Honey B is incredibly funny. She loves big brown paper, like, A LOT! Today we put out a bunch of paper for Honey B to roll around in. Paper was also a theme yesterday for Mave and Honey B. They were wrestling, Honey B was flipping upside down, and they had the best play faces. I hope you all are having a happy Wednesday! Please enjoy this video 🙂
The One with all the Sun
You guys! I don’t want to jinx anything… But the sun is out, you can feel the warmth, and there were some really happy chimps! Fingers crossed this means spring is coming early. Please enjoy all these photos of the chimps basking in the sun.
Neggie took a small stroll:
Missy and Annie were sprinting all around the Hill, all day:
Burrito really enjoyed walking around with all the ladies:
I was able to capture a group action shot of almost everyone scattering onto the Hill in the morning when it first opened:
Jamie building her nest:
And modifying her blankets:
Mave grooming herself:
Honey B :
If your heart wasn’t melting before, it will be:
Honey B was just being so silly and funny. So funny that I would actually laugh out loud. She would be eating breakfast than suddenly roll around on a barrel and burst into a full sprint out into the Chute! She put her fanny pack on and press it up to the enclosure to have you look at it. She than would take it off and offer for her caregivers to wear it. Honey B just seemed to be in a really good mood. I thought I might share 🙂
Sanctuary and Enrichment
As many of you all know, there are many different ways to enrich a chimp’s life. And here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest we have many different forms. We provide toys that the chimps like, blankets for nesting, food puzzles, and forages. We try really hard to find the chimps favorite items such as boots/books for Jamie, dolls for Foxie, wooden blocks for Burrito, Slinkies for Willy B, and etc. We also try to have their favorite produce, but also make sure they have a variety so they do not get bored of what they eat! Most importantly, we provide an outdoor area for the chimps to go outside. To see the chimps run freely and see no bars above their heads is Sanctuary to me and I hope them too.
As you will see in the video Anthony moved a giant mirror from the Greenhouse to the Mezzanine. We knew Willy B, Honey B, and Mave liked looking at themselves through our phones and cameras, not unlike us, it is natural for us to look at ourselves while we pass a mirror. Just as we thought the three loved it! It even makes a great displaying tool! Honey B spent a lot of time looking into it, climbing on it, and swinging it around. The other section in the video is of the seven chimps walking around the perimeter outside on Saturday. Jamie and Burrito lead the walk, Missy sprints to catch up, eventually Foxie joins at the last leg of the walk, and it ends with Jamie and Foxie chasing each other down the Hill. I quietly finish the walk with Burrito. I was reflecting on that walk and I am so thankful to see the chimps exploring their outdoor area and looking so carefree. Whenever I see Burrito walking around the Hill it warms my heart that he has healed so well and all the girls will walk around with him.
Snow in the winter is another great way to enrich the chimps! Last night it dumped snow, when I went to open Young’s Hill for the seven this morning the chimps ran out to grab snow.
Negra:
Burrito:
Little Foxie:
Annie:
The one with all the Noise
It has finally settled down in the Chimp House. There was a lot of commotion today. Nothing bad, but a lot of talking between walls. Willy B spent a lot of time in the Chute. This always makes the 6 ladies excited. They will scream, hoot, watch the 3 chimps in the chute with extreme focus, and try to make sure Willy B sees them. We found Willy B and Burrito head nodding towards each other a lot too, which was nice to see. Eventually, everyone on both sides calmed down and the rest of the afternoon there have just been piles of chimps grooming with each other.
Sometimes I cannot get over how handsome Willy B is:
Honey B watching J.B. outside:
Foxie and Burrito grooming by the window so they don’t miss anything happening by the Chute:
Near and Dear
I recently came across a quote I have seen many times and I am sure you all have too. It’s just a good reminder and always stays near and dear to my heart. Happy Wednesday everyone!
“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” – Jane Goodall
Guess that Chimp!
I was inspired to play a game today. In my phone I had this photo of a chimp, who I will not name, it is just of their eye mostly. The photo makes me laugh because this chimp is always so curious about taking pictures, so much that I can barely get a good picture. I thought this would make a fun blog! Can you guess this chimpanzee or farm animal? So I will give you an easy one first and than the hard ones. Good luck!
Chimp photo 1:
Cattle photo 2:
Chimp photo 3:
A Chimp and her Boots
I wanted to share a small moment I had with Jamie. The other day I found Jamie cozy in a nest. She had big comfy blankets all around her and a few boots in her pelvic pocket. If you look closely you can see one of the boots tucked in. I asked Jamie if she would like a few of her boot books from Christmas. It was a very peaceful moment. Jamie politely took the boot books and started flipping through the pages. As Jamie read her books, I groomed her shoulder with a tool. It was nice to see Jamie feel so content.
Jamie is known to be fierce, super intelligent, sometimes intimidating, and quite crafty. Jamie is all of those! But, there is a side of Jamie people don’t always get to see. Like how she can be sweet, silly, and actually a very good friend. Jamie, since Burrito’s injuries has been a great friend to him. To me at least it seems like she has really been looking out for Burrito.
Everyone, except Negra, went on the first morning patrol. I found Jamie and Foxie were always staying close to Burrito as they walked around the Hill.