Sarah

Today I brought paper and some crayons out to the barn doors outside. I sat down and colored on a piece of paper and several chimps gathered around to watch. Jamie seemed the most excited, so I gave the first piece of paper and crayon to her. She was so excited! She immediately started coloring. I gave her more colors and she held on to them all, choosing between colors as she drew. Here’s one of her first projects! Also, she’s a lefty, just like me!  –Sarah

Here’s Jamie cleaning and Negra with a blanket.

It seems like months since the chimpanzees arrived. Has it only been two and a half days? Here are a few things we’ve been privileged to learn from the chimps so far:

1. Jamie is a problem solver! She took a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush (which we put in the cage as enrichment) and scrubbed the floors and walls! She also likes to wear clothes and look through purses and bags.

2. Missy and Annie are best friends. They spend pretty much all day together, grooming and playing.

3. Negra loves to hide under blankets. Last night during dinner as she sat on her platform in Cage 1, I saw her put a blanket completely over her whole body (and head!), taking her cantaloupe with her. I could see her eating her fruit underneath.

4. Foxie likes mirrors. Diana held one up for her yesterday and she spent a long time gazing at herself in all sorts of different facial expressions. My favorite was when she kept making a pant hoot face (with trumpeted lips) into the mirror. Negra used the mirror to look at other people without having to turn around!

I’m going to post pictures in the next entry right now.