The best part of the mornings for me is serving the chimps their meals. I like to hear their excitement when food shows up; they tend to look over the food items that will be offered then they settle into their chosen spot to enjoy their meal. Gordo usually enjoys his meals out in the greenhouse, Lucky will sit up higher on top of the food chute, possibly to avoid the melee that can happen during meal time but for Rayne that spot is usually on a thin piece of firehose that is hung across the room. She has managed to master sitting cross legged on this thin hose for her entire meal and she seems, somehow, to be comfortable and content here. Watching Rayne stroll in casually each morning and take her spot for breakfast is definitely one of my favorite parts of the day.
Archives for September 2023
The Harvest
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a brief photo caption about the sunflowers growing on Young’s Hill:
The Sunflowers that volunteered on Young’s Hill are still going strong. As the blooms start to go to seed, I imagine their days out there are numbered…
Well I wasn’t wrong. Look what I found this morning tucked neatly into the folds of a nest in the Greenhouse:
My first suspect, based on a past pattern of sunflower collecting behavior and nest location has got to be Negra. Let me present my evidence to the court of public opinion.
Exhibit A: Negra is a known sunflower collector (photo from September 2018):
Exhibit B: One of Negra’s favorite nesting locations just so happens to be the same spot the sunflowers were found…
The prosecution (and defense) rests:
Bonus! Chilly days call for added layers. Jamie sporting a lavender sheet:
In honor of John Paul Davidson
Thank you so much to Theresa Leone Davidson for sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and bovines in honor of her special human:
“This is in honor of my husband, John Paul Davidson, who is the strongest and kindest man I know.”
We are always happy to celebrate wonderful humans and appreciate your thinking of the sanctuary and sharing today with us all!
Wonderful Cy:
Dear, kind, Terry:
Sweet Rayne:
Wee Nutmeg (r) and his mama, Betsy:
Our beloved Jody:
Dear, sweet Annie:
Chimp Chatter
This morning at breakfast, Foxie was pounding on the caging, attempting to get volunteer caregiver Dusty’s attention and I had the idea to record sounds for the blog today. Many blogs have been done before this one under the same premise, however, I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!
I switched it up and made it a game! Try to guess who is making that sound and the answer is revealed in the next clip!
Night Walk
Last Friday, we held a small, intimate memorial for our dear friend, Jody. While we had the service, it only felt right that Jody’s family have access to Young’s Hill. However, very unlike Jamie, she was no where to be found and slept through the entire thing. Apparently, all the chimps went to sleep after we left the Chimp House and left door Y (Jamie’s group access door to their outdoor space) open. Jamie must have thought, we, her humans, were so stupid and made a mistake. Eventually, around dusk, the event was winding down and caregivers tried to close the Hill off, Jamie finally noticed the service and came sprinting out. A few of us tried to catch up with her to join in on the walk, but she was going so fast! She was amped! Once it was fully dark and the service had come to an end, I had the pleasure of going on one last night-walk with Jamie. Thank goodness I brought a head lamp to light the way for both of us! It was so dark that I was starting to scare myself, so I apologize if the video looks a little like the “Blair Witch Project”.
Jamie on her nighttime stroll:
Rayne is so cool:
Rayne grooming Mave:
Teeny Tiny Terry:
Teeny tiny troll dolls for a teeny tiny Foxie:
Annie:
Missy:
A Gordo photo series:
Who’s Who and the Power Moves
There are those days when nothing too terribly exciting is happening so writing the blog can be a little tough. On the other side of the coin, however, there could be many things happening it can be just as daunting to try to pick just a few of the things to write about. Today is a latter. So for the sake of time and strained eyes looking at screens, I just chose three.
Morning:
As I was making sure Young’s Hill was safe for Burrito’s group to venture out on this morning, I saw Missy draped in an orange blanket.
I exchanged morning greeting with her via a head bob, and continued to check the gates and doors that lead to Young’s Hill. A minute or two later, I went back around to open the door that gives Missy access to the outdoor enclosure. Still seeing the orange blanket, I blurted out, “Are you ready to go outside Missy?” To my surprise, Missy was already at the door waiting to go outside. So who was in the orange blanket?
It was Negra!
They pulled the ol’ switcheroo on me!
Funny enough, I had just greeted Negra as she was still nice and comfortable in her nest inside the playroom right before Missy in their greenhouse.
Afternoon:
After cleaning was done, I glanced at our security cameras to see where everybody was. In the Marmot Mountain Playroom, I saw Honey B and Rayne taking the “play” part of playroom seriously. Or not seriously, depending on how you look at it. As I was watching them, Rayne showed off some of her moves! No need to fret, I have included the clip in today’s video. If you were to name this move, what would it be called?
Yesterday:
If you read yesterday’s blog, then you know (and hopefully celebrated) Mave’s *real* birthday! In the description, you may have read that Mave was having some problems getting one of the prized young coconuts. Luckily for her, her new best friend Dora allowed her to have one of the two she acquired! I wasn’t quick enough to submit my footage to J.B. before the video was completed, so I included the unfolding of that event. We cannot definitively say Dora was actively sharing (wanting Mave to have it and physically giving her it), but she was at least passively sharing (not getting mad she took it).
Yesterday I also randomly glanced at the security cameras and saw Mave’s power move! One of the most endearing things we all love about Mave is the “Mave plop.” I’m trying to think of the words to use to describe the “Mave plop,” but am coming up short. Caregiver Kelsi said the only way she says she can describe it is “it’s like a Jason Bourne move if he was lazy.” That is a fair assessment because it’s like a dive-roll type of move. I digress though. None of us have seen the “Mave plop” in quiet this fashion as we saw it on the cameras. We were trying to think of names to call it. Some said it’s the “help I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” Some said it’s “the catwalk flop.” To some it’s “the failed flying chimp-in-a-blanket maneuver.” After watching it, what would you call it?
Bonus Photos:
Annie with her coconut yesterday
Cy and his coconut
Gordo and his coconut
Teeny Tiny Terry and his teeny tiny pine cone
Mavis!
And don’t forget, Giving Day for Apes has begun! Be sure to find out about the different Power Hours on Oct. 3rd. You can even create your own fundraising page with your own goals and send it to family, friends, and well wishers!
Mave’s 34th Birthday Party
Mave and her family celebrated her 34th birthday today with a forage that included young coconuts. Initially, Mave did not get her own coconut but after some time foraging her best friend Dora placed an extra one by Mave’s side. Did she mean to offer it to Mave or did she simply not object when Mave picked it up? Either way, Dora is a good friend and it was the perfect gift.