Yesterday was an exciting day for the chimps. As we promised, we are giving you a more detailed description and a video today!
As the team continues modifying the facility to prepare for the arrival of three chimpanzee individuals from Wildlife Waystation, the current residents get to observe the ongoing changes. Yesterday, their attention was focused on the wall that separates the existing Playroom from the new wing of chimpanzee enclosures. Until recently, a pair of steel mesh doors and a solid barn door separated the Playroom from the meadow outside. With Phase I of the expansion almost complete, however, the wall now serves as the primary barrier between the old and new sections of the building. It is here that the new arrivals will meet the seven chimpanzees who already live here, and we have to make structural modifications accordingly.
J.B. had his kit (pictured above) ready to go yesterday morning as we unlocked the Playroom for routine cleaning (without any chimps inside, of course). The first step was to cut off the existing doors, then Level II intern Fritz helped the staff to carry them out of the building. Then, with the the wall and new doorway now fully accessible, J.B. installed a sheet of clear plastic into the steel door frame leading into the new expansion (pictured below). (The materials for this door were salvaged from the former Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute in Ellensburg.)
The solid plastic window locks into the frame but can be replaced by other materials that allow for varying degrees of physical, visual, and auditory communication between the chimpanzees on either side. In caregiving/zookeeping jargon, this customizable interface is known as a “Howdy Door.” Such devices can be extremely valuable when introducing unfamiliar chimpanzees to one another. Although the plastic insertion still needs a bit of polishing, it gave the chimpanzees their closest peek yet into the enclosures which will soon contain Honey B., Mave, and Willy B.
As seen in the video, the chimpanzees all expressed interest in the newly-exposed doorway. Jamie certainly spent the most time in front of the Howdy Door, alternating between supervising J.B. and trying to take the door apart. Burrito used the hard surface for percussion while Annie, Jody and Foxie all inspected it on their own terms. Although we didn’t capture them on camera, even Negra and Missy gave the door a quick inspection once everyone else had cleared out. Even after Level III volunteer Miranda served the chimps their lunch in the Greenhouse, most returned to the Playroom to watch the door as they digested (like Annie, below).
It is difficult to predict how each individual will react to meeting an unfamiliar chimp through the window, but they certainly notice, and get excited by, each new change.
Oh, Mr. B probably thinks it’s just another window for him to play with you guys on!
Once he got over the initial shock of the barn doors being gone, he was extremely excited to hang out with J.B. through the window.
whoops! I commented before watching it!
Boy, Jamie certainly snapped Burrito right back into line quickly, didn’t she?!
Hi Linda! It’s sometimes difficult to “read” chimp behavior, and even the most experienced caregivers and scientists are mere novices when it comes to understanding chimpanzee vocal and nonverbal communication. My interpretation of this interaction is that Jamie was well aware of Burrito’s excitement and was acknowledging him with a “pant-grunt” which may have served to calm him down. Although Jamie is dominant in her own way, she seems to give Burrito some respect when he is hooting and displaying. He’s still the largest and most explosive of the seven chimps here, and I think Jamie knows that. With that being said, Jamie is not as submissive towards him as the other females seem to be. It’s all open to interpretation, though, and I think only Jamie knows her true intentions.
yeah, she gave him the touch on the shoulder the second time to mitigate the threats, right?; I took it to say, “Yeah, I know this is exciting, but I *said* we are NOT doing this right now!” š
I am so hoping, along with Iām sure many thousands of others, that you will film the arrival of the new chimpanzees to the sanctuary. It would be so exciting for those of us who have been fans for years to see the fruition of our dreams for the original chimps and caregivers, to have new sanctuary members!
We’ll certainly be documenting and recording as much as we can so that everyone can follow along! š Thank you for being so supportive, Meg!
Thank you for the video and pictures, along with the commentary about what is happening at the sanctuary. I am so excited about all of the progress being made, and agree with Meg above, that I hope you film the arrival of the new chimps to their forever home. What a great day that will be for all!
Thanks, Lynn! We’re going to collect as many videos and photos as we can so that we can share the moment with all of you. š
I think I am just about as excited as the chimps are. Can’t wait until the new chimps arrive.
Wow…. just WOW!!! I think I’m gonna go do some percussion and channel my inner Burrito now š So exciting…
My heart is honestly fluttering with excitement for them, it feels as if it could just fly out of my chest! I could almost cry watching this, wondering what each one is thinking. Ack! I hope Foxie inspected that door and gave it her special stamp of Safety Approval!
I know you always use bullet proof glass in chimp houses, can’t the chimps totally shatter the Howdy Door plastic partition? Eeesh, I could just imagine Burrito breaking it in a display.
Thanks Anthony for the big reveal today! There is a part of me that wants to hold on to these seven precious creatures just as they are even though there is this other part of me that would love see CSNW expand to take in all the remaining chimpanzees awaiting their turn for peace and freedom in a sanctuary. I know one sure thing, Honey B., Mave, and Willy B are so very lucky.
Hi Kathleen – Lexan, the plastic used in the howdy door, is incredibly strong stuff. In fact, it is the main component of bullet-proof glass. It does scratch easily, however, which is why it is often sandwiched in layers within tempered glass, as it is in our 1″ bullet-proof playroom windows. That said, the howdy door will only separate groups of chimps during intros. When humans are on the other side, we also close the hydraulic steel mesh door for extra security. In the video, I was filming through the mesh.
Thank you J.B. for the info! I assumed it had to be super strong but very cool knowing all this. Good grief I am so excited for all of you. Hope you are holding up with all that needs to be done. I know I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep if I were in your shoes.
I fear Jamie’s engineering skills more than Burrito’s displays, lol!
Just wanted to add that watched this video again this morning and it still takes my breath away and brings a few tears to my eyes. Especially around 1:46 where we see Jamie peeking into window with those curious eyes of hers. Funny how each chimp initially reaches to your lock in the upper corner. I always say I would like to be a fly on the wall and this video certainly gave me that perspective. Now, if I could only be a fly inside their magnificent brains and hearts so I could better understand what they are truly thinking. ; ) My mind is filled with a whirl of possibilities as to what the reactions/experience will be for the Cle Elum Seven and Wildlife Waystation Three.
Woo-hoo! I’m in the same boat as others here: feeling as excited as the chimps about the changes! can’t wait for the new residents to arrive! butterflies in my stomach and pit-a-pats in my heart. yay!!
Hi everyone. You all never cease to amaze me at what you have done at the sanctuary. These chimps and cattle are very lucky indeed. Thank you all so much. Do you have a time when new chimps will arrive. I am so excited.