A question we’re often asked is how the chimpanzees communicate to us when they want something specific. Of course, each of the chimpanzees has their own way of getting the attention of their caregivers and expressing what they want, and really, the biggest indicator is just knowing the context in which they are asking. As I type this, Burrito is at the playroom door blowing raspberries (Bronx cheers) which given this moment’s context means, “Hey, Chad! Get in here and play with me!”
Raspberries (Bronx cheers) are a common form of communication for Foxie as well. On my chimp house days it’s not uncommon to have Chad or Anthony radio me to let me know that Foxie is calling me (blowing raspberries). She knows I’m around somewhere or hears my voice, and maybe she wants to play, or maybe I have one of her dolls she passed to me earlier and she wants them back. Sometimes I go in and she will merely stick her fingers out of the caging and wiggle them, just checking in, saying “Hi”. I mean, pretty endearing, right?
But Foxie also uses her dolls to connect in the quietest of ways, when you least expect it. I was walking past the greenhouse the other day where some of the chimpanzees were relaxing. The panels are still on so I couldn’t see who was in there from the outside, but just as I turned the corner I heard the faintest sound of something dropping to the ground. When I looked down, there was Foxie’s tiny troll doll she had dropped under the panel because she knew I was passing by. Not another sound was heard, but that was Foxie speak for, “Hello”.
Taking a few more steps I heard another soft “plink” and looked to see Strawberry Shortcake on the ground outside the raceway to Young’s Hill.
Foxie was nowhere in sight, but once I picked up her trail of dolls I saw the tiniest hand reaching around the corner of the caging, fingers wiggling, more Foxie lingo for “I was just saying hi and I’ll take those back now.”
The phantom doll drop is often something Foxie does at night from her resting place in the loft as well. With everyone curled into their night nests, I’ll be taking a last walk through the chimp house, turning out lights as I go, saying goodnight in both chimpanzee (nest grunts) and English, and I will hear the familiar, heart-swelling, ever-so-soft drop of a doll landing on the ground behind me only to look up and see Foxie’s fingers or toes sticking out of the caging above, wiggling “Goodnight”. Or sometimes, impossibly, asking you to just toss them back into her hand from below without even being to see you! (Apologies for the poor, old photo, but it’s all I could find to give you an idea of what this looks like from below).
It’s an incredible privilege to know the chimpanzees well enough that we are part of the ebb and flow of their daily conversations and communications, but more so, after all they’ve been through in their lives, it’s immensely fulfilling to know they get to experience being genuinely heard and understood as the individuals they are, and that their unique choices and needs are met, their unique expressions valued. There’s so much beauty in the myriad of ways in which we can connect with those we share our lives with. There’s so much beauty in sanctuary.
And here’s a bonus photo because I can’t get over these views from the new playroom. You have to really look, but Mave is in the top of the chute in a sun puddle and Willy B is out on the walkway in their courtyard. Such a gorgeous afternoon!
Oh, how impossibly sweet! And what trust that dear lady shows you.
Willie B still the only one to venture out onto the boardwalk…?
So far! Prior to the boardwalk, Mave and Honey B had been outdoors, but it didn’t go well and they are taking their time getting back out there. We trust that provided the choice, they will try when they are ready.
So touching, Katelyn!
Side note: is Foxie’s blond doll there a Dora friend, or a random blind doll?
Linda, she is one of Dora’s friends, Alana. 🙂
Thanks, Katelyn! I’ve sent 2 or 3 random dolls, 2 of them blond, because I thought the heads were hard enough, haha! But I’m never sure if they’re inappropriate, or whether they just don’t rate with Foxie, like Dora, SS and the gang do!
Oh Katelyn, you are so in tune to your friends that you heard the quiet “plink” of a small doll hitting the stones. And sweet Foxie, such a charming way to say “Hello”, sharing your most prized possession (even if only for a brief moment!). It’s just too endearing!
Thanks for this lovely post. You write with your heart. This part moved me most :
“….after all they’ve been through in their lives, it’s immensely fulfilling to know they get to experience being genuinely heard and understood as the individuals they are, and that their unique choices and needs are met, their unique expressions valued. There’s so much beauty in the myriad of ways in which we can connect with those we share our lives with. There’s so much beauty in sanctuary.”.
Yes! Sigh….Thank you for making this special beauty come to life in numerous ways right before my eyes. There is so much beauty in each and every one of you.
