(or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Step on Grass)
It finally happened. Cy’s group stepped out of the chute and entered the Bray.
It was a very different experience than watching the Cle Elum Seven enter Young’s Hill for the first (or even second) time. It may be because the Californians are a newer group than the Seven were at the time, or perhaps it’s because the Waystation chimps had spent more time outside of cages when they were young (and, as noted in a previous comment section, as adults in some unauthorized cases). In any case, while there was less hugging and screaming as they entered the habitat, watching them explore was every bit as emotional.
Willy B’s transformation from fearful and agoraphobic to Conqueror of the Bray is a testament to the power of friendship. Every minute we spent worrying while integrating his group with Cy’s was worth it to see him follow his friends out into the grass.
You’ll notice that Honey B, Mave, and Dora did not join their friends outside yesterday. That’s OK. I believe they will soon, as they will also benefit from Rayne’s confidence and the boys’ leadership. But if it takes longer, that’s OK too. They will get there in their own time.
Our most heartfelt thanks to all of you who made this day possible, especially to our friend James, in whose memory the Bray is named.
Oh what a wonderful sight to see them carfully, but certainly not fearfully explore the Bray.
Willy B. almost seems amazed by where he is, as if he is saying “wow people, you did a real good job building this just for us and I like it”.
Was that Lucky wearing the hairband for this special occasion?
And did she go out?
Mave and Dora couldn’t be bothered? Were they in the chute?
Too many questions, I am going to watch the video again.
I am so very happy for all of you! Well Done.
Lucky, who was wearing the headband, went out briefly. Mave and Dora were in the chute with Honey B (Dora went out this afternoon).
Go Dora! Thanks for the update, J.B.
yes!! I was so afraid that Mave and Honey B would hold Dora back. So good to see you she is her own woman.
while you feel like it is impossible to convey what you were feeling at the time, I don’t think you need to because we are all experiencing that same emotion JB. My heart just wants to swell out of my chest! Thank you can’t convey how grateful I am that you have provided this life for them. what a magnificent thing you have done. Be very very proud. Love you.
I could not wait to see this and how awesome that Willie B was so brave with his new friends nearby!
Joyful. Simply joyful. And that’s how it should be.
Oh, this was marvelous, JB! I thought only Willy, Terry and Rayne had gone out, but the other dudes were in the mix, too, and Lucky with her headband was oh, so close!
Rayne, you patrolled that hill like a boss! (Deanna, I still want to hear about that unauthorized adventure! :smile:)
Were any of the chimps entertainment chimps, JB? That might explain the willingness. Whatever it is, wonderful that it happened!
Not a peep from the neighbors….I couldn’t see well…did you have the panels on one side of the greenhouse, to let the Californians explore in peace and quiet? usually, if they’re in the shoot, there’s some noise….or did you go through a lot of chewing gum today?
ok, now I hear Jamie, Missy, and a tiny bit of Fox, but really, not much at all
No, they were all born in the lab but spent a lot of time going home with the workers when they were very young. Jamie’s group was watching from the playroom 🙂
thanks, JB. I think that might explain some of their willingness to be out and about, since they had known the outside before. And the playroom explains the muffled noises of Jamie, Missy, and the Tiny One :slight_smile:
Wonderful!!! I always felt bad that Jamie’s group could go out and Cy’s not.
Congratulations on a beautiful landscape for them.
Dont mean it mean but a bray is the noise a donkey makes, Thanks for the nice video!
It’s also an old Irish word for “hill”.
I happen to love the sound a donkey makes……?
the road and passing traffic is how far from the fencing…? any body know…?
About 1/6 of a mile
J.B, your description, this wonderfully long and up close video, and your breathless silence while filming totally express what you were feeling. Well, mostly your whispers to your group and your breathless silence says it all. I realized you had me holding my breath!! (And your link to the post on Willy B from May 2020 stirred the same emotions as it did when I read it back then. Your words were so touching.) What a day! Congratulations.
So, who actually made it out? Rayne the super star, Willy B as in ‘B is for Brave’, Terry, and Gordo? Did Cy come out too? It is hard to tell who is out, Rayne being easily recognizable but the boys, not so much. I am guessing Lucky stayed in the chute with Dora, Mave, and Honey B? And all the boys ventured out?
Wow. I’ll say it again…..What a day!! I am beginning to think Rayne imagined this day in her dreams. It was as if she had her route all mapped out. Incredible! Now we need Deanna to be a guest on your blog so we can hear her story about the “adventure” at WW.
Looking forward to future adventures.
it looks like she, too, moves in a clockwise Direction….
That is just the BEST! I was always hoping that Willy B would have friends, and now he has a band of brothers who support his bravery. After such sadness, this is well deserved.
…..Wonderful:hugging:….. such a Beautiful, Serene Day……… it all seemed soooo Natural….Can’t wait to see more:grin: I hope you checked the environment to make sure it’s :frog: Free…..Ahhhhhh… Just watching it over and over:four_leaf_clover::heartpulse:
My heart is full of joy!!!
Oh happy day!
This is just plain thrilling and so heartwarming mine is melting all over the keyboard! It’s such a gift to have this wonderful space for them with places to play and climb and nap and cavort to their hearts’ content — and the swinging on the ropes and even maybe walking on them! And of course, the waistband just slays me!! Thank you, JB, for your commentary and great pics. We’ll see how long it takes for the rest to follow their friends on adventures. I’m sure their curiosity will get the better of them soon, and that their friends’ stories about it will offer support for fun!
What a wonderful sight seeing chimps roaming free in wide open spaces with a big blue sky and sunshine to enjoy. Kudos to that high stepping Willy B acting all big and tough among his family. So happy for the chimps both outside, inside and the noisy neighbors grunting & hooting for those of us not present who cheer and smile from a distance.
Great day! Well done all of you that made it possible.
Next big event will be when both groups go out at the same time. I imagine that will be noisy!
JB, Absolutely thrilling that The Bray is finally open and that the response of 7 chimps out of the 9 California chimps was so positive. Once again we will all witness growth in these 9 chimps ( Honey B and Mave will soon ventire out). It will be interesting when both hills are open together. What do you think will happen? loved that Gordo and Willy B gave a shout of approval from Ryan’s Lookout! Thank you and Diana for your leadership and for working tirelessly with many other staff and volunteers to improve the lives of the lucky 16 chimps who live at CSNW. Today was awesome!
Wow…. such a beautiful day of freedom for this group. Wonderfully done video and blog J.B. Thank you to all… and those words are not sufficient for J.B., Diana and the rest of the staff and volunteers. What a gloriously beautiful day!