Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Foxie

Laying and Playing

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Foxie and Burrito are two of our most playful chimps! So when we get the chance to watch them play, it is really quite fun. Foxie and Burrito began the morning with a post breakfast nap. After, a quick power nap they started a lazy game of wrestling which turned into a full game and then back to a lazy game. Below are some photos of the progression from napping to playing. Happy Sunday!

Foxie & Burrito napping:

Foxie & Burrito wrestling:

Stilling wrestling:

Back to laying and playing:

And a few extra photo for you all…

Annie’s silhouette:

Jamie holding one of her favorite boots:

Indoor games

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It’s been sunny today with no additional snow, but what we have has been taking its time melting and it’s still pretty chilly out.

The chimps have chosen to park themselves in front of sunny windows facing the valley to nap and groom and occasionally engage in games of chase, thundering through the loft of their playroom or nesting out of sight in the top of the greenhouse.

Foxie seems to be particularly enjoying the snow days and has been taking full advantage of the weather to enjoy some indoor games. She has also requested so many snowballs to eat that I think she has to take breaks in-between to be rowdy and raucous so she can warm herself up. So after a particularly large number of snowballs, we had a long bout of passing her beloved purple-haired doll back and forth with spins, leaps, pirouettes and general chimpanzee shenanigans.

Her she is lying on the heated floor playing with her doll and prepping to pass it to me through the caging:

Here she had two dolls and we were racing to pass them back and forth between us, always a favorite:

Foxie stopped to check out her image in the camera:

And what would be a proper game without standing on your head?

All those shenanigans can wear a girl out:

Foxie’s mysterious relationship with dolls

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We will never truly know what it is about Foxie’s treasured dolls that she loves so much.

Foxie hug troll

 

We will never know what she is thinking when she is gazing at them.

Foxie gazing at troll

 

We will never know what tales she weaves when she is interacting with her dolls.

 

Do they speak to her?

Foxie listening to troll

 

Do they have individual personalities?

foxie hand holding troll

 

What we do know is that Foxie is a unique chimpanzee. We love her exactly as she is.

Foxie hoot face

 

We are so happy she found something that provides endless entertainment and makes her feel safe and happy:

Foxie bite dora

Foxie hugging blonde dora

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What lurks beneath

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Chimpanzees who have spent their lives in laboratories face a number of challenges as they adapt to life outdoors. Things that we take for granted – the rustle of leaves in the wind, sudden spring rainstorms – may be unfamiliar or even frightening to them.

But there’s one fear that seems particular to Foxie. While the other chimps walk freely throughout Young’s Hill, blissfully unaware of the danger that lurks beneath them, Foxie remains ever vigilant. She knows that each step has the potential to provoke one of the world’s most violent and menacing creatures…

…GRASSHOPPERS!!!!!

These winged death beasts lie silent in wait, camouflaged like assassins in the tall grass until, with a leap of over 20 body lengths, they attack their unsuspecting victims. But Foxie is always prepared – she bravely dispatches each of them with one fell swoop before they can sow any further terror.

She knows they will be back. And she will be ready.

 

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Burrito and Foxie

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In free-living populations of chimpanzees, male chimps are the dominant group leaders. At the sanctuary, this is not the case. While Burrito, the only male chimpanzee in the group, acts pretty tough when he chases the females around the playroom during his wild displays, he doesn’t really understand how to be a leader, and therefore doesn’t get the same respect in return. Most of his displays end when one of the girls has had enough, and starts leading the cavalry charge against him. Foxie is probably his best friend of the group and he looks to her for a lot of reassurance. Foxie is more than happy to be the calm presence in his life that he needs, but is also ready to put him in his place if he pushes her too far.

Bonus!
More Negra on the hill this morning, because we can’t get enough!