Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

A Tale of Two Barrels

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Yesterday, Diana wrote the blog about a routine only Jamie would have. As a dominant and strong-willed chimp who is usually an active participant in social drama, Jamie has a tendency to express herself by displaying in the Playroom.

The chute and Playroom are within sight of each other, allowing the chimps to interact with their neighbors (at a distance).

Today, Jamie kept up her steady pace by unleashing yet another raucous display on the residents of the sanctuary. She certainly had everyone’s attention.

To complement yesterday’s video, I tried my best to capture some still images of Jamie in action.

The Jamie Method:

Step 1: Acquire a noise-making object. A dirty barrels is perfect.
Step 2: Drum on the barrel and throw it across the room with force.
Step 3: Use the barrel as a pedestal to watch the neighbors react. Always have a Missy for backup.

Immediately afterwards, Burrito used the same barrel to observe the neighboring chimps. He had a much more friendly demeanor.

The Bubba Method:

Step 1: Greet the neighbors by bobbing your head and panting
Step 2: Sway back and forth to show off your muscles and all your super cool wooden toys
Step 3: Calmly go to a window that lets you quizzically stare at Mave and Willy B until they go back inside
Step 4: Always have a group of vigilant female chimps for backup

In the following hours, the seven original residents in Jamie and Burrito’s group sprawled out on the upper deck of the wooden structure in the Greenhouse.

Jamie groomed Jody while everyone else took a nap.

Perhaps they had forgotten that their neighbors had an identical barrel on the other side of the building, but they were soon reminded. The seven chimps were suddenly awoken by a chorus of hooting and drumming. The source of all this noise was Willy B. As a large and dominant male, Willy is tactful in his use of displays. He doesn’t overdo it like some brasher males I have met, but he certainly makes sure that his performances are explosive, timely and poignant. Mave and Honey B have a knack for getting out of his way whenever he begins to drum. Willy B may have won this battle of displays.

The Willy B Method:

Step 1: Drag the barrel to a doorway that is just a few inches smaller than that barrel
Step 2: Slam the barrel against the window
Step 3: Keep drumming.
Step 4: Drum some more.
Step 5: Top it all off with a loud scream.
Step 6: finish the day with a blanket nest on your favorite indoor bench

Willy’s display drew Jamie out onto Young’s Hill. From her vantage near the Greenhouse, Jamie could watch the chute for further activity.

 

a routine only Jamie would have

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I had the first clips on my phone from Tuesday and was going to post them alone today, and then Jamie went through the exact same routine that she did on Tuesday.

You have to love boss Jamie!

If you are wondering how things are going with the reduced number of humans, it’s going well so far! We are trying to approach this situation as an opportunity to reset as well as think about routines and plans. I have a couple of thoughts about some ways people can help us during this time that I will share with you all next week.

In the meantime, I wish you all good health and the opportunity for you too to reset.

Strange Times

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Outside of the sanctuary, there’s a lot going on right now.

Most of you are probably well aware of the uncertainty and trepidation surrounding COVID-19, and we have been altering our operations to ensure that this pandemic has no effect on the chimpanzees. If you’re wondering exactly how we are adjusting, I recommend reading this letter to our community that Diana sent out yesterday.

Obviously, we are doing our best to minimize the potential for pathogen transmission into the sanctuary while maximizing social distancing. Unlike many Washington state employers, however, we can’t just completely close down the office and have everybody work from home. Our staff needs to continue providing the chimpanzees with healthy meals, engaging activities, secure enclosures and clean surroundings, albeit now with a much smaller team of personnel than we are accustomed to. That’s okay, though. Our core team is pretty good at this caregiving stuff, and we don’t think the chimps have noticed that there are unprecedented measures being taken across the globe in response to a new and unusual coronavirus.

Today, I took some time after lunch to observe the chimpanzees as they foraged, relaxed, socialized and exercised. I also casually took some photographs to share with you all.

I always find that watching them go about their day is grounding and encouraging, and I am proud that we can continue to offer them a peaceful sanctuary home even in the strangest of times. Stay mindful, everyone.

Jamie patrolling the Hill
Missy’s eyes, gazing across the Greenhouse
Honey B processing and consuming a handful of hazelnuts
Honey B eating hazelnuts that we scattered in a bin of wood chips
Jody lounging in the Greenhouse
Burrito (right) grooming with Jamie (left)
Missy’s fingers poking through the caging as she gestures for me to interact with her
Foxie napping while partially obscured from observation (and the camera’s auto-focus feature)
Missy cautiously looking around at her peers before beginning a grooming session of her own
Annie peering down at the camera lens from the top of the Greenhouse
Burrito looking around from a sheltered corner of the Greenhouse
Annie scanning the landscape of Young’s Hill from the raceway into the Greenhouse
Willy B eating pecans and walnuts that he found hidden in a tub of wood chips (Note: he later flipped and emptied the tub to find the rest)
Missy racing around the perimeter of Young’s Hill this afternoon (Update: I was driving the Gator but she still won)

Sweet

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Annie can often be described as sweet. I find myself calling her “sweet Annie” all the time around the chimp house. I mean, just look at her.

Annie is usually with her best friend Missy or making “sweet” bird noises. Annie is a pretty gentle chimp overall. Do not get me wrong, she can get rough and tough too! Like when she tries to groom you. Annie loves bare feet. She will groom caregivers’ toes with a tool, and due to her excitement, she is far from gentle!

Tangled up

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These three chimps are seriously funny! Honey B was climbing, swinging, biting on all the fire hose. It is amazing how she can balance on that fire hose! Mave and Honey B were tangled up in enrichment (not literally of course) or each other! As you will see in pictures below or the video, they are always up to something or finding new ways to use their enrichment. Mave found a red headband. She was flipping upside down on fire hose and putting it on to wear. And Willy B just wanted to join them in all their shenanigans!

Honey B:

Mave and her red headband:

Willy B:

Different Chimpanzee Play Styles

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Who you are depends on who you’re with, wouldn’t you agree?

There are some characteristics that carry over to be sure (note Burrito having something in his mouth in both of his clips in the video above), but part of the joy (and sometimes frustration) of being a social primate is the way that we learn about ourselves by being around other individuals. Our interactions with those around us shape how we feel and how we behave in any given moment.

Watching the chimpanzees certainly impacts how this humans feels. There’s nothing better to boost a mood than watching chimpanzees play with one another.

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

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This day of sanctuary was generously sponsored for the chimpanzees by Kelly Catlin Walker! Kelly is celebrating her birthday today by giving the chimps a gift!

Happy Birthday, Kelly! Thank you so much for celebrating your day by helping to ensure every day is one of sanctuary for the chimps. All of us here hope you have a beautiful day!

Jamie:

Mave:

Jody: