Thank you to everyone who made today so special for Foxie. It’s difficult to believe that this is her second birthday in sanctuary. We hope she has many more days like today in her future. We couldn’t do it without the support of so many. Check out her celebration last year. And take a look at part of today’s celebration below
animal rescue
Happy Birthday Foxie
Best friends
It seems these two never tire of each other’s company.
Photo Contest Results!
Thanks to Clocktower Media, we are getting a new look to our website! We asked you to participate in the redesign by choosing your favorite photos of the chimps to be featured on their profile pages. We’re also going to make prints of these photos available for purchase through our online store. Check out the winning photos below:
Annie
Burrito
Foxie
Jamie
Jody
Missy
Negra
Conflict
Here are a few photos that I took at the end of Saturday’s conflict (I first made sure that no one was upset that I was there with a camera – on the other side of the caging, of course!). Fighting is a normal part of chimpanzee life. They are capable of inflicting a lot of damage on each other, but most fights are a lot of vocalizing and a lot of posturing. This is really the end of the fight with screaming, fear grimaces, and seeking reassurance. Sometimes those only peripherally involved in the conflict display towards the end. Missing from this photo is Negra (not surprisingly, she was inside away from the action), Burrito (not a main participant, so he let the girls finish it off) and Jamie (who was nearby). Things happen really quickly, so the descriptions below are my interpretation of what was happening, but I might not have fully understood each person’s role and interactions. After everything had pretty much ended, Jamie did get the last word in – a pant hoot and display that ended in swinging from the boat bumper and hitting the plexiglass covering the window.
Missy sitting down, Jody displaying (bipedal), Annie screaming while looking at Foxie. Annie is the lowest ranking and therefore seeks reassurance more than the other chimps. I think she is seeking reassurance from Foxie. Jody is showing her higher rank by displaying (this is probably a side of Jody you haven’t seen before!)
Both Annie and Foxie looking at Jody, seeking reassurance from her. Seeking reassurance can mean “I’m sorry” or just “I get that you’re higher ranking and I will submit to you.” It can be a way of de-escalating a conflict or a way of trying to get someone on your side in the middle of a conflict.
Foxie fear grimacing while looking at Jody
Annie (fear face) seeking reassurance from Missy after Foxie left
Photos from Saturday
OK – here are some photos to go along with my lengthy post about Saturday. I’ll post the conflict photos separately.
Jamie with enrichment in playroom
Dave mowing
Wildflower patch from seeds planted at the last volunteer work party
Pie cherry tree. We also have bing cherries that need pitting!
Andrea at sink, Connie offering a pitted cherry to Jackie
trees staked to keep them upright in the Cle Elum wind
Jackie and Dakotta planting seeds in the new herb garden
Consultation over the herb garden – J.B., Dakotta, Jackie, Kristin
Gratuitous shot of the vegetable garden, also Dakotta and Jackie’s handywork
Foxie at the end of the day in room four – she got her necktie troll back. The troll on her lap is the one that spend some time on the roof.
wish list – new items
Just wanted to let everyone know that I added a couple of things to the amazon.com wish list today. Two things we’re a little desperate for are memory cards for our cameras (we’ve worn ours out!) and a wheel barrow or two.
I’ve heard from a couple of people who are sending us troll dolls for Foxie’s birthday on August 8th – yay! Keep em’ coming! I was also looking for toys that Jamie likes. She’s fascinated by those old ball popper things – they don’t seem to make them anymore, but I found one on ebay for only $.99 – check it out here so you know what I’m talking about – I bet there are lots of these at garage sales and such.
In terms of BIG ticket items, we’re going to need a tractor with a plow and a loader before winter. J.B.’s started looking at used tractors online – maybe summer is the time to find a deal?
There are a few things that we now have plenty of – most notably blankets and sheets.
Thank you all for your help in keeping the chimp house stocked and the chimpanzees happy!
