Jamie took a couple of breaks from the celebration yesterday to make some pretty festive nests.
Enrichment
Caregivers’ Use of Chimpanzee Behaviors
Having recently finished my master’s thesis, I thought this would be an appropriate venue for talking about my thesis topic: the use of chimpanzee behaviors and vocalizations by caregivers. At CSNW, the caregivers incorporate chimpanzee behaviors when interacting with the chimps. For example, during play, we exhibit chimpanzee playfaces, laughter and other playful behaviors. In addition, we use submissive behaviors when the chimpanzees display aggressive behaviors. Chimpanzees are excellent readers of nonverbal behavior. Some natural human behaviors, such as walking upright, swinging our arms, and smiling, are all aggressive/territorial behaviors to chimpanzees. Therefore, although they understand human behavior, to prevent a possible miscommunication, we use behaviors to let the chimpanzees know we are their friends, rather than trying to dominate them. Playing this submissive role has produced relationships that are centered around cooperation and friendship. In my thesis research, when caregivers used chimpanzee behaviors, the chimps spent more time interacting with the caregivers and used more playful and friendly behaviors. I see the effects of this everyday, and feel this simple thing has greatly improved these chimpanzees’ psychological wellbeing. So, next time you see a chimpanzee, whether it be at a zoo or a sanctuary, try giving them a chimpanzee head nod or a playface (you’ll see these behaviors in the video). They will be elated to know someone out there speaks chimpanzee! And being submissive when the chimpanzees are displaying (as seen in THIS video), lets them know that we aren’t threatening them and that we are their friends. It can make a world of difference.
Foxie snuggles up
For those of you who know her, you’ll be pleased to see this cryptic picture of Foxie (which I had to snap it quickly in case she got up!). She’s got her head on a blanket in a nest she built the other day after dinner. If you’re just meeting Foxie, she is a special girl who generally avoids cozying up with blankets. All of the chimps here at CSNW make nests of some sort (and nesting is definitely a hard-wired behavior!) but Foxie’s are usually circles of plastic toys. It’s very heartwarming for the humans when, once in a while, Foxie uses a soft blanket to nest with. Of course she can choose to nest with whatever she likes, but hopefully this means that she is getting more comfortable here. The chimps have been here for a year and a half, but they’re still recovering and changing after years and years in medical research, and everyone has their own pace. It’s an honor to help them get comfortable!
Through The Looking Glass
Today was a really nice day, so I was able to give the chimps access to their Outdoor Enclosure and their Front Rooms while Elizabeth and I cleaned the Playroom. Almost everyone was playing outside at some point, and they were very interested in playing with us through the new glass window. This has been such a wonderful addition to the sanctuary. It must be SO nice to look out and not see bars! And they’ve created a very fun (and distracting!) new game to boot!
Thanksgiving Field Roast Dinner
As Elizabeth mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, the good people at Field Roast Grain Meat, Co. generously donated some vegan grain meat for the chimp’s Thanksgiving Dinner. Thanks so much Field Roast Grain Meat, Co.! The chimps really enjoyed it!
Missy and her raisin board
We included raisin boards in this morning’s enrichment, and Missy demonstrated a new technique for fishing the raisins out (at least one that I haven’t seen before). Rather than trying to pry the raisins out or poke them out the other side, she would insert the chopstick and push it all the way through, like she was sewing with a big needle. It seemed to work well, except for when her tool would get stuck, in which case she would just break it off and start over with a smaller stick.
For the love of cowboy boots
Quick Jamie story of the day: I had picked up the front rooms to prepare for cleaning and brought the enrichment over to the washing tub. Jamie saw me from the playroom and started gesturing emphatically. I knew just what she was trying to tell me – I had one of her cowboy boots among the enrichment items and she wanted it back.
I did a brief cleaning job and offered to throw the boot up to her in the space above the big human doors to the playroom. Instead, she looked at me and ran outside. I came around and threw the boot on the roof. She climbed up and got the boot down and carried it with her most of the day. I’ve never seen Jamie ask for something specific that wasn’t food – she REALLY likes her new birthday cowboy boots. Thanks, Stephanie P.!
