If you’re a regular reader, you probably know that tomorrow is a big day for us here. It’s the 4th anniversary of the chimps’ arrival in Cle Elum and also Negra’s birthday. We’re planning a whole bunch of fun! As we get ready, we always find ourselves pausing to reflect about how far the chimps have come, and then daydreaming about how much further they will go. Check out this post from four years ago today, and this one too. There was so much excitement in the air. And then compare this with this. Breathtaking!
Jody
Lazy Sunday
The chimps have been ridiculously playful lately (see Negra and Missy’s play session from last Wednesday, as well as Missy and Annie’s goofiness on Friday)! But some days, they just want to kick back and relax. It’s been sunny but really windy today (and the last several days!) which makes for a really warm and relaxing greenhouse.
Annie has been laying in a super comfy-looking nest all morning- the perfect place for a little yoga:
Foxie has been kicked back with a couple of troll dolls while grooming herself. There’s something so adorable about Foxie’s tongue!
And just now, I caught Jody grooming Burrito. I love the way she was holding his foot!
Wet grass
Jody was not very happy about the cold, wet grass on the hill today. She walked bipedally (upright) to try to keep herself dry, but decided in the end that it was better to stay warm and dry in the greenhouse.
Livin’ the good life
good looking chimpanzees
Queen of the hill
Just before dinner, I looked up on the hill and saw Negra and Jody eating dandelion leaves on top of what we call “Missy’s Mound” (a small hill with a tunnel running through it). They were a good 150 feet or so from the building, which I think is the farthest that Negra has ever traveled up the hill. Negra has always been one of the most sedentary chimps that I’ve ever known; now it looks like Young’s Hill has finally given her a reason to get out of bed.