Spring is still in its infancy in Cle Elum. The nights are cold, and we will likely see more snow, but it will be the kind of snow that is there one minute and gone the next. There’s no holding back the change in the seasons now.
This change from winter to spring is often the most dramatic. It surprises me every year. I don’t forget that the days gradually stretch in synchrony with the plants reaching for the sun, but I do forget what it really feels like. I can’t seem to conjure up the experience unless it’s authentically occurring.
I remember that the group of seven chimpanzees spend more time outside, and that we often scatter their meals out across Young’s Hill, the two acre habitat. We have thousands of photos of this. But still, watching and feeling the first forages of the season is familiar, but also new all over again.
This winter was, overall, remarkably mild. You may recall that we had a very notable Christmas celebration forage on the hill on December 19th. It was notable because Negra climbed up to the lookout for the first time in pursuit of a pineapple top. Go ahead, go re-live that glorious day.
Today we set out a lunch forage for the group of seven. Negra was the first one out of the raceway and onto the hill. She didn’t go even halfway up the hill, but she did seem to be remembering, like me, what spring feels like.
I couldn’t help but take a ridiculous number of photos of her as she sat, as she stretched to reach pieces of food, and as she walked, in all her glory, back inside. I encourage you to pause on each of the photos and remember. Remember that feeling of warmth and life and hope.
Maybe there are more pineapple climbing adventures in Negra’s future. But, even if there are not, today’s emergence was fulfilling.
Ā 
On the other side of the building, Willy B spent some time sitting on the boardwalk.
We did a forage of a different sort by placing lettuce on top of the chute. I didn’t get any great photos of this forage, but Honey B, Willy B, and Mave all partook of the bounty, with Mave in particular getting into the foraging spirit.
In just a few months, the three will have new spaces to explore while we will work on creating their version of Young’s Hill that will be called The Bray. And six more chimpanzees will join that side of the building.
There’s a lot of hope in the air.
Great photos of the Beautiful Queen!
I always love hearing that the Queen was first out the door, Diana!
And I love to see her using “her” cabin!
It’s not officially spring until she gets her first spring grass, though…
Can’t wait for the new bunch! There’s one who reminds me of Willy B. Is it Cy? What will we do with TWO handsome devils!?
Very nice Diana!
Thank you for the wonderful pictures and yes there is a lot of Hope. š
Thank you for the beautiful pictures today.
It makes me happy, when Negra is happy š
Now Iām ready to spring forward!
I am total agreement. I love seeing pictures of the wonderful Neggie enjoying the outdoors, such as these shown here. I also like the way that the early Springtime breeze ruffles Willy B’s new Spring coat.
I can never see enough photos Diana. I stare and stare and read into every one of them my thoughts. Crazy. And, Willy B. is one handsome guy! Be well all of you.
Thank you Diana. What a great way to greet spring and enjoy it’s glory. Negra, lead the way! Hugs to all… and yes, swoon over Willy B
You can never have too many photos of Negra. Spring will arrive at 5:37 a.m. Saturday, March 20th so Negra seems to be preparing herself for the equinox celebration and the arrival of her favorite sweet spring grass.
Yes. There is a lot of hope in the air.
Beautiful portrait of Willy B. It belongs on a poster.
Are the two chimp groups completely separated? If so, why? Do they ever get to interact?
Love your blog!
If you look back to Nov/Dec blogs, I think it was, from last year, you can read the blogs dealing with the attempt at integrating the two groups. It lasted a few days, then there was a 4am fight that resulted in serious injuries. So no, much to Jody’s dismay, they won’t be in the same group with the Big Man.
The new 6 came from the same place as the 3 in CA, and they’re sort of acquainted, so I think the hope is to have a group of 9 and leave the 7 be
Thank you!
Thank you, Shavonne! We began the integration process of the two groups in early October of 2019, a few months after Honey B, Willy B, and Mave arrived, and after consulting with experts in chimpanzee integration. The process went on for several weeks. There was significant fighting, but also some lovely moments, and then, as commenter Linda C. mentioned, very severe injuries (to Burrito) that resulted from an early morning altercation on November 15th. That led us to halt the process of integrating the two groups. We hope that the new six coming this summer will be a better fit with Mave, Willy B, and Honey B, but, with our design, we can have three separate groups if integrations don’t work out. There is still quite a bit of interaction between the two existing groups now – they have visual access when the three are outside in the chute or courtyard and they can hear each other from inside too.
Lovely photos of Negra. If I could hug any one of the chimps it would be her. She warms my heart. Here in Ontario, winter ends one day and full-blown summer the next. After a long winter it’s welcome but I miss the long slow sweet Springs of Vancouver. Snowdrops one week, Muscari the next, then Daffodils and one by one through British Columbia’s plant life.
One by one