Enrichment comes in many forms…
Enrichment
Sundays are Important
Sundays are important for catching up on sleep, chores, and just plain old relaxation. Jamie and Burrito took full advantage of resting while the playroom was being cleaned. Napping was a good idea because today was a busy day with a summer visit and a forage on the hill.
Jamie made a huge nest with blankets and at least 4 boots:
Burrito napped on a platform and used a very comfortable blanket to rest his head:
After Jamie left, Burrito thought the sandbox looked comfortable to take a nap in:
Or play, because we all know he can’t resist a good game:
a special gift for Jamie
Jamie’s birthday isn’t until October 31st, but her friend Vicki sent her a very special gift recently.
Missy the Gymnast
Today is all about Missy. Missy is known for her acrobatic skills and living life to the very fullest! For lunch we had a forage on Young’s Hill. Missy found a hot route by walking on the fire hose and then flipping off to get some corn and sweet potatoes.
Missy walking on the fire hose:
Missy flipping off the hose:
And Missy sticks the landing!
After, Missy got a good stash and started heading in:
Pea tendrils
It’s that time of year again! The snap peas were nearing the end of their season in the chimpanzees’ garden, so this morning we pulled up the vines and gave the entire plants to the chimpanzees for browse. The chimps like to suck all of the juices out of the tougher vegetation and spit out the fibrous parts. I’m expecting to find a great deal of wadged pea tendrils when we clean tomorrow.
Negra:
Missy collected armloads of vines:
Annie:
Jody:
Burrito:
Happy Birthday, Rachel!
Rachel Ruggeri sponsored this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees as a wonderful way to celebrate life! She shared this really beautiful message about today:
“This day is in honor of my 48th birthday! The sanctuary gives me hope that we can create a better world where all living creatures have some sense of freedom and happiness. And it is that hope that I look forward to with each passing year…”
Rachel, you are an amazing friend to the chimpanzees. From our hearts, thank you for all you do for them, for helping us care for them and give them lives their unique and special selves deserve, and for being part of their family. Holding your touching message in our hearts, we are all wishing you the happiest of birthdays yet and many, many more to come. Have a fantastic day!
Annie and Missy:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie:
Jody:
Negra:
Cattails!
Today dawned sunny and hot from the start. But that didn’t stop Burrito from an exciting game of chase in the greenhouse to start the day off. Sometimes just the sound of our voice greeting the chimps “Good Morning” as we round the greenhouse is enough to get him to fly down the platform, play stomping his foot as he looks to us to chase him. He seems to particularly love when we stand at one end as he charges toward us, play kicks the caging and turns to run back the other way. As you can tell by all of his hair standing on end (pilo-erect) he was pretty excited about chase this morning as he charged toward me:
Ellie quickly moved to her morning shaded spot under the visitor platform as the chimps enjoyed breakfast service in the greenhouse (background):
First thing this morning, Kelsi and I trekked over to one of the ponds on the property to harvest some cattails for the chimps. We are lucky to have a wide variety of wild plants across the property that are safe for the chimps to consume that either we, or they themselves, can harvest. Cattails are a favorite and they love to eat the stalks and then savor them in wadge form throughout the day. We hid a few on Young’s Hill for some lucky foraging chimp to find at some point, but put the rest in the greenhouse. Being hot, the chimps were quick to grab up their share and find a comfortable and cool-ish spot to enjoy them. Here’s Jody:
Cattails are high on the list of favored browse for the boss lady, Jamie (and Annie enjoyed hers in the background):
Burrito:
