Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Missy

New enrichment

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Volunteers Amanda and Tennyson helped us build a new enrichment device for the chimps. The woven fire hose has pockets to stick browse in (browse includes leaves, branches and twigs – an important part of a chimp’s diet). Many thanks to Chimps Inc. and the Honolulu Zoo for the idea! Annie, Missy and Jody spent hours picking out the cattails, bamboo and fennel.

While we were installing the browse feeder, we also hung a few more fire hose swings near the new windows. As you can see, they created the perfect game for Missy.

How to Nest by Jody and Missy

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Jody and Missy are master nest-builders. I managed to get some recent photos of them making midday  nests.

Jody’s step one: stand in the middle of the nest and build it around you.

Jody’s step two: include both sheets and blue paper in the nest for full comfort

Jody’s step three: dive face first into the bed (this movement often accompanied by a “Jody happy noise”)

Jody’s step four: enjoy the comfort you’ve created

Missy’s step one: first see if someone will play with you if you put a blanket over your head

Missy’s step two: if no one takes the play bait, proceed with nest-making by placing blankets around you where you sit

Missy’s step three: unfold and place blankets carefully

Missy’s step four: do a headstand

Missy’s step four: roll into a comfortable position and enjoy

More benefits of the new windows

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Thanks to Karen and Don Young, LUSH Cosmetics, Anna Kircher and the blog readers, and everyone who donated during our 2nd Anniversary fundraising drive, we’ve been able to replace seven caged windows in the play room with clear, chimp-proof glass. In addition to flooding the playroom with light, there are some other benefits to these new windows:

Windows!

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Great news! Today we installed the last of the cageless playroom windows.

Here is a before shot of the garden side of the playroom:

And here is the after shot, with four caged windows replaced with chimp-proof glass:

Here is a before shot of the wall facing the chimpanzees’ outdoor area (these are the windows you’ll see in the video below, from the other side):

And here is the after shot, with three upstairs and one downstairs window replaced with chimp-proof glass:

This video was taken yesterday when the chimps were first given access to the outdoor area after the installation of the two upper left picture windows. The upper right window wasn’t quite finished, but it was the first time the chimps could sit in that windowsill because it was previously covered by a large polycarbonate panel on the outdoor area side. Everyone was visibly excited about the new additions and spent the remainder of the afternoon climbing in and out (and in and out) of the new windowsills.

To everyone who has given funds, time and energy, or kind words: We can’t thank you enough. You have given the chimps a brighter view!

Missy and a coconut

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We put out three coconuts for dinner the other night and they were great for enrichment as well as food – they kept the chimps busy for hours. Missy was not the only one who used a tool to poke through the eye of the coconut and get the juice out. I don’t know if they learned that technique by observing humans or if that’s something they picked up on their own – either way, it’s pretty smart.

I love how this video shows many aspects of Missy’s personality – playful, athletic, a little silly and intelligent.