Don’t let this guy’s relaxed demeanor in this photo fool you. He’s been a wild man aalll daayyy long! Willy B took a brief respite to regain his energy in this moment (and of course, do a quick check in on his “stories”), but he has been very focused on the goings on of his seven neighbors and riling things up nearly from “can’t see to can’t see”. Displaying with kicks to the doors, hooting, hollering, screaming and banging and refusing to leave anywhere he might catch a glimpse of, or a response from, them. In short, Willy B has had a whole lot to say to the seven and naturally, they’ve had a lot to say in response. He even declined breakfast because he was so busy (don’t worry, he had an extra big lunch).
As it grew darker outside, Willy B finally called it a day and decided to allow us to close the chute for the night when he saw me cracking fresh coconuts for the seven in the play room after dinner. And he was standing indoors at the ready when we brought some in to offer he, Mave and Honey B for their evening enrichment. Needless to say, I am quite sure he’s going to sleep well!
Meanwhile, our other wild man, Burrito, kept caregiver, Anthony, busy galloping back and forth across the top of Young’s Hill. I stood out there a long time trying to capture photos of the chimpanzees as they raced and climbed and explored every which way around the hill, and the entire time these two were blurs back and forth in my periphery.
It was an overcast, mild (for winter) kinda day with occasional rain – the kind of weather these chimpanzees love – and I think everyone was excited to have a relatively snow-free Young’s Hill to race around on as they all spent a considerable amount of time outside. Even Negra!
Foxie and Orange Blossom making their way back from their adventure:
Missy taking one last look around the hill as she waited for her best friend, Annie, to catch up (but she decided to race off across the hill one more time before coming inside):
Here’s Miss Honey B picking through her nightbag treat covered toes and enjoying her peanut butter magazine after dinner. (As a side note, Mave made her night nest by weaving in the leftover peanut butter magazines and is currently curled up in the middle of them which is pretty sweet. Mave is very much a no photos after bedtime, shut the lights off, and don’t let the door hit you in the tookus on your way out kinda gal, so you will have to use your imaginations. 🙂 )
But back to Honey B: