Today has been… a day here in the chimp house. Most of the time, you come to the chimp house with a plan- you hype yourself up on the car ride in, telling yourself all will be golden and the chimps will be happy and shift for you no problem. You pull up the driveway listening to what would be your baseball walk-out song if you had one and by the time you get the day going, you’re feelin’ pretty darn good about things.
Sometimes, the chimps let you have the win for that day. And, sometimes, it’s like they all had a before-hours conference call where they decided to take your plan for the day and stomp, not so gently, all over it. Today was the latter. Thankfully, though, cleaning got done (or, most of it) and we are working through the daily check list as I write this blog. Phew!
One of the big factors in our day is the morning cleaning. And whenever we shift the chimps for cleaning, we have two trained staff members complete safety checks before we unlock and enter a space. This includes two independent chimp counts, where each staff member positively identifies each chimp so we can be sure they are not in the area we are wanting to open up. This can be quick, like when the chimps are all lined up for breakfast service… and this can also take a while, say, if the chimps are somewhere out of sight or if they are only granting you visual access to a toe. So, for today’s blog, I wanted to do another installment of “Whos that chimp?!” in honor of today’s shifting woes. 🙂
The scenario: you are doing a chimp ID for Cy’s group, as you are hoping to enter the Oakview Greenhouse for a party set up. This chimp is a little out of range for a quick ID, but you can see some of them. 🙂 I’ll be posting the correct answer in the comments tomorrow morning! And if you need a quick review on how we tell the chimps apart, check out Jenna’s awesome blog post from last week!
Hmm… who could it be?
That’s a pretty good lookin’ hand. Need some more identification, though…
Oh no, they’ve moved and now they are laying in front of another chimp! Shoot. Let’s see what we can see.
Well, that’s a nice ear.
Ok, have you figured it out yet? 🙂 Check back in the comments tomorrow to see if you got it right!
Wow, Grace! What a challenge you’ve posed! I’m thinking maybe that hand is Terry or Cy. I have no “data” to support this, just a feeling (which is likely incorrect). A few years into my relationship with the sanctuary now and I still have trouble ID-ing some of the chimps, esp the new group. I can only imagine the frustration of not being able to shift the groups on a busy day when their preferences outweigh the needed duties you all share. Thanks to all of you for your patience, love and fortitude despite the challenges!!
Rayne?
I am pretty sure it is Lucky.
Oh, Grace, you devil! I’m glad you’re not posting the answer until tomorrow…just like the spunds, I could soooo do this with the 7, but it’s harder with the 9…
I thought at first that the pink spot beliw the nose was a freckle, but it might be a scab….the ear shot made me think Beezus, because Willy B and Cy are just dark all over, and Dora and Beezus are browner, have thinner hair around there.
Those ARE good looking hands, but I don’t know their hands well enough yet.
so, sitting up high….I had to go with Lucky or Rayne, even though their posture is more like Gordo or Mave..
So I’m going with Rayne.
Thanks for the fun game, Grace!
And for a challenge that doesn’t just tell us what you go through, it shows us!
Changed my mind! Lucky!
that white beard cuts it down considerably…………….
I bet most days turn out differently than expected! With 16 individuals, how could you ever really plan?! Expect the unexpected.
How in the world do you get so familiar you can ID a toe or hand or lip? That’s a fine art! For my amateur attempt, I’m going with Rayne. Reason, I think I’m seeing an ashen forehead, white beard up to bottom lip, a delicate hand, and I think ear could be Rayne’s too.
Wow, Grace! Great lesson. So, how soon into the day does your game song abruptly come to an end?! :laughing: The responsibility that each of you bears, every single day, is simply mind boggling. You have my full respect.
I’ll bet Chad’s is “Center Field”–
“put me in coach :musical_note::notes:
I’m ready to play today” :musical_note::notes:
I’m going to have to go with Rayne, because of that little mark on her lip.
Really fun game, Thank you Grace.?
It’s times like this, that a full size poster of all the stunning Chimpanzees would be of help! I’d definitely purchase one to hang in my studio! Great way to raise funds too! Now I have some research to do!! great blog!
I think it’s Rayne! The lips really look like Rayne’s, and then that ashy forehead confirms it for me :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: Also, I can picture those elegant toes rubbing against each other when she’s having a very satisfying meal <3
Fun game, Grace, thanks! Looking forward to tomorrow's answer!
I had the same thoughts Adriana:
toes raedy to rub, mouth looks like upper-tooth-less-saging-lower-lip, beautiful long and black hands, scratch under the nose….
It is Rayne, I am sure of it!
Hi, everyone! The chimp featured in this blog is none other than the fabulous Rayne! 🙂
ahahaha! should have stayed with my first guess!
Thanks for the fun, Grace!