Here are a few moments that I captured on my phone throughout the past week.
People often ask if it’s difficult to care for chimpanzees without being able to touch them outside of the very limited contact we have through the mesh. Perhaps it’s a function of the institutional cultures in which we were trained, but it’s not something I really think about. Nor do I care much about it when it does cross my mind. They have their world, we have ours, and there are clearly-defined, logical rules for the areas where those two worlds meet for the sake of everyone’s safety. The way we interact with the chimps in our care becomes natural and comfortable for both them and us, and pushing those boundaries does nothing but put our own desires above their best interests.
That being said, there’s not a person on earth that’s seen Mave in action and not wanted to be enveloped in her soft, fuzzy embrace.
So sue me.
Everyone knows you can’t do a walk with only half of the J Crew!
Thanks, JB!
I agree, J.B; humans can interact with some mammalian species (cattle, cats, canines) with less peril than with others. About five million years ago, two distinct primate species began to emerge, and diverge, with the result that our far less developed and evolved primate species is (at least) 1.24% less genetically advanced than the likes of Mave. It is a humbling that the Great Apes tolerate us as much as they do; what an honor it must be to get an invitation (if not a command) from Jamie to join her for a walk, or to have the privilege of playing a modified (through a glass partition) game of patty-cake with Rayne?
You always make me laugh J.B., thanks for that. You could have ended this video at #1, Jamie requesting you cut the cow time short and join her on her walk. I know I would not have to be asked twice. I’d pretty much follow Jamie anywhere and be very happy doing so from the opposite side of the electric fences. Heaven, my idea of heaven.
But since you didn’t stop at #1, thanks so much for every delicious snippet that followed. Your phones are treasure chests! Rayne’s happy face and jazz hands, silly Dora and Rayne’s tickle session, crunchie-munchie Honey B, the clever placement of Burrito’s mirror by one of your genius caregivers (I looooved this!), and Lucky and Mave melting into one…..Seriously, you do know you have the most amazing job in the universe right?!
Thanks for sharing the snippets I so enjoyed them.
Great Blog. Love the variety of snippets and would also love a Mave hug ! (As I live 4700 miles away I’m never even going to see her “live”) But enjoy all the videos.
Lovely snippets J.B.
( I always wonder: is that short for James Bond, Justin Bieber, John Boy ??).
Oh, mý idea of heaven WOULD be a bearhug from Mave and just breath the same air as these wonderful chimpanzee, bovine ànd human people that live and work at the sactuary.
After watching todays snippet, I think it stands for Jamie’s Buddy!!!
You know, my parents were big fans of The Waltons but it actually stands for John Blaine, both family names.
Thank you J.B., so I wasn’t far of then.
I did not expect you to reveal your name, but thank you; those names suit you ( for as far as I can know you…).
What a delightful colledtion of picturess./videos. The hand gestures of Jamie for you to cut the crap with the cows and pay attention to her was just priceless. It was clear what she wanted and what she was saying. The snuggling duo, the mirror placed just so … you made my day which I started out being so depressed about a variety of things. Thanks JB
Here is a warm embrace for you Elaine. Feel better:heartbeat:
I wanted that hug Mave gave Lucky! Sich a loving, tender embrace. I loved all the snippets and how they show the range of feelings they experience are no different than human emotions. Another great post, JB. Thank you.
I noticed for the first time that Rayne is missing many of front teeth. Given how much the chimps clearly love coconut, how does Rayne get to enjoy some?
Yes, I did notice that too.
Chimps are pretty resourceful and the lack of her top incisors doesn’t seem to affect her ability to eat whatsoever!