We caregivers have been excitedly toting around cameras while the chimpanzees continue to explore the new version of Young’s Hill. The outdoor habitat has retained all the lovable qualities of the original and provides the chimps with even more space and a potential for novel experiences (e.g., climbing up the trunk of a real tree). The weather has cooled substantially since last Wednesday’s big reveal, but we can still count on Jamie and her companions to do a thorough patrol of the new perimeter each morning.
For today’s blog post, I thought I’d share some additional images from the group’s first outings in Young’s Hill 2.0.
The group patrolling together:
Missy climbing a new log structure:
Burrito using the familiar Twister to get a better view:
Burrito waiting impatiently for the others to catch up:
Burrito perched on a tree trunk, inspecting the new vegetation:
Annie using a new structure to take in a new view of the property:
The most popular addition has been the grove of Ponderosa pines (and one Douglas fir) that is now located just within the enclosure’s eastern boundary. The relocated lookout tower provides a perfect vantage to both examine the evergreen trees up close and take in the scenic mountain views across the valley.
With the bright afternoon sunlight coming down from the southwest, the chimpanzees were visible as dark silhouettes against the golden backdrop of early autumn. Missy made an imposing figure when perched atop the lookout.
 
As Jenna demonstrated yesterday, focusing the camera lens on the chimpanzees is tricky when we have two layers of field fence and electrified wires between us. Our objective isn’t to make you forget about the fencing entirely, but rather to portray the chimpanzees as we perceive them, with the wires out of focus and their expressions in clear view. If you look back at any of the photographs above, you can see the hazy streaks created by the fencing that separates us and them.
Auto-focus admittedly makes tracking the chimpanzees a little bit easier, and a lens with a wide aperture helps to blur out foreground obstacles, but we still often find ourselves embroiled in games of trial-and-error just to get a few photos for the daily blog.
This image, for example…
…was taken just milliseconds before this one:
Have a great week, everyone!
P.S. The answer to yesterday’s guessing game is 17 blankets. Congratulations to Linda C., Nancy Potter, and Gayle Marie Stone for guessing correctly!
We’ll never tire of seeing them happily exploring! Thanks, Anthony!
Of course, LC!
I love the photos of the chimps on the lookout tower. Has there been any interest from the others to climb the tree?
I also have a question about the brae…how will the other nine learn about the electric fence, by trial and error? Keep the pictures coming!!
We haven’t seen any further tree climbing, but we’re not monitoring them on all of their excursions up the hill. I’m not sure if they’ll give them another chance or if seeing Missy climb into the branches was enough to quell their curiosity. It will be interesting either way!
*As for the fence training, J.B. has a plan to introduce them to electrified fences using a “trial fence” but we still need to work out the logistics and timeline. It won’t be fun for them or for us but it will be safer than letting a bunch of chimps out into the larger enclosure without experiencing it before.
I am in complete agreement with Linda and Nancy. The photographs and video of the Gang of Seven exploring their expanded territory — and of Missy ascending the tree — are wonderous to behold. I hope that if their curiosity and spirit moves them that Annie, Jamie, et al can also exercise their birthright and climb up the trees as well. They’ve only waited a lifetime.
Thank you again, staff and volunteers, for giving our cherished friends trees to ascend. Now, if they can only all agree to keep the bark on the arbortage and not poke holes in a search for ants to snack upon (the chimps are all steadfast vegans, no?)…
Hi Tobin!
uhhh….no….there’s Missy and Jamie and the wasp larvae….and Neggie and the frog. Jo turned down the mouse, so there’s hope for her!
Ah, so that explains why the framed photograph of my dear pal Jody that graces my apartment does not deter the presence of mice…at least my picture of Her Royal Majesty keeps the frogs at bay…
Jody will hug them, and she will squeeze them, and she will name them all George! :upside_down:
Alas.
This past winter, I had adream where Farmer Jody was tending to a sow who had given birth to piglets. Jody was gentle with all creatures great and small.
Hey Tobin! I’m ecstatic that you’ve enjoyed the stories from the past week. I agree that the photos and videos of Missy in the tree (among many others) are quite moving. My heart is full!
As for the (impeccably selective) insectivory of the chimps, I don’t think we’ve ever seen them go fishing for ants or termites but I could be wrong about that. They do like to eat wasp larvae (as Linda pointed out below) and are quite dangerous to any wild critters that have the misfortune of crossing their path (although it’s unclear if they consume any of these or just kill them out of annoyance, uncertainty, or curiosity). Their provisioned diet isn’t 100% vegan, either; their chow contains a small amount of animal protein and we occasionally serve them locally-sourced chicken eggs.
Ohhhh, Anthony, thank you for these great shots and descriptions! It makes my heart do backflips to see the chimps “out and about” their territory exploring. It must be quite wondrous to them to have that high view for long looks out beyond the sanctuary’s boundaries to the territory beyond. And it’s truly thrilling to think about the new residents’ being able to go outdoors!
It’s all so exciting! Thanks, Marya!
How did the sancutuary teach the group of 7 about the electric fences and how will the other group learn?
I think it was a combo of a demonstration by JB with trial and error. IIRC, Neggie was a little slow on the uptake. All good now! They’re smart! They’ll get it
Okay Linda…Maybe Im just having a senior “moment” here, but I can’t remember what the acronym,”llRC” stands for, or maybe I simply never knew it in the first place…HaHaHa
Hi, Debi!
“if I recall correctly” :wave:
Good question, Mark! I wasn’t here at that time but I’ve heard that J.B. did some demonstrations in front of the chimps. After consulting with other sanctuaries and pooling together all of our experiences (at CSNW and elsewhere) I think we’ll also use a “trial fence” this time so that they can experience the shock in the safety of a familiar space rather than out in The Bray for the first time.
Ugh……Neggie ate a frog……which one ate the hummingbird? I remember reading that…..just how many lives were lost?!!!!!! ?
Hummingbird!? Ew, I hadn’t heard that one! Well, when you think about it….quick catch, those birds are fast!
I’m not sure when the frog incident occurred, but the chimps occasionally get a hold of small critters that make their way into the enclosures. Frogs, rodents, birds… It’s unfortunate but unavoidable given that the chimps need fresh air and outdoor access too. We don’t interpret it as malicious or cruel on their part since the opportunistic hunting of smaller animals is a common behavior for chimpanzees in the wild. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the CSNW chimps feel much sympathy for little things that scurry or flutter around, either.
🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Wonderful photos of everyone in silhouette! And the new views beyond the chimps are spectacular.
Burrito looks so tiny in the photo where he is patiently waiting for his pals. But even from a distance his body language speaks volumes. He’s so funny….and very dear.
Thanks, Kathleen! Yes, we all find Burrito immensely endearing, too! 🙂
Anthony, I so appreciate this special blog & the great pics of the much beloved troop of chimp’s, but I must make a confession…When I first took a quick glance at the sweet pic of Burrito, “inspecting the vegetation,” my comprimised vision saw the dark patterned ground reflection of the fencing you ironically mentioned, & thought, ‘what a nice, check patterned blanket’ someone must have carried outside..Burrito sitting there looks like he’s expecting company…HaHaHa …Seeing the chimps so relaxed while exploring their new & improved Young’s Hill, fills me with pure joy…
I’m happy that you liked the post and that the chimps bring you joy, Debi!
As for the blanket pattern, they often bring fleece blankets outside and leave them strewn about, so that wouldn’t have shocked me! Alas, it was just the outer layer of field fence obstructing the view.