Katelyn, this post touched me …Foxie communicating via dolls …no grunts, no sounds but oh how she’s so I’m tuned with you and vice versa. Great post . I love them all and the caregivers as well.
Thank you, Rosemary. “Foxie speak” as with each of the chimpanzees, is fascinating and endearing.
Is it possible that Willy B has told the others the the Courtyard is his and they are not allowed out there?
Hi Margaret,
There is no indication of it being anything other than Honey B and Mave’s choice at this time. They went outside when first given access and unfortunately, had a stressful experience. We trust that they will get there again in their own time. 🙂
The doll-dropping you describe reminds me of and article I read years ago. There was an observation that came as a side note to a study that wasn’t about language, but something – oh I can’t remember if it was a sociological study or what. Anyway, the group of researchers had been observing toddlers in day care, and this one researcher took notice of what happens during the silent period when children have dropped their baby babble, because they already know that utterances have specific meanings, but are not ready to try out spoken words yet. The writer said children are far from passive in that phase, but are very actively rehearsing conversation skills. This encompasses all the waiting for your turn, taking your turn, giving turn to another, the whole sequentialization aspect of conversation. They do this without sound, but use toys and stuff instead; they offer you a toy, and study how you react, they receive the toy back and act as appropriately as they can, and eventually all this becomes part of their conversation skills. Children do not drop it all at once when they being talking, either, they continue it for a few years, until they feel fully ready. The play just becomes a more and more elaborate combination of sound and silent play of exchange. Like, setting up an counter and selling imaginary ice-cream to friends, receiving imaginary money and all, might be the ultimate point, as they gradually mature.
Katelyn, can there be any other job in the world that provides more job satisfaction? I’m sure there’s not. To have these precious friends communicate in such a number of ways and make it clear that they love you all is beyond words. That they do so after the awful things humans did to them for decades is a testament to their resilience and beautiful spirits. Thank you for such a heartwarming post….you are truly blessed by the fantastic Foxie.
Thank you, Carol. We love being able to share the myriad of ways in which the chimpanzees are the incredibly special and unique people they are. <3
What a sweet post! I really hope that Mave and Honey B venture outside this spring & Summer!
So beautifully written and yes what an amazing honor it must be to be a part of these chimps lives.
Katelyn, I agree with others’ comments about the charming and heartwarming nature of your descriptions of Foxie’s communications. It’s truly like being there with you. Posts from each of you have their own feel and flavor but the common denominator is how much you’re all invested in the lives of the chimps and in supporters’ connections to the sanctuary. It seems so clear how much all of the chimps have integrated each of you into their social systems (the 7 and the 3 and the soon-to-be arrivals). And I’ll just bet they sit around sharing ideas about how to get attention from each of you, what they do that they know works with each of you, how to get their own needs met (including saying goodnight and hello and how to find the snake! and who’s most affected by raspberries and nest grunts). It’s truly a privilege to be a part of this extended family, including not only the chimps and bovines but also all the humans who take such good care of us out here who have the sanctuary in our hearts. And that goes for board, staff, volunteers, produce delivery folks, donors, etc. I’m so grateful to be a part of it all!
Thank you so much for your touching words, Marya. We are profoundly grateful to you all “who have the sanctuary in your hearts.” <3 Thank you so much for being part of our chimpanzee and bovine family!
Wow, that was a tear jerker. The relationship between the staff and the chimps is so sweet, they are so loved.
Oh, Nancy, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who tears up when I read some of the posts and watch videos or see some of the pics. It actually happens for me pretty often just because there are so many deeply touching and heartfelt moments and descriptions by the staff and observing the chimps with them and with each other. I know we get spoiled by seeing mostly the positive stuff and the staff have been very honest about how sometimes there aren’t such great moments when there’s tension or aggression. But for me it’s still all part of this great whole that I’m so appreciative to be a part of.
I’m still laughing at this.
-Katelyn. Katelyn! KATELYN!
-WHAT, Foxie!?
-Hi.
Linda, that’s funny. 🙂
Linda, I agree with Katelyn’s reaction—what you wrote is hilarious! I hope Foxie knows we’re laughing with her and not at her!
Itmust feel like that sometimes…oh,to be loved y the Tiny One! 😀
This post moved me to tears. Foxie speak? Thank you all for being sensitive to each of their ways of communicating and connecting. So beautiful!
This post moved me to tears. Foxie speak? Thank you all for being sensitive to each of their ways of communicating and connecting. So beautiful!