Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Jamie’s been in a bit of a mood today. She spent much of the morning pelting unsuspecting humans with snow. Eventually, though, she happily settled down in a huge wrapping paper nest and decided she’d rather eat snow than throw it (much to the humans’ relief).
Christmas Eve is the most exciting time of the year. There is so much anticipation built up, and Christmas is only one sleep away! I think the chimps have been pretty excited the past couple days and are getting a little restless for the Christmas party! So, that is why today we tried extra hard to keep the chimps (Jamie) very busy. Jamie had her normal routine of laying on a barrel to supervise chimps and/or humans (mostly humans), make her caregivers put her favorite boots on, build her nests, play a little chase, and monitor the cleaning. After cleaning the Playroom we put out fire hose knots as some daytime enrichment and I stuffed Jamie’s folio with a few crayons, some paper, and a book. Well, let’s just say Jamie has been very busy, or at least for most of the day! Later she needed a nap, nestled around her books, fire hose knots incorporated in her nest, and a boot tucked in her pelvic pocket for safe keeping!
Foxie is an expert in Jamie behavior. She knows how to get the boss to play and let loose and she is a loyal grooming partner. Today I caught Foxie using exaggerated play behavior to diffuse tension so she could eat a few nuts that we put out for a playroom forage.
When I opened the door to Young’s Hill this morning, everyone crowded into the raceway to file out. Missy was first out and straddled the muddy, icy raceway to avoid walking in it, Burrito clung to the caging the whole way and Foxie just went for it and walked right out through it all. She had places to go with no time to spare. Everyone meandered up the hill together to take in the view. grab a snow snack and enjoy the brisk morning for awhile before coming back inside to warm up.
Top left, going clockwise, we have Missy, Annie, Jamie, Jody, Burrito and Foxie. Negra ordered in and had snow delivered while she lounged in her warm nest.
Jamie has been full of absolute joy today. She started the morning off upside down on her barrel (always a sign of happy Jamie) kicking, flailing and laughing. Then she moved into wild games of chase throughout the chimp house with her caregivers and good friends, Jody and Foxie, then there was policing of the fun and games of others, grooming a volunteer caregiver in training, and somehow she still managed to squeeze in some alone time on the hill to take in her queendom.
But it wasn’t long before she raced back inside for another round of chase:
Frankly, all these good times have been exhausting:
Today at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest we were pleasantly surprised by snow. It wasn’t in the forecast and though none of it really stuck, it made for a beautiful morning. While most of the chimp decided to get cozy inside as you will see below. Jamie and I went on a few walks enjoying the snow gently falling as we walking around their beautiful outdoor enclosure, Young’s Hill. These are what Sundays are all about!
Annie relaxed and watching the snow:
Burrito laid back:
Negra taking a snooze & doing some light reading:
Blurry feet wrestling of Annie & Missy:
Burrito & Foxie were grooming so intensely I could barely get a clear photo:
All in all these chimps are well rested for Monday!
Jamie received a new pair of boots from our wish list this afternoon. She has a specific series of rituals that must be followed when she receives a new pair of boots. First, one of the staff or volunteers must wear the boot and join Jamie on a walk around the hill. After returning, Jamie expects the boot wearer to meet her in the greenhouse for a grooming session.
Jamie begins by inspecting the boots carefully.
She encourages the caregivers to show her all of the features of the new boot, such as Velcro or zippers.
Then she begins to groom the boot with a tool – in this case, a wooden chopstick given out earlier as part of a food puzzle.
Eventually Jamie will ask to groom the caregiver herself, pointing and gesturing toward specific areas she wants to groom. Sometimes it’s a freckle, other times it’s a scab or hangnail. She also likes to untie our shoelaces with her grooming tool. Her dexterity is incredible, even when she’s holding the tool with the very tips of her fingers.
With a brand new pair of boots, Jamie will often insist on being given them immediately after the grooming session is finished. With boots that she’s had for a while, she will typically ask for them back when the staff are doing their closing rounds. But you can only give them back to her when she’s ready. If you drop them in the chute too early, she will take them out and throw them back to you (or rather, at you) from an opening high up on the playroom caging. When she is truly ready to receive them, she will wait by the chute and issue a low moan of contentment as they are dropped in. Eventually she will make her nest for the night include them or even use them as a pillow. Only then can you close up for the night, knowing that Jamie is satisfied.
It always amazes us just how observant Jamie really is. Nothing gets by her, especially when it’s related to one of her favorite things on the planet, new boots! This morning I opened the door to Young’s Hill and Jamie took off for her first perimeter fence patrol of the day. She made it halfway up the hill before she stopped:
Then she came barreling back down (hair standing on end). She could tell from about a 100 yards away that J.B., who was innocently walking up from the parking lot, was wearing a new pair of boots.
Modeling ensued:
