I am feeling quite lucky today as I just got back from a beautiful family vacation last night! After being away for a little while, the humans at the sanctuary are always happy to be reunited with their chimpanzee friends, and the feeling is usually mutual. I was delighted to see that Central Washington has maintained its mild winter, so the chimps and I celebrated the morning with multiple walks around a snow-less Young’s Hill.
Ellie the neighborhood elk has been spending most of her winter away from the sanctuary, but now that the snow has gone, she made an appearance on the property this morning.
At one point, I saw each of the 7 chimpanzees get some fresh air, including Foxie accompanied by her Dora doll.
More walks are in order this afternoon, so I’ll just leave you with a bonus photo of this much smaller non-human primate we saw leaping through the trees of a Costa Rican national park.
A wonderful celebration! I love seeing the chimps enjoying themselves. I wish all the precious animals that share the earth with us could be safe and know such love. May the New Year be filled with love, joy, and happiness for the chimps and all of their human friends!
Thank you J. B. ~ so sweet!! I can relate!! Especially B4 coffee!! Hugs to you all….
Have I ever mentioned that I think you have the best profession/job in the world? Thank you for this sleepy head video of dear Negra. Would love to wake up to see and hear Negra every morning. Breathy pants right back at you both.
High tea with the chimps. I love it. Beautiful pictures. How wonderful to see the deer lat spring and today.
thank you?
Another day of celebration for the chimps. Great photos of the lovely Jamie. Happy birthday Sharon, and thank you for sharing your day.
Missy has got a good haul, can’t see her feet, maybe there is more there. Happy chimps
Hi Tobin –
This is what we’d call a “relaxed face with drooped lip.” The difference is subtle…in a smile, you’d see the upper lip still covering the top teeth but it would be drawn back more tightly. But a relaxed face is just as good 🙂 It may not indicate play but it is usually evidence of contentment.
Chimp greetings, like human greetings, usually involve some sort of gesture – an extended arm, a head nod, etc. I’d say her movements are more of a happy, friendly way of saying “hello” from a distance. I’m trying to think of an analogy in humans. Perhaps its like the way we might bounce around or jump up and down slightly when we are waving to someone we like from a distance. It’s a whole body “hello”.