Hope everyone had a happy Jamieween! Thanks to all who helped make it a spectacular day!
Jamieween preview!
Jamie turned 40 today, so I want to make sure to do her birthday video justice… Therefore, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to watch it. Until then, I leave you with these before and after teaser photos.
I thought they’d had enough pumpkin, but as I closed up, Negra was still eating this last piece laying down in her nest.
Happy Jamieween!
Burrito and Foxie
In free-living populations of chimpanzees, male chimps are the dominant group leaders. At the sanctuary, this is not the case. While Burrito, the only male chimpanzee in the group, acts pretty tough when he chases the females around the playroom during his wild displays, he doesn’t really understand how to be a leader, and therefore doesn’t get the same respect in return. Most of his displays end when one of the girls has had enough, and starts leading the cavalry charge against him. Foxie is probably his best friend of the group and he looks to her for a lot of reassurance. Foxie is more than happy to be the calm presence in his life that he needs, but is also ready to put him in his place if he pushes her too far.
Bonus!
More Negra on the hill this morning, because we can’t get enough!
Gold mornings
An awestruck Jody
Negra goes outside, just because she can!
This morning I opened the door to Young’s Hill and 6 chimpanzees poured out onto the hill to investigate any changes that might have happened overnight in their 2 acre outdoor enclosure. Moments after opening the door, Negra surprised me by venturing out as well. I expected her to stop and maybe eat a little Autumn grass before going back inside, but instead she continued further out onto the hill and climbed a structure where she could overlook the valley below the sanctuary. Negra is mainly motivated by food and comfortable beds, and she seems to go outdoors primarily to forage, so I was pretty excited for her to feel secure enough to go out on the hill, just to get some sunshine and enjoy the view.
After taking a few photos, I left her to clean the playroom. Twenty minutes later, I peaked out the window and saw that she was still there, with the same dreamy look in her eyes! Elizabeth took a few more photos.
When Negra is outside, the other chimps get pretty excited about it too. Today, Missy and Jamie surrounded her for some grooming.
Busy work
We had this giant box of shipping/moving paper saved up with a fun enrichment project in mind. After Jamie and Burrito dismantled the box, Missy was more than happy to recycle the paper as lining in her giant nest!