Supporter Dana Alan Troyer thoughtfully sent the chimps the Disneynature movie “Chimpanzee”. Burrito and Foxie have always been fascinated by movies and they were especially excited about this one! You may notice at one point it looks as though Burrito is “dancing” to the beat of the music, but in reality I suspect he was just generally excited about seeing the chimps on TV. He loves TV but is particularly interested in movies with free-living chimpanzees. His face while watching the movie was just priceless! Thanks, Dana!
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I wonder if some of them remember what home looks like, and if the movie reminded them. I’d love to be able to know their thoughts.
Mr. B definitely looked to be smiling there. 🙂 The last shot of Foxie reminded me of a kid on the edge of their seat, and then something more mature when she picked up her doll to comfort it.
How absolutely fasinating watching these guys watch the disney video (which I bought and thought was well done). Gosh, Burrito really liked it – hahahaha do all the chimps spit water if they don’t like something? Love what you folks do – hope all is well
Not all of the chimps spit water, in fact I’ve never seen Negra spit water. Jamie, Missy, Annie, and Foxie occasionally spit water playfully, so it’s not always (though usually it is) a sign of aggravation or dislike.
I wonder what they are thinking when they see the baby chimps in the movie – very sad for them I would think.
That’s funny that Jamie didn’t like it. Do you think that has anything to do with her being the alpha female of the group? It’s so sweet that Burrito likes watching chimp movies. Makes me wonder if the people at the labs taught the chimps to use tools at all… to break nuts open and whatnot. I know most of the chimps were born in captivity, weren’t they? So they wouldn’t have been in the wild long enough to learn that but I know you guys give them whole nuts that aren’t shelled yet. Sheesh, I’m always so full of questions haha. Thanks for the great clip!
It’s hard to say why Jamie wasn’t interested, though the spit was actually directed at the camera person (whom shall remain anonymous. 😉
Most of the chimps were born in captivity, though they were housed with other chimps for various periods of their lives, including when they were housed with males for breeding purposes. Plus the Cle Elum Seven were housed as a group in the few years prior to coming to CSNW, so many of their behaviors were probably learned from watching each other over the years.
Do they watch the show Escape to chimp Eden with Eugene Cussons?
We don’t have cable, so we are limited to DVDs and we don’t have Chimp Eden. They may enjoy it though!
I’m surprised that they liked the movie – I would think that it might emphasize their captivity more in their minds which wouldn’t be pleasant for them. Maybe Jamie felt that way even though she was born in captivity. Or maybe it reminded her of her own babies?
What, no popcorn?
Kidding aside, I was fascinated by their interest in the movie. What do you think they think about TV and movies? Do they understand that it’s not “real time” – or is it like looking through a window to them?
Might their excitement be the environment in which the chimps are living (and their subsequent behavior), or would it be seeing other chimps? Apparently neither Foxie nor Burrito felt threatened by them. Did they do anything specific during the attack scene when Oscar lost his mother? I noticed Foxie clutching a troll tighter…do you think that was a reaction to something she saw?
I think they probably do understand that it’s not real. Burrito and Foxie are also interested in cartoons, like Animal Babies and Dora the Explorer, which are obviously not realistic. But it’s hard to get inside of their heads and really know what they are thinking…
I didn’t see their reaction to when Oscar lost his mother though they do often get pilo erect and sometimes threat bark when watching violent scenes in chimpanzee movies.