Annie and Missy each took moments to check on the staff and volunteer arrivals this morning before resuming their lively game of chase.
Chase with Foxie
Foxie knows just how to get a caregiver to play a long game of chase with her. Step 1: Give caregiver one of her precious dolls. Step 2: Refuse to take it back and run from one room to another until satisfied that said caregiver is properly out of breath.
Someone a little bit different
Living in the middle of the Cascade Mountains has its perks. Today as I arrived for work I spotted this little black bear rummaging through the brush by Young’s Hill. It’s our first ever sighting of a bear on the property!
A photo I snapped with my phone, just to have proof!
As soon as it saw me, it took off up the hill, right along the perimeter of the chimp’s fenced outdoor enclosure.
I excitedly texted my fellow staff members about our visitor and went to check on the chimpanzees to see if they had spotted the newcomer. Most of the chimps were lined up at the top of the greenhouse (they did not yet have access to the hill) and probably had seen the bear jogging away. None of the seven seemed too alarmed by its presence, especially Annie, who immediately asked me to pick her some fresh green grass that was growing just outside her reach.
JB managed to snap a few long distance photos of our retreating guest.
What’s that sound?
This is audio from four different video clips on four different days at the sanctuary. Can you guess what’s going on in each clip based only on what you hear?
Stealing
Served lunches at the sanctuary are generally quiet affairs, with each chimpanzee waiting somewhat patiently to collect their proper portions of fresh vegetables and primate chow. Every now and then though, we have someone that gets it in their minds that they want to steal more lunch. Usually that someone is Jamie or Jody, and sometimes Negra (who seems to steal mostly from Missy). While caregivers can’t really stop this behavior from happening, we can ask the chimpanzee that is collecting their lunch to move away from the thief for a better chance of getting their portion.
Here JB asks Burrito to shift a little ways away from Jody (below him), who is eying his portion of primate chow.
This technique doesn’t always work though. Jody was particularly persistent this afternoon and she knows that agreeable Foxie will usually give up some of her lunch without a fuss.
This kind of behavior is normal in chimpanzee group dynamics. Higher ranking chimpanzees can assert themselves over less dominant individuals with concern to food, grooming, enrichment, etc. As caregivers, it is our job to respect the hierarchy, while making sure there is plenty to go around for everyone.
I think this is just a photo of Jody mid-blink, but I’m pretty sure she enjoyed her spoils.
The queen’s beck and call
When the usually aloof Negra comes looking for an interaction, you ALWAYS make time.
Feel that heat!
The sanctuary has been experiencing a summer-like heatwave these last couple days. As a result, the chimpanzees have been keeping cool lounging next to breezy doorways. Warm weather with bright green grass still on the hill… we could get used to this!
Foxie
Jody
