Missy makes it obvious when she wants to play. The gigantic play face is the most obvious indication, but she also has the unique signal of wearing a sock on one foot.
Annie
Time with friends
Annie spent some time grooming Missy in the greenhouse this morning:
Grooming eventually turned into some mellow, silly play. My favorite thing about this video is that by looking at Missy’s serious face, you’d never know she was playing.
Livin’ the good life
We’ve got some contented chimpanzees on our hands today.
Jody:
Foxie with Dora:
Annie with a troll doll:
Burrito:
In Memory of Dane Yaguchi
Today is sponsored by Marcia Douthwaite and Marcia’s friends and colleagues at the University of Washington Department of Neurology in loving memory of Marcia’s son, Dane, who passed away a few weeks ago after a long illness. Dane’s birthday would have been celebrated today. Dane and Marcia shared a love for all primates and Marcia says that photos and videos of the Cle Elum Seven brought both of them great joy during Dane’s last few weeks. We’re so touched at this tribute and we’re all thinking of you, Marcia.
A colorful, crunchy lunch
The chimps had what only could be described as a gorgeous lunch in the greenhouse today– mini bell peppers, carrots, rhubarb and red grapefruit. Not only was it delicious, but it was colorful too.
Annie and her mini bell peppers:
The rhubarb came from volunteer Renee’s garden. She brought it out yesterday when she came out to help me in the chimps’ garden (Thanks, Renee!). I’ve never thought the chimps liked rhubarb all that much, but they seemed to enjoy it today. Here’s Missy munching on hers:
Annie:
Foxie was especially content with lunch. She kicked back with a couple of carrots
and you know you’ve done good when you catch her rubbing her troll’s belly.
Role Reversal
Jackie got some excellent footage of the chimps switching roles the other day. As many of you know, The Cle Elum Seven chimps all have unique personalities. Negra usually keeps to herself, is quiet, and likes to rest a lot. Missy is super playful, loves to run, and tries to get the other chimps to chase her. Foxie (not shown in this video) is a troll connoisseur. In this video, we see Negra initiating play, holding trolls, and stealing nests. Missy forgoes play with her best friend Annie in order to take a nap Neggie-style. Even though they all have their individual personalities, they definitely continue to surprise us!
Celebrating Jody and all moms
Today’s joint Mother’s Day/Jody’s birthday celebration has been one big loungefest (just like Jody likes it). The weather is gorgeous today (high 70s/low 80s) and the chimpanzees have spent the majority of the morning and afternoon in the warm greenhouse foraging, grooming, and going through gift bags – with breaks for leisurely excursions onto Young’s Hill, of course.
We normally limit the number of blankets we put out in the chimps’ enclosures each day to the maximum number that we can wash in a day. Today, though, in honor of the birthday gal’s love of relaxation, we threw caution to the wind and put out all the blankets we could find. Jody couldn’t be happier (see photos at the bottom of this post of her nesting with a few of them).
Annie found a new necklace in a gift bag:
Foxie kicked back with a new troll near the raceway to Young’s Hill:
Negra pondered a while before committing to going out…
…but she eventually took the plunge.
Missy, Jody, and Annie (l-r) checked out the hill from the raceway while Foxie took it easy:
The birthday girl spent much of the afternoon sifting through gift bags and inspecting new toys from her favorite reclining position. Eventually all this activity took its toll. Here she is mid-yawn:
Thanks so much to Robbi and Dick Brown and Rita Stevenson for the party goods, to everyone who has donated today (if you haven’t had a chance, there’s still time!), and of course to all the moms, who make the world go ’round.
