Animal Welfare

Jamie often likes to meander on her walks around the hill to climb structures, forage, or just check out the happenings in her kingdom. And when she diverts from the path, she expects whomever is accompanying her to wait patiently in the wings until she is ready to resume walking along the perimeter. It’s pretty funny how well she has us conditioned to her expectations, but it’s a joy to be able to watch her enjoy her time as she periodically looks our way to make sure we are still waiting for her.

Since the climbing structure with Carlene’s Tower and Jamie’s Lookout were built for the chimpanzees, this has become one of her favorite detours. She typically leaves us waiting at the top of the hill as she goes to make her way up the ladder to her Lookout, take in the view, cross the shaky bridge to Carlene’s Tower, and then climb back down the other side. She does a quick search in the foliage below and then usually returns to where she left us waiting so we can proceed on the path around Young’s Hill.

Often we walk in silence, occasionally looking across at one another to offer a head nod (or for Jamie to make sure we’re still wearing her boots). When I walk with her I often stop to take photos or look at something, doing my own exploring, and she will wait for me in return. Sometimes the only sound I hear are her footsteps through the grass as we make our way back to the chimp house. It’s a leisurely stroll with a good friend.

As part of Jamie’s routine she now usually picks up a tumbleweed along the way and carries it back to the chimp house with the plan to groom whatever boots we are wearing with her makeshift tool.

And then as long as it’s during the day and there’s no threat of it being time to close off Young’s Hill for the evening, Jamie often gathers her boots and blankets for a quick nap until it’s time to set off for the next walk.