It’s been a couple of weeks but it’s time to revisit my series on identifying the Lucky 6! In case you missed them, be sure to visit my prior blogs on identifying Cy, Gordo, Dora and Rayne. Today it’s time to highlight Lucky! Like her brother Cy, Lucky has a prominent brow ridge. She also has a few pink freckles on the inside of her ears and on her eyelids. She has a bit of a wrinkly belly with wiry hair on her shoulders. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Lucky?
Identifying Rayne
Today we’ve reached part 4 (Rayne!) of my blog series about identifying the Lucky 6. Be sure to check out Identifying Cy, Gordo and Dora if you haven’t already. Rayne is most recognizable because of the dry skin on her forehead. She also has large ears that stick out a bit, long fingers and a straight back posture.
After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Rayne?
Identifying Dora
Today is part 3 of my blogs about identifying the Lucky 6. Be sure to check out Identifying Cy and Gordo if you missed parts 1 and 2. It’s time to highlight Dora. She is the smallest member of her group, has a brown-ish freckly complexion with large protruding eyes and long lashes. She also has a straight back, is missing half a finger on her left hand and makes a distinct bobble head movement when she’s happy. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Dora?
Identifying Gordo
Today I wanted to continue my chimp ID series that I started on Wednesday. Above you can watch the Gordo video I made to help trainees get to know his physical features a little bit better. Gordo is smaller than the other male members of his group. He has a white beard that covers lighter skin on his chin and mouth. His eyes are slightly closer together (and a little watery) and his face often has a bit of a “smirk” on it. He is also missing a toe on his right foot. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Gordo?
Identifying Cy
These last couple of weeks have been a busy one at the sanctuary as we welcomed our newest staff members Amanda and Ellen to the team! They will introduce themselves individually to all our blog readers in a few weeks but for now they are learning the ins and outs of our daily routine.
One of the first steps in their training is to learn to identify all of the chimpanzees. They get opportunities to watch the chimps during meals and in passing as we practice doing door checks but it’s also nice to have additional resources like the blog to check out photos and videos of the chimps. One resource that we have created was an ID playlist on YouTube featuring each of the chimpanzees in different settings. Trainees can watch the videos and see the chimps from multiple angles and in different settings. I discovered that I needed to update our playlist to include the “Lucky Six” so that’s the project I am currently focusing on. Conveniently, these videos can also tie nicely into a blog. Today I made the Cy ID video.
Cy is a big chimpanzee with thick rounded features. He has a silver back and a grey beard. His face features a prominent brow ridge and deep creases. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Cy?
The Harvest
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a brief photo caption about the sunflowers growing on Young’s Hill:
The Sunflowers that volunteered on Young’s Hill are still going strong. As the blooms start to go to seed, I imagine their days out there are numbered…
Well I wasn’t wrong. Look what I found this morning tucked neatly into the folds of a nest in the Greenhouse:
My first suspect, based on a past pattern of sunflower collecting behavior and nest location has got to be Negra. Let me present my evidence to the court of public opinion.
Exhibit A: Negra is a known sunflower collector (photo from September 2018):
Exhibit B: One of Negra’s favorite nesting locations just so happens to be the same spot the sunflowers were found…
The prosecution (and defense) rests:
Bonus! Chilly days call for added layers. Jamie sporting a lavender sheet:
Radicchio!
Today was a beautiful day for a forage on Young’s Hill. We put out pears, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers, but there was one exciting highlight to the meal: radicchio! This purple leafy veggie comes in its own perfect chimp size portions. Annie and Burrito in particular made the most of the radicchio bonanza!
Burrito collected his lunch and dined al fresco on a log:
Annie took her forage bounty back to the safety of the greenhouse: