It is getting very cold here in Cle Elum, but the sun is out and there’s no snow on the ground so the chimps continue to go out on the hill every day. Today, Jamie led Missy, Annie, and Jody on a walk through the bamboo.
Later, Jody was alarmed by something in the upper corner of the enclosure. Here you can see a great example of a fear grimace – what many people mistake for a smile.
Annie stayed back, but Jody was determined to go in for a closer look. She kept looking back for some support, but she was on her own.
The chimps love being able to roam across two acres, but at times like this I think it can feel a long way from the safety of their original sanctuary home.
She got as far as the bamboo grove but didn’t seem to have to courage to go any further; at least not without backup.
So she went back to the platform to be with Annie.
I’m proud of Jody for going as far as she did, brave girl. I was wondering now that the chimps are outside in the cold much more now than ever are you all doing anything extra to keep them from getting sick?
We have general policies in place to reduce the chances of the chimps catching a cold or the flu – they are fed a healthy diet and are given daily multivitamins, all staff and volunteers must be vaccinated for the flu annually or wear a mask while in the chimp house, staff and volunteers are not allowed to come to work if they are sick with a cold or the flu, we practice frequent hand-washing, etc. But we don’t do anything different just because they are spending more time on the hill.
The chimps have always had the ability to go outside in the cold if they choose to, and many of them like to venture outside in the winter. They are pretty good about regulating themselves, and they will come back in when they get too cold. The scientific evidence is mixed at best as to whether being physically cold can increase the chances of getting sick, but I have to admit that I now feel a lot of sympathy for my parents who worried about me when I would insist on wearing shorts and a t-shirt in February.
Good question Candy. Yay Jody!!!!
Yay Jody, yay Annie! They may have been scared but they didn’t go back inside.
And yay JB — great photos!!
Bravo Jody! Brave Woman!!
Jody has really come a long way. JB, do you have any idea what it was that alarmed the girls? Great photos.
I don’t, unfortunately. I did hear some animal calls from that area (possibly birds and ground squirrels) and I think that the chimps are still getting used to some of these less familiar sounds. By next summer, I predict that Jody will leading a hunting party in these circumstances instead of hiding behind the bamboo.
The first picture of the four of them moving together as a troupe across open ground … it’s such a powerful statement when compared to the pictures back in June 2008 of them arriving in their travel cages. The Hill may only be two acres, but it must feel like a continent to them.
Given the cold, are their coats getting any thicker?
I get the same feeling when I see them out there together. It’s like a glimpse of what could have been and, for the chimps who were wild-caught like Annie, what SHOULD have been.
The chimps’ hair isn’t really affected by changes in temperature, but does seem to grow fuller with overall health and access to sunlight, so we may see some changes next summer when they are spending more time outdoors.
Thanks, JB, the only thing that worried me are those bare feet on the snow and wet ground.
No need to worry, at least about Jamie, Candy….all she has to do is put on her custom made boots and she’s good to go in the snow! 🙂
And J.B…..I’m sure you can sympathize with your parents now, about ALOT of things you never even gave a thought too!! 🙂 Great post and photos!
I agree… the first photo of them roaming in the grass is breath-taking.
Learning to conquer fear…an opportunity they’ve been adapting to (and succeeding!) for the last three years. This is a new and grander step in that process.
I look forward to the day they when they do form their hunting party (although I have a bit of sympathy for the poor unsuspecting creature they’ll eventually catch!)