Honey B is a wonder all to herself. She is an expert at using tools, and a genius at thinking up new ways to entertain herself using said tools around the sanctuary. She has come up with her own enrichment many times (see a few examples here, here, and here), keeping things interesting for herself, her group, and those that care for her.
Here is Honey B enjoying the new nylabone keys!
Earlier this week, we needed to collect a fecal sample from Honey B’s group for Dr. Erin. Unfortunately for the humans, the desired sample was just out of reach, even with the longest of bamboo sticks at our disposal, and we did not want to disturb the chimpanzees by asking them to shift out of their enclosure again. So Anna had an idea…”Let’s ask Honey B!”
We collected our supplies (a laser pointer, a clicker, a small cup of raisins, a spoon, and a sample collection container), and found Honey B. It was a multi-step request, as we were asking her to use the spoon we gave her to collect feces from a specific location, then return the spoon to us with the feces on it. We used the laser pointer to identify the target feces, and asked Honey B to “trade” while pointing at the spoon, then the feces. She figured out what we were asking of her very quickly, and collected the sample we needed! It was so impressive to watch her think through our request, then have what appeared to be a “light bulb” moment where she put it all together and did just what we were asking of her. We were able to move the sample into the sample container and save it to be looked at by Dr. Erin.
Thank you, Honey B!
Eli says
Honey B is a genius! Her intelligence and creativity always leave me in awe. I’m not surprised she caught on to your guys’ request so quickly!
Perhaps next time she’ll give the sample to you in a troll head Jamie-style.
Ken & Sonny says
way to go Honey-B! Great thinking and just shows how well the Caretakers know the residents at the Sanctuary. Awesome
CarolR says
Fantastic! We all know she’s a genius, but following the steps needed in this and understanding what it is the humans need is just amazing.. Well done to all involved……she certainly deserved those raisins….what treat did the caregivers get???
Linda C says
The gift of free time, since they didn’t have to shift everyone! 🙂 (my guess)
Linda C says
Doubting the intelligence of Ms Beans would never have occurred to me…. I’m even worried seeing her with those toy keys…:laughing:
The great hise heist is always a fav…the way she braced her feet against the caging and hauled it in hand over hand, as if she’d done it before, still impresses the heck out of me.
Boy, that eye is taking its time!
Gaynell says
Bravo, Honey B. Well done following all directions. Long live the legend of the great hose heist.
Adrienne says
Amazing!
Nancy Duryea says
Honey B to the rescue, it appears she’s up to any task, even scooping poop.
Gaynell says
Nancy, didnt you say a few days ago, whete are the ‘shenanigans? Poop, there it is. Anything for raisins.
Linda C says
:rofl::joy:
Kathleen says
THAT was amazing! To connect all the dots to get the end result and then have Honey B pass it to you, incredible! And she caught on faster than I could read the captions!! Don’t ask me how I know this, I just know, Honey B went to bed tonight wondering why in the world did you clowns want a spoonful of poop!?! Humans. Go figure.
Linda C says
:smile::smile:
Isabelle says
:grin::joy::rofl:
JAMIE says
Honey B is like, ” these crazy humans want that poop on a spoon?!” weird, but ok… this girl like raisins. Ha Ha Ha. Kudos to the creative humans and chimps! just Wow!