chimpanzee rescue
Tool use
Chimpanzees are famous for their ability to use tools, but some individuals are more skilled than others. We know that human talent is a combination of genetics, early life experience, and practice, and the same is true with chimpanzees, I believe.
Jamie loves using tools. She could spend all day working on a project. I don’t think she’s as interested in the end result as she is in the process. Sometimes, when we are serving food, we accidentally drop a few pieces on the floor outside the enclosure. Jamie will spend the rest of the mealtime working to get those pieces, even though her caregivers are still giving out food.
Burrito, on the other hand, is just not a tool user. He has very limited patience, and he doesn’t seem to get that same flash of insight that spurs chimpanzees like Jamie to go fetch an appropriate tool. This doesn’t necessarily mean he is less intelligent. Most of the time, begging humans for help works just fine. But it does give you an idea why Burrito is not the alpha that he would like to be – Jamie is always one step ahead of him!
Op-ed in Seattle Times
CSNW’s Executive Director, Sarah Baeckler, along with colleague and friend of the Cle Elum Seven, Debra Durham, just had an op-ed published in the Seattle Times. Please read the guest column, about the Great Ape Protection Act, here. Nice job, Sarah and Debra!
Greenhouse update
I wish I had more progress to report, but the weather has been awful. Still, we’ve managed to start installing panels on the roof and we’ve nearly completed one wall. From the inside, the view is somewhat distorted but it lets in nearly all the light. We’re all excited for the chimps to have more space in the winter. Now all we need is some sun!
Foxie- the next “Lord of the Dance”
Today, I popped in a video of “Lord of the Dance”, donated by one of our many wonderful supporters and volunteers, Stephanie Perciful. We put it on our wishlist in hopes that Negra would enjoy it, because she sometimes enjoys watching her caregivers’ dance. So far Negra hasn’t shown much interest in it and is usually too far away to see it. Foxie on the other hand, seems to thoroughly enjoy it and looks like she kind of wants to join in! Someone recently commented that Foxie may be musically inclined- I think I agree. Thanks, Stephanie! I’d say Foxie seems pretty enriched!
Note- I orginally said that the video was donated by Tamela, but it was actually Stephanie who donated it! So sorry Stephanie and Tamela for the confusion! Guess I am indeed human. ๐
GAPA event tonight in Seattle
Come to this talk with Debra Durham tonight! I’ll be there and will talk about the sanctuary to attendees.
Primatologist Debra Durham, Ph.D., will discuss her work with chimpanzee sanctuaries in Washington and around the world. Sheโll also explain why we need to urge Sen. Maria Cantwell to support the Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA), a bill that would prohibit invasive research on chimpanzees and release about 500 chimpanzees to sanctuaries.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7:30 โ 9 p.m.
Where: Seattle Library
1000 4th Ave., Level 4, Room 2
Seattle, WA 98104
Tel: 206-386-4636
For more information about the event and how to get involved in advocating for GAPA, please see the Physicians Committee for Responsible medicine website: http://pcrm.org/resch/gapa/involved.html.
Missy’s icy chase game
Yesterday, Missy spent some time outside playing chase with JB. It was a bit of a slippery slope for JB, though! ๐