Jamie and Foxie spent some quality time with trolls today. I still can’t get over how integral troll dolls have become in the lives of these chimps…
The New Annie
Diana and Elizabeth have both noted on this blog that Annie seems to be getting more confident. She’s taking food in front of the more dominant chimps – sometimes from more the dominant chimps. And she has begun interacting with chimps other than Missy.
What really amazes me is her newest choice of playmates. In the past, Annie would occasionally attempt to join in on games that other chimps were playing, and it almost always ended badly. It’s like she didn’t know how to read the cues that playmates trade throughout a game. The other chimps would be playing a quiet game of tickle, and Annie would come running in with a slap to the head or a full-on tackle. Someone would get upset and a fight would break out, ending with Annie splayed on the ground in a full-blown, chimp style panic attack. This was especially true when she tried to play with Foxie.
That was the old Annie. The new Annie has realized that there is a world out there beyond Missy. And she seems to be figuring out how to get along with everyone else. Her newest playmate? Foxie. Go figure.
Foxie and Burrito Play
Burrito, Foxie, and a whole lot of tickling…
Full of beans
I love watching Jody play. Usually, she expends the least amount of energy possible. If she’s playing chase, she’ll walk at a snail’s pace. If she’s playing tickle, she’ll do it laying down. But something got into her today, because she was climbing, brachiating, and even running (if you can call it that) during a game of chase with Foxie.
Food!
We are forever indebted to Chris, DeVar and the rest of the staff at our local Safeway supermarket. They have been supplying us with great produce since the day the chimps arrived in Cle Elum. Thanks to them, we rarely have to purchase fruits and vegetables for the chimps.
Last summer, our friends at Spud.com in Seattle took an interest in the Cle Elum Seven, and began sending car loads of organic produce our way.
Burrito really enjoys all of this great food. And we love watching him eat.
Chimpanzees and dolls
Foxie’s not the only chimpanzee with a doll. In addition to countless examples of other captive apes carrying trolls, Sponge Bobs, and stuffed chimps, there is now evidence of wild chimpanzees treating sticks as dolls.
Knowing how intelligent and imaginative chimpanzees can be, this shouldn’t be surprising. But I can’t help being amazed. One young chimp was actually seen making a second nest, just for his doll…
Gum
When we give out gum, we usually give each chimp a few pieces. Negra decided that she either couldn’t chew that much at once, or that she’d rather keep the different flavors of gum separate. Either way, she held one wad in her hand while she chewed the other, and them swapped them every couple of minutes.
