Enriching chimpanzees is hard work. We have particular guidelines to ensure that the chimps will not consume something unsafe and that the item of enrichment cannot harm them. Sometimes, we think an enrichment item will be so perfect, only for it to arrive and realize it was made of a material the chimps can’t have. Caregiver Chad did a lot of research on the Jolly Ball that we wanted to give to Burrito on his birthday, but when it arrived it was leaning towards a little to soft of plastic to give to the chimps. However, this morning we were discussing how we knew he would love it soooo much! We decided that we could keep a close eye on the Jolly ball and that if it was destroyed we could remove it. When we showed Burrito his belated birthday present his eyes lit up! Once their group was invited back into their freshly cleaned Playroom, Burrito immediately grabbed it. He was beaming with joy. I think you will all be pleased to know that the ball is still alive and well!
This is a screen grab from the video. I know the quality of the photo might not be great, but it might be the best part of the whole video!
Every single body should have at least one thing daily that brings them this much joy! Happy birthday Burrito. You are joyous!
its very nice to see bubba have fun, but saftey first.
many thanks to the Caretakers at CSNW
Its so wonderful to see Burrito so happy playing with his ball!!!!
You’re right Kelsi….that photo is priceless, our boy at his silliest! I’m sure Tobin was correct when she said you had transposed his age numbers and he’s not 41 but 14…..where does he get his energy from?
A more perfect gift for Burrito can’t possibly exist! Poor Annie really wanted to check it out, I hope she was able to at some point.
Oh my!!! Well, this was the BEST 6:41 that I’ve spent in the last few days, that’s for certain!! What a silly boy! I love the way he holds onto the ball with his feet while bouncing on it so it doesn’t roll out from under him. Now how smart is that???? I’d certainly never have thought of it! Oh, Bubba, you spread such joy and we are grateful every day for your presence in this wonderful community of people who love you and all your buddies at the sanctuary, humans included!! Thanks so much, Kelsi, for you and your devoted team.
I think that was the most joyful video I have seen. Burrito always comes up with the cutest ways to have fun. I think the jolly ball will provide many hours of entertainment for the chimps (if Burrito shares) and us.
Watching Bubba and his bouncy ball brought to mind an old Far Side cartoon. Mr. and Ms. Porcupine are at home. Their porcupine toddler is playing with a balloon. From his chair and behind his newspaper, Papa Porcupine drolly comments to Mama Porcupine: “Well, this shouldn’t last too long…”
We can never get too much Burrito. I was laughing along with whomever was filming this video (Kelsi?) as Burrito found more and more new ways to have fun with his new present. May the Jolly Ball continue to make him happy (if it holds out long enough) but, if not, then he will continue to find other ways to have fun, because, after all, he is Burrito!!!
On the official Joy-O-Meter the new bouncy Jolly Ball scores off the charts! I know a handful of shelter dogs who feel the same way Bubba does when given a Jolly Ball. However, the dogs would find Burrito’s use a little different than their own. Jolly Balls do have a wonderful ‘give’ to them. There are some larger dogs who have a ball for long time before it becomes punctured by their canines. I wouldn’t have expected Burrito’s exuberant bouncing to deflate the ball so quickly!! Good grief, he’s just too much! And I love that the handle (used for tossing) is soooo perfect for Burrito since he enjoys carrying his bouncy toys with him. I am keeping my fingers crossed that no one tries to eat the ball so you can keep it in your enrichment tool box rotation.
Kelsi, your photo totally captured the climax of this video—the one foot stance! I thought I would die when I saw that. Please thank Bubba for bringing such joy into my life.
Thank you for this wonderful video!!!
How many ways can Burrito have fun with a jolly ball? Let me count the ways….
Oh, Bubby! He keeps himself entertained, huh? Watching him bounce and bounce just makes me so happy.
Don’t know which part of this video I loved most: the Ricky Ricardo Babaloo bongo drums or the Arabesque pose. He surely knows how to get the most out of everything you send his way. Great video.
What a beautiful boy bouncing on his blue birthday ball. Such a delightfully happy video.
Finally! a hippity hop! Long may it live!
oh my!! LMAO
On a serious note though, is something wrong with burritos backend? It seems swollen and with perhaps a cut on the right? If so, it certainly didn’t stop him from scooting around on his behind or bouncing up and down on his jolly ball! He’s unstoppable!