I saw someone recently ask, I think on Facebook, about why Burrito often has a small piece of enrichment with him, either in his mouth or a hand. The truthful and simple answer to that question is we have no idea. It’s just a Burrito thing, like dolls are a Foxie thing, books and boots are a Jamie thing, and magazines are a Cy thing.
Maybe there’s something you have that just makes you feel more you or gives you a sense of comfort. Maybe you have a signature color or a certain style of clothing or a collection of raccoon figurines that people identify you by (no judgement here).
Why are we drawn towards the things we are? It’s a question for the ages (whatever that means).
It’s also a question that an exhibit a few years ago at Central Washington University’s Museum of Culture and Environment attempted to tackle, with the inclusion of “artifacts” from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. If they do a similar exhibit in the future, perhaps they’ll include an artifact left behind by Burrito too.
This phenomenon of signature “things” also points to the benefit, I would argue necessity, of having a large variety of enrichment that we give to the chimpanzees.
After rejecting all of the other enrichment objects that we offered when she first came to the sanctuary, Foxie found her thing (troll dolls). Now, it’s hard to imagine her without a doll of some sort. How wonderful that we were able to give her objects that have provided her with 15 years worth of joy that only she can truly understand.
The following photos are from today of Burrito lounging in a windowsill with one of his more recent favorite things to carry in his mouth – it’s a piece of wood that he found when the Young’s Hill outdoor area was shifted and expanded.
You’ll often see Burrito with a toy hammer that has a plastic head and wooden handle or with a block of wood. I thought it was special that he found something on his own, rather than something that we chose for him to carry.
The photo at the top of the blog post is Burrito watching some drama unfold this afternoon amongst his neighbors. Enrichment comes in many forms, and watching the live “soaps” through the window is probably Burrito’s favorite enrichment activity of late.
I just love that top pic, Diana! I can imagine that right foot tapping!
And Foxie (tomorrow’s birthday girl!) looking so intently at both of her dolls…either they’re both new, or they’re about to accompany each other in “peril” very soon!
Thanks for sharing those, Diana!
Im sure he loves his family but, poor Burrito, living with the old girls, he just wants to play with the boys!!
I know! Still breaks my heart! He just wants to be friends with the other dudes!
At Woodland Park Zoo Zuna, the 2 and a half year old gorilla, has long carried around a piece of canvas hose. She drags that hose up into the highest tree with her, carries it around the exhibit, and nests with it. I have not seen any similarly treasured item among the ten other gorillas.
Across the zoo at Orangutans, all of them carry around blankets and burlaps, but that is a natural behavior of using materials to create ‘umbrellas.’ More distinct were the habits of the nursery-raised females who have both passed in the last 3 years. Chinta had a particular fascination with ears for all 52 years of her life. Melati, her sister-in-law, prefered anything sparkly- jewelry, nail polish, glittery bags and shoes…
🙂
Diana, you’re right that we will never know why Burrito enjoys or finds comfort with wooden gadgets in his mouth but your comparison to people and their proclivities to certain things makes perfect sense. Of course! This idea brought a smile to my face. Well, seeing Burrito always brings a smile to my face so it’s hard to say what triggered my joy. I guess just knowing each chimp finds joy in something, anything of their choosing, like a thick stubby little piece of a wood, a troll, sheets, boots, books, magazines, Sherk videos, a BFF, a cozy nest, a smoothie, and so on, is a big little part of what sanctuary is all about.
This is a very “human” photo session. We do all have special things and it is so wonderful the chimps do too. Hmm, a stick would be hard to think of as special. but that is Burrito!
The photo of him framed in the window frame, lying back with his feet on the wall, show him in a light that I’d never seen him in or expected in him. IDK how else to say it- he felt to me larger, or more serious, or something. Quite stirring.
Thank you for sharing that, Diana, and the gorgeous photos. All those comfort items show such individual personalies of the chimps. I thought it so sweet with Burrito hugging his wood piece. Comforters and enrichments, little big things that add to the chimps day, but what happens if another chimp “steals” that comforter? Is there a confrontation?
I think the only one I’ve seen so far is Jamie stealing Foxie’s doll to play “keepaway”. And in their video “Sharing”, Jody asks Jamie for permisdion to borrow a boot–bc no one would think of taking anything from Jamie without permission
That’s interesting. It seems that the chimps have worked out the dynamics of “ownership “. Those comfort items are precious.
One of the hallmarks of good quality,responsible care of primates is CHOICE, something so many chimps never had for years of their lives. Choosing what you want to carry around or if you want to go outside or not is a blessing for chimps who so often had no choice. Praise be to CSNW.
As far as the drama of watching neighbors, c’mon, who among us has not peeked thru the blinds to see what our neighbors are up to.
I found myself looking closely at Burritos stick. I don’t know how long he has had it but it does appear to be special, fairly smooth, with a nice curvy twist that fits nicely both in your hands and in your mouth, and the size seems just right, big enough to know something is there and not so big that you have to worry about running into things with it. Love your style sweet boy.