J.B. hung the mirror today in the playroom that the blog/forum participants purchased for the Cle Elum Seven. The chimpanzees love it! Jamie was pretty intent on figuring out how to remove it from the wall, so J.B. put a frame around it at the end of the day. Below is a video and photos of their first inspections and reflections.
Jamie
Tug-of-war…upside down!
Portrait of an Artist
More snow photos…and Jamie signing?
To answer some of your questions from the previous post, both Jamie and Annie ventured all the way out yesterday. Jamie explored the entire outdoor area without stepping foot on the snow. She eventually settled in an alcove where she could sit on a dry ledge and watch the snow fall. Annie took very delicate steps across the snow to fetch some dried fruit.
Some of you may remember that Jamie signs to us occasionally. Sometimes she is clearly gesturing – in a way that other chimps don’t – but we can’t figure out what she’s trying to say. Its possible that she was taught different signs than the signs of American Sign Language that we are familiar with, or it could be that she just gets too excited to sign in a way that we can understand.
When we first opened the door to the snowy outdoor enclosure, Jamie was signing up a storm. I thought she might be asking for clothes, but when I offered her a sweatshirt, a hat, some mittens, and a scarf, she just looked frustrated. She eventually donned the winter hat and gave up on me…
Foxie’s Left Hook
Ever wonder why we don’t go in with the chimps? There are many reasons, but here’s one you might not have thought about: Chimps play rough. Even when they aren’t being aggressive, chimpanzees have the ability to inflict serious damage on us humans. We just aren’t built for their style of play (I get a headache just watching them).
Make sure you have your volume turned up when you view this clip so you can hear all of the slaps and punches (and laughter!)…
Raisin Logs
Raisin logs are a fun treat, especially for Jamie who gets to exercise her tool-using ability. We drill holes in logs and then stuff raisins into the holes so the chimps have to work to get them out. Jamie also gets to exercise her hoarding tendencies – check out the pile that she gathered by her feet.
Chimps are famous for their ability to use tools, but its not just a means to an end for them – most chimps truly enjoy the process.
… and more play
Jamie continues her playful mood today. This is the first time I have seen Annie playing without Missy!