With winter at the sanctuary comes snow, though this year there really hasn’t been much so far. I don’t want to jinx it, but we have only had a few days of snow fall and not much has accumulated at all. But fresh snow is a delicacy for chimpanzees! A few days ago after one of the snow falls, Diana, JB, and volunteers Connie and Lynn collected a some snow and incorporated it into a forage for the chimps. We have been lucky so far to have some really nice days, but even on the colder days we make the best of what nature hands us. I still will never forget when the chimpanzees had their first snow experience, for some probably the first time in their lives! Thankfully even though this is the fifth winter for the Cle Elum Seven, they still get excited about snow and will food grunt happily to get to taste some. Here’s some pictures from the forage I mentioned:
Annie (left) & Jody:
Jody:
And here’s one of Foxie on Young’s Hill:
That is such a great pick, never forgets baby doll! Hope you guys are doing well! Always in our thoughts!
I can’t believe it’s the fifth winter already. Time flies when great things happen!!!
Considering that chimps are not from snow regions.CSNW truly makes every season enjoyable for the chimps. They absolutely love the snow. Up here in Toronto , Canada, we have NO snow yet.
I’m in my 50s and I still get excited about snow. 😉
Does their hair thicken in the colder months?
Their hair is just like ours, so as far as I’m aware it doesn’t thicken with the change in weather, however sometimes they might look “puffier” because their hair will stand on end (called “pilo erect”). It’s sort of like how the hair on our arms stands up when we get cold, too. They just have more of it!