As everyone knows already, Honey B had another trip to the clinic recently for the lingering injury to her left hand. At the end of the visit Dr Jeffrey Friedrich was kind enough to leave a gift for Honey, a “surgeon bag”, check it out in today’s video!
‘Tis the Season..
It has warmed up enough here that the snow has mostly melted, the temperature is comfortable and the sun is out which can mean only one thing.. it’s time for lunch forages to resume on Young’s Hill!
A Break from the Cold
Today the snow has finally melted enough for some the chimpanzee’s to get outside and enjoy a little jaunt around Young’s hill, although the ground was a little soft for Burrito’s liking.
Terry: The Nicest Man in the World
I think the title and photos speak for themselves in today’s blog.
A Week at CSNW
It’s been a busy week in the chimp house here preparing for Valentines Day tomorrow but not so busy that we didn’t have time to collect an assortment of videos to share with all of you!
Quiet Bonds of Friendship
If you think of chimp friendships like high school cliques – some are obvious showstoppers, while others fly under the radar. Mave and Dora? They’re the best friends everyone knows about. Missy and Annie? They’re obviously BFFs who can’t get enough of each other. But there’s this quieter duo that’s my personal favorite to watch: Rayne and Lucky.
We don’t see them take part in exuberant play or spending copious amounts of time grooming each other but when it’s quiet and things are winding down you’ll find these two napping together during the day, exchanging unwanted food items between each other at meals and building nests side by side at night.
Sure, there’s a pecking order – Rayne pulls rank on Lucky now and then, just like Missy does with Annie. But what makes their bond so special is when they’re at their most vulnerable, when it’s time to let their guard down and sleep, they choose each other. And in the complex social world of chimps, that’s worth more than all the playtime in the world.
Check out the blog video here
I already shared these photos for Rayne’s birthday, but they are worth re-posting:
Rayne & Lucky foraging together
Lucky & Rayne napping together today while caregivers were cleaning their rooms:
Happy 35th Birthday, Rayne!
Today we celebrated a special milestone – Rayne’s 35th birthday! Taking advantage of the perfect weather (cloudless skies and mild temperatures), we turned lunch into an forage out on the Bray. The birthday girl and her friends enjoyed warm soup made by caregiver Ellen and some extra-special smoothies while basking in the winter sunshine.
Anyone who knows Rayne knows that she’s the glue that holds our sanctuary family together. Her presence at CSNW is nothing short of a gift – she’s the kind of friend everyone wishes they had. When Cy needs a loyal companion, Rayne’s right there. When Willy B has one of his tough days and cant resist acting out, she responds with remarkable patience and understanding. And then there’s her food-trading ritual with Lucky, where they’ve worked out their own little system of swapping food items they don’t want during meals.
The sanctuary wouldn’t be the same without her steadfast, calm and confident presence. Here’s to you, Rayne – thirty-five years young and still making our days brighter!
I would also like to extend a special thank you to Paulette Wrisley for sponsoring the day for Rayne!
Lucky & Rayne on the hunt for snacks:
Rayne was a big fan of the soup that was specially made for her:
Rayne, enjoying her snacks:
