the 5-acre enclosures are the largest that any sanctuary offers right now).
Foxie and Jamie always crack me up with their Troll-Keep-Away. These were the thoughts running through my head while I was enjoying the video — before I read your post J.B. :
• It’s all fun and games until someone stands on your shoulders and head.
• Foxie looks so petite next to Jamie.
• Missy! WOW! Hysterical just hanging there. I keep telling my friends that I am so bored I am climbing the walls. Now I can see I have to stop saying that because I could NEVER do what Missy doing!
• LOL (seriously) over the Foxie and Jamie play session downstairs.
• It’s all fun and games until someone grabs your ears like they are handlebars! (Handlebars was all I could think of but I was thinking more bicycle than motorcycle. A very funny move none the less!)
• Best part, Foxie climbs on Jamie’s back! Another funny move I don’t believe I seen before. Breathy laughter fills the room. LOVE!
Congratulations on your purchase of the new x-ray machine, an investment in the chimps future and worth it for peace of mind in having it alone. Thank you Glide Foundation and Projects V.E.T.S.
I agree Kathleen, this is the first time I’ve really been able to see how petite Foxy is. She’s just adorable.
Thanks for this great experience of being “with” them today! I agree about the nap for sure — and while I’ve had my share of emotionally hanging from the ceiling, thinking about doing it for real isn’t in the cards. The new camera seems to get great close-ups! Much appreciate the time you took to take this long video! And good news re the new group’s space and possible integration w/ the Californians down the road.
I saw this earlier on YT, JB-thanks for such a long one!
Congrats on the equipment, and thabks to those who helped!
Yes, “the motorcycle”, and Foxie ending up on Jamie’s back-I honestly think that’s the biggest play face I’ve ever seen on Jamie!
You echoed my thoughts exactly when I watched it this afternoon–to think they’re in the last 20 yrs of their lives, and there’s Missy hanging by one arm like “ain’t no thing”!
Honestly, though, my heart skipped a beat when they were playing in the windowsill. What a place to roughhouse! Has anyone ever had a less than graceful descent from that window!?
You know, I’ve never really seen a chimpanzee fall without catching themselves. So there have been a few ungraceful descents, yes, but no one has ever fallen.
Thank goodness! Seems like a moment for the Party Police, but the party police were involved in the tussle!
It was just wonderful to see how the chimps fully use 3-D space. We humans are quite 2-D, surface dwelling creatures, and I’ve always thought how cool it would be to live on the moon where we could jump up a story without walking up stairs. When we could fully use our 3-D space, how would it change our architecture? This video gave me a glimpse of that (plus it was just great to see the fun!)
They are so full of life and joy! You take excellent care of them.
Omg too funny! Like a teasing big sister! I love to see everyone being so playful. And great acrobatics!?
First off, no thank you on trying to hang on for 10 minutes or so above my heard.
I can’t imagine how strong they must be. It was a great blog – had to laugh at
certain parts. CSNW is so fortunate to have a wonderful generous following and
also companies helping out with equipment that is hard to imagine how expensive
it is. So happy for you. Thank you again for ending my day with a smile.