There are a lot of important roles here in the chimp house that have to be filled daily that staff members rotate through. We have our lead caregiver who shifts Jamie’s side of the building and writes the blog, a second shifter that shifts Cy’s side of the building, a second staff role that is in charge of meds prep and receives safety checks, and a cattle care role who is in charge of cattle for the day. Everyone cleans and helps with the task list, but these roles change up how your day looks.
Each role has its challenges, from chimps not shifting to cattle trying to steal each others food. The second staff role, though, can definitely be challenging- depending on the day, the meds, and the chimp who needs them. 🙂
Negra, lovingly referred to as the Queen of CSNW, is our nearest, dearest, eldest resident. She has arthritis and she receives pain medication to help with her symptoms. She prefers to take her meds in a dixie cup mixed with non-dairy chocolate pudding, naturally, and it’s been a pretty consistent strategy to make sure she gets them daily. It used to be peanut butter that she preferred and it wouldn’t surprise me if, at some point, she decided that she was totally over the pudding, but that’s a worry for another day (and for the unlucky individual who is second staff when it happens).
This morning Negra allowed me to film her as she enjoyed her pudding cup, while she watched the rest of her group explore Young’s Hill. I hope you enjoy her happy food grunts, kissy lips, and general contentedness.
I understand trying to find ways to get the chimps to take their meds as I go through the same thing with my cats. The food or treat that I sneak it in that they like for a while, will eventually be ignored. It’s nice to see how much Neggie is currently loving the pudding. I hope she sticks with it for a while!
Once again, I wil say that I love to hear the chimps’ eating and smacking and chewing sounds:
Bless her heart…..every slurp is a joy to hear! And she doesn’t forget a thank you kiss for providing her medical treat either.
Thank you, all, for taking care of our Queen! The kiss is probably the best reward!
I agree with all of the previous comments. Jody had her happy dinosaur groan, and Neggie has a food bark that is just as joyous to hear. Conclusion: I think the Queen enjoys the company of her attendants at the Human Sanctuary Northwest.
What a treat to see and hear Queen Negra devouring her medicated choc pudding. Those sounds and the look on her face were pure bliss and she didn’t miss a beat watching her pals up on Young’s Hill while enjoying her largesse. Guys, you sure have hit the mark with getting those meds into that lady.
I wish I could volunteer just for Negra’s Pudding Cup Duty! Negra was enjoying every single lick, so much so I thought she was going to nibble down some of the paper cup just to be sure she got every delectable bite!! You really do treat her like a Queen! Just as it should be.
I adore this joyful noise. I don’t mean to say this out of disrespect to him. But my Grampa, who had the lofty name of Baltimore Herman Hendrix and who i miss to this day, sounded just like her. He enjoyed my Granny’s cooking so much. Us kids marveled at him. I wish i could kiss her for bringing back this wonderful memory. Thank you all for what you do. And thank you Neggie.
Are you sure that we don’t share the same grandfather? (For further details, see the first blogpost from 2.17.2022).
You’d probably both enjoy a YT channel called “Crazy Korean Cooking”. The woman brought her parents over from Korea, and the way her father enjoys food is hilarious! Normally I don’t like hearing noises when people eat, but this man’s joy is contagious! And I don’t know where he puts it, he’s still thin
Those smacks and slurps are the best! Clearly The Queen is pleased with her attendants’ serving skills!
Love her appreciative kiss and the evident joy of eating her pudding. Such a beautiful lady.
What a lovely sound, she really enjoyed that!