Our cold snap seems to be over for the time being. Today’s high of 30° is a marked improvement over the highs in the teens that we’ve been experiencing for the last several days. This combined with some welcome sunshine means that Jamie is very eager to get outside. Unfortunately, the chimps’ outdoor habitat is still covered with a thick blanket of snow (including several inches of fresh powder from last night). Jamie briefly considered shoveling herself a path out, but ultimately thought better of it.
chimp sanctuary
Overdoing it
We all know the experience of eating too much of something delicious, knowing you’ll regret it later. But sometimes it’s so hard to stop.
The things we do.
We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.
One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:
Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:
Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):
After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:
So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:
By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:
When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!
No hard feelings
When you’re a chimpanzee, a kick in the face or a poke in the eye is all in the name of fun.
Speaking Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees may not speak a human language, but they have their own way of communicating.
Thanksgiving 2016
Today we’re thankful for delicious feasts, for food squeaks, for volunteers who spend their holiday spreading joy to the chimps, and for all of you who have so much love for seven chimpanzees you probably haven’t met. It’s been a good day.
Annie:
Missy:
Negra:
Foxie:
Jamie:
Foxie and Jody resting after the party:
Most of the video footage we ended up with after today’s party happened to feature Burrito stuffing his face:
To all of you friends, supporters, volunteers, and well-wishers, thanks for giving Annie, Missy, Burrito, Jody, Foxie, Jamie, and Negra so much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
Is it Thanksgiving yet?
Really, I think I can speak for us all when I say we feel as though it’s Thanksgiving every day here at the sanctuary. We are thankful to our bones for you, all of whom make the sanctuary and the chimpanzees’ lives here possible. We are thankful for wide open spaces with unobstructed views seen through chimpanzee eyes, the sound of chimpanzee feet racing through grass and the sound of human feet running alongside them, chimpanzee play faces and laughter, chimpanzee food grunts and squeaks, freckles, tiny toes, Annie-bird noises, blanket nests the size of small mountains, upside down chimps, and happy and healthy chimps whose lives grow bigger every day both inside and out, and well, more things than we could possibly say.
We are grateful every single day for our chimpanzee family, one of which you are a part of, one of which wouldn’t exist without you. From our hearts, thank you for helping us care for Annie, Missy, Jody, Foxie, Burrito, Jamie and Negra. Seven very special people whose lives are now filled with hope, love, home and family. And who fill our hearts full to bursting with love for them.
And from Burrito’s heart, is that Field Roast ready yet??! And pumpkin pancakes and green beans and sparkling cider and…
Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! Be sure to check in tomorrow for the chimps’ big celebration!
