Meals at the sanctuary, as you might expect, are pretty exciting events. There is usually a fair amount of jostling, and banging going on (especially by the boisterous Burrito chimpanzee), and of course, boss Jamie is always on hand to make sure caregivers (and sometimes the other chimpanzees) remember their place at the bottom of the hierarchy. Missy in particular, seems to prefer to escape the commotion of meals. While many of the other chimps will wait and eat expectantly in front of their server, Missy often whisks her portions away to a quiet nest so she can enjoy them in privacy.
Missy
Happy Solstice!
With an entire day of sunshine and at least “warmer” temps in the forecast on this first day of our winter solstice, we started the day with the plan to get the chimps onto Young’s Hill! J.B. fired up the plow and made pathways all around the chimps’ outdoor enclosure and Anna shoveled her heart out in this wet, heavy snow to create connecting pathways:
Jody was the first to venture out and you can see by sneer on her face, it was still pretty chilly. But she was content to spend quite a bit of time just sitting in the bright sun, taking in the winter wonderland her home has become:
Foxie ventured out next and grabbed a snow snack before heading back inside the greenhouse to enjoy it:
Beautiful Annie just sat serenely in the sunny raceway (the tunnel that connects the greenhouse to Young’s Hill) seemingly taking in this beautiful first day of winter in awe:
Later in the morning after it warmed up a bit, several of the chimps decided to venture out and head up the hill on their snowy paths. They made it all the way to Twister before heading back down! Jody, Missy, Annie and Jamie (at base of Twister):
Missy, Annie, Jamie, Jody:
Annie follows bipedally behind Missy and Jody:
Jody foraging for snow on the way back inside:
Jamie, looking so happy to be back in her element, patrolling her beloved hill:
The other girls headed back inside, but Jamie wasn’t done checking out her territory. She ventured down every path that J.B. plowed, eventually climbing up Negra’s cabin to take in the view:
Once at the top, she had the smart plan to avoid the snow and check out the neighboring structure by attempting to walk the tightrope across:
She quickly reassessed her plans and decided to brachiate (swing arm over arm) across the snow instead!:
The chimps spent the rest of the day peaceful and seemingly content, luxuriating in the warm sun, napping and grooming. I didn’t see Negra go outside, but I did see her come in with a mouthful of snow. She spent hours gazing out across the valley at the bright landscape from the windows, her hand held against the warmth of the sun, silhouetted by the bright blue sky.
Happy Solstice everyone, be it your winter or summer!
Photo Highlights From Today
It can be a challenge to get photos of the chimps this time of the year. When it’s as cold as it has been, the chimps tend to hunker down and make themselves comfortable throughout the indoor enclosures. Often times, that means they are out of our sight, other than a foot or hand, or some other various body part. So, I consider it a success when I can get some photos, especially closeups, to share on the blog, because who doesn’t like looking at these chimps?
Annie
Missy
Burrito
Jamie
Jody
Negra
Foxie
The things we do.
We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.
One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:
Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:
Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):
After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:
So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:
By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:
When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!
No hard feelings
When you’re a chimpanzee, a kick in the face or a poke in the eye is all in the name of fun.
That Time Of The Year, Again
It’s here, it’s here! The snow has arrived! And the chimps know what to do when it starts getting cold and the snow has fallen.
Last Monday, I watched both Missy and Annie (and took the following photos), make the rounds on Young’s Hill, with a very specific goal in mind; to find ice chunks “hidden” within the various outdoor structures. It was indeed cold enough last week for there to be ice, but there was not enough moisture.
This morning, it was a different story. Missy and Annie set out on Young’s Hill to check all the usual spots where ice forms overnight, including in the bottom of this tire swing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get outside in time to take photos of them finding the ice chunks this morning when Katelyn called on the radio to say they had found some. So, stay tuned for more pictures of the chimps gathering their snow and ice enrichment in the coming months!
Annie
Missy checked the same tires (but none of the photos turned out where she was reaching in).
Here’s a couple extras of Missy on the hill last Monday that I couldn’t resist adding to the blog.
One of my favorite Missy action shots.
Evening Enrichment
Each evening, before leaving for the day, we prepare some sort of puzzle or activity for the chimps to work on. There are a variety of ideas that we rotate throughout the month, including KONGs, Boomer balls, drink buckets and pine cones, to name a few. So, I thought I’d share a few of these on the blog today.
KONGs
We add nuts or a mixture of mashed bananas or avocados into the open holes for the chimps to figure out how to get out.
Missy
Boomer Balls
We place peanuts inside the balls and the chimps have to shake and move the balls to get at the nuts inside. Some of the chimps use chopsticks as tools to get the nuts out. In the following photos, Foxie used her finger to help get at the peanuts inside.
Foxie
Kebabs
We skewer small food pieces (grapes are a favorite) inside of paper rolls and tie the “kebabs” to the outside of the caging. Below Burrito demonstrates how to hold onto the caging and use his fingers to try to pull the paper rolls inside.
Burrito
Pine cones
Add a few raisins in toward the center of the cone and smear peanut butter along the outside and voila, a pretty special treat that keeps the chimps busy for quite a while.
Annie
Negra
Jamie
Treat Buckets
There are a variety of options when using buckets as enrichment. Sometimes we fill the buckets with water, adding lemons or limes for some flavor and give the chimps long plastic straws to drink from. Other times we place seeds and nuts inside the buckets and the chimps have to knock the buckets over and use a tool to “sweep” the seeds toward them. Below, Annie demonstrates how to drink the flavored water from the bucket that was placed outside of the caging.
Annie
Raisin Boards
Jamie demonstrates how to use a chopstick to push raisins through the holes in this hanging raisin board.
