Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

outdoors

Summer in December

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We set out a chow forage after cleaning the greenhouse this morning, but for some reason only Burrito went out when I opened the door. That was fine with him.

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After breakfast, Missy and Annie sat in the doorway to Young’s Hill, trying to decide if it had warmed up enough yet to go out.

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Jody was the first to go out. At first she seemed a little uncomfortable, but as soon as the sun came out she began to relax.

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Jamie and Missy immediately set off around the hill.

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Annie came out too, clutching her blankets.

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Foxie hung out with her troll in her usual spot on the lower platform.

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This is downright balmy weather for Central Washington in December and the chimps seemed eager to spend as much time as possible outside.

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Everyone but Negra, of course. She took her time finishing her apple from breakfast and then made her way back to bed.

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Later in the day, a light mist started to fall, but Missy and Jamie kept at it. We are at walk number six now, and there’s plenty of daylight left. Got to take advantage of this weather while we can.

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Nature

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The chimps all have different ways of interacting with the natural world. Jamie seems to revel in the opportunities that nature provides. If the rest of the gang would join her, she’d stay out all day hiking, climbing, exploring. There is territory to defend and there are squirrels to hunt (she hasn’t caught one outside yet, not for lack of trying).

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Unfortunately for Jamie (but fortunately for the deer), some parts of nature will always be out of reach. When that happens, the best you can do is sit back and observe.

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Jody loves being outside in the natural world, but sometimes she’d rather take hers to go. Every day, she breaks off a piece of bamboo and drags it inside so that she can enjoy it from the comfort of the greenhouse. To each her own.

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Conquering fear

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Last night there was a commotion on the hill. We didn’t see what happened, but there was a lot of screaming and Negra ran to the greenhouse to seek reassurance from the other chimpanzees. Was it a fight? Did Negra get stung by an insect? Did she touch the electric fence?

This morning, as I was getting ready to let the chimps out onto the hill, I wondered if Negra would choose to stay indoors where she felt safe. But before I could unlock the door, Negra was there, waiting. She was the first out the door, and she stayed out long after the other chimps had gone back inside. She looked so at ease, eating grass and soaking up the sun.

When it came time for her to get up and head back to the building, something happened – she panicked. I imagine that she didn’t realize how far it was back to the greenhouse, sort of like what happens when you climb a tall ladder and don’t experience fear until you look down and realize how high up you are. This is probably what happened to her last night as well.

She ran down the log bridge, trying to get back to the greenhouse as fast as she could (which, for Negra, is not very fast).

She showed a slight fear grimace…

…which turned into a pout or whimper face.

Being Negra, she managed to grab some dandelion greens along the way without breaking stride.

The panic was short-lived, thankfully, and within minutes she was back in the same spot, enjoying some more grass.

We never really know what the chimps are thinking, but it’s clear to me that Negra is determined to enjoy the great outdoors. It’s just going to take a while before she can truly relax. Each of the chimps does things in their own time, and in their own way.