I’ve been sitting on this fun video for a perfect quick blog on a busy meeting day. Burrito brings out all his silliness when he plays with his Jolly Ball! We’ve seen countless moments like this one in the last few months since he got this new toy.
Is that you Spring?
Today is the kickoff to what looks like a BEAUTIFUL weekend of sun and warm temps. As the schools head to spring break, the chimps head right into consistently cozy warm greenhouses and even more outdoor adventure time!
Here’s Annie in full Greenhouse Lounge Mode:
Burrito outside on Young’s Hill. Check out those first sprigs of green grass!
Jamie on patrol:
Lucky and Honey B spending some quality grooming time together:
Lovely Rayne and a new bonobo book she needed to check out:
Prehensile lips make turning pages easier:
A closeup of Terry:
Willy B keeping an eye on the outdoor activities from a playroom window (I love how distinct his shoulder swoops are):
We all can’t wait to welcome spring!
Be mine, Rayne
Today is the last day of February and the last of our “Be Mine” blog series. To top it off, it’s also leap day and time to highlight a very special chimpanzee on an out of the ordinary day. Rayne is an extraordinary person so it all seems to fit perfectly! Rayne is calm, collected and intelligent. She has an aura of wisdom and grace about her, but isn’t afraid to be silly and exuberant. She also can be fiery during conflicts when she needs to be. She loves smoothies and drinks and is very particular about her eating habits. She likes her food in a certain order and when it seems like she doesn’t want a produce item, caregivers know to circle back to her at the end of a meal to re-offer her some items. Rayne is a skilled lounger and can make boxes and firehose swings look extremely comfortable. Similar to Jamie, she too has turned into a Bonobo aficionado and can often be spotted carrying one of those picture books around.
Rayne was born January 29th, 1990 in the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates. Her parents were Herbie and Thelma, which makes her half siblings to Cy, Lucky and Honey B. She also has a strong resemblance to Tatu, her half sister who lives at the Fauna Foundation in Canada.
Honey B, Rayne and Cy:
Rayne is a popular chimpanzee and has a solid relationship with all her group mates. It’s been especially fun to watch her and Honey B’s relationship blossom into a great friendship (even though they definitely fight like sisters).
Rayne’s quiet confidence has been on full display this past year as she has conquered the Bray without hesitation. As soon as she gained access to their new outdoor area, it was like she was made for it. There’s nothing better than watching her step outside and stride up the hill to find a comfortable spot on a platform or a peaceful place in the shade.
Rayne has a list of 8 very special Pals you too can be a part of. Thanks to Vicki, Monica, Melody, Elizabeth, Elijah, Adrienne, Kim, Diana K, and Tami for being Rayne’s Pals.
Happy leap day everyone! Now seems like the perfect moment to fall in love with Rayne.
Be Mine, Missy
Missy Chimpanzee is equal parts athlete, social butterfly, second in command and tomato connoisseur. If you see a chimpanzee loping along the middle of Young’s Hill (usually followed by her BFF Annie), there’s a good chance it’s Missy. If you see a group of chimpanzees together grooming at the top of the Greenhouse, Missy is likely a big part of that group. If Jamie is angry at one of her group mates or caregivers, Missy is right behind her, backing her up with angry threat barks to make sure the punishment is swift. If there is a bowl of tomatoes on the counter in the kitchen, Missy will be at the Playroom door, giving her signature head nod with outstretched fingers. I sometimes think she’s trying to do a little back-door deal for her favorite food. If Missy could talk, I’d assume she would give me a wink and say “Don’t worry, no one needs to know if you slipped me some secret tomatoes.”
Missy was born into biomedical research in 1975 where she was used as a “breeder” and she was used in Hepatitis vaccine research. She gave birth to two children Josh and CSNW’s very own Honey B. Since Honey B and Missy were separated when Honey B was an infant, they don’t seem to recognize each other as family and do not live in the same group.
Honey B (left) Missy (right):
One of my favorite “Missy Moments” was watching her be the first chimpanzee at the sanctuary to climb a tree at the top of their new and improved Young’s Hill. Missy’s curiosity and athleticism were on full display and it was so fun to watch her do something for the very first time!
Missy’s beautiful life in sanctuary is sponsored in part by her amazing Pals Vicki, Monica, Chris & Lee Ann, Donna, Sharlene, Myra, Patti, Barbara, and Dax. You too can join this group of important supporters by becoming Missy’s Pal.
Valentine’s month is almost over, but it’s never too late to fall in love with Missy!
Be mine, Burrito
Burrito is an easy guy to blog about because he’s always up to something! His playful nature makes him popular among caregivers and his chimpanzee group mates alike. Along with his playful side, he also has a wild streak that isn’t unusual among male chimpanzees. In between play bouts you might find him stirring up trouble in his group or doing one of his favorite activities of all, being a nosy neighbor and intensely tracking all the goings on of the other chimpanzee group.
Burrito was born January 6th, 1983 in a biomedical laboratory where he was used for Hepatitis B vaccine safety trials as an infant. He was moved at a young age to the Buckshire Corporation in Pennsylvania and then taken in to someone’s home as a “pet” and also used in the entertainment industry before he was moved back to the lab. In 2008 Burrito and his group mates were finally welcomed into sanctuary life at CSNW.
Burrito generally enjoys baked foods like sweet potatoes and onions. When he is recovering from a trip to the clinic, Burrito gets to eat one of his favorite foods (bagels!) as a very special treat. He makes very high food squeaks when he’s eating something he loves!
While Burrito is playful with just about everyone in his group, we often consider Foxie to be his BFF. Here he diligently grooms her foot:
Burrito’s thirst for play is unquenchable!
Burrito’s lust for life in general is so admirable. He’s survived some very tough events in his lifetime but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit.
Being the popular guy that he is, Burrito has a long list of Chimpanzee Pals that you too can be a part of. Thanks so much to Burrito’s Pals: Vicki, Monica, Chris & Lee Ann, Donna, Sharlene, Paulette, Gracie, Ally, Carrie, Julie, Ka Yi, James, Kathy, Jennifer, Cheney, Sheeru & Jaanvi, Martine, Shelley, Megan & Philip, Kimberly, Janet, Kristin & Max, Heather & Jarrod, and Beth.
This goes without saying, but make sure to fall in love with Burrito Chimpanzee this Valentine’s Month!
Enrichment for Honey B (Part 2)
After last Thursday’s procedure, Honey B is still recuperating in the Front Rooms away from the group to give her injury enough time to heal. Keeping her busy has been a fun and challenging task for us. Fortunately, she’s someone who seems to really love all that extra attention and enrichment.
A Spoon Full of Sugar
We’ve had a busy afternoon but I did manage to take a few photos of Lucky and the wooden spoon she was carrying around. Enjoy!
