These warm summer days have generally been keeping the chimps in reclined positions. Jody and Foxie were calmly grooming and relaxing before lunch, but suddenly Foxie’s toes went rogue and started a mini-play session.
Play
Playful grooming
Missy and Annie were having a quiet grooming session this morning but they just could help themselves and before long Annie was playfully biting Missy’s toes.
Follow the Leader
After the chimps received access to Young’s Hill this morning, almost everyone went out! Missy and Annie were playing a fun game of what looked like, follow the leader. I am sure we are all familiar with this grade school game, where one friend leads and the other friend has to copy what they do. Well, I observed the chimp version of that today! As we all know Missy is very good at running, climbing, balancing, and just basically being a chimp. So in this game, naturally Missy was the leader and Annie followed, however as you will see in the photos Annie will do her own variations and what she finds most comfortable for her.
Missy starts of by climbing up Negra’s Cabin:
Then Annie follows:
Missy then walks the tight rope:
Annie follows, but decides to do it her way:
And gracefully sticks the landing:
While this game was happening, Jamie went for a perimeter walk accompanied by Foxie and Jody:
Burrito kept a close eye on everyone from his view up top:
And Negra, well she was too comfortable to get up (I mean really comfy):
I also have some extra photos I thought should not be left out!
Jamie put a sock on this morning and was running around and playing chase (this is the only photo she would let me take of her and the sock):
Jody:
Burrito following Jody on the Hill:
Still young at heart
It’s easy to tell when Missy intends to engage her best friend Annie in a sudden game or wrestle & chase. It’s not quite a smile on her face. It’s more like, “hold my drink…”
This morning, she chased Annie up and down and all around the play structure.
They play-punched and play-kicked while they each swung by one arm.
At one point, Missy almost caught Annie’s toes – the ultimate objective of every chimp game.
But Annie and her toes escaped to play another day.
When she was finished, Missy performed one of her best-ever leaping uneven bar dismounts…
…and stuck the landing. Can you believe she’s 42 years old?
Intensity
What! Are you guys seeing this… Strawberries! These were thoughts going through Missy’s head as staff Katelyn discovered these gems in our garden. First strawberry of the year went to garden enthusiast Missy of course!
Missy uniquely sitting on the tire while she looks for strawberries:
While, Missy observed Katelyn in the garden, Jamie had other business to attend to. After our morning perimeter walk, Jamie and I hung out by the Front Rooms, mostly so she could keep an eye on the interns. Jamie isn’t always in the mood to have a camera taking photos of her; however, I asked Jamie if it was okay and proceeded to take some pictures. I often show her the picture taken so she feels included. She was pretty intrigued today so I continued to snap some photos and show her. I always love the intensity in her eyes. Jamie can be known to be a bit intense, whatever she is doing is with all her effort. As you can tell in our photo shoot today she was giving it all she had.
Jamie staring intensely:
Jamie relaxing in the Front Room:
Jamie smooshing her face (she was being pretty silly):
Jamie laid on a chair so she could get more comfortable, but still be able to watch the interns and self groom:
After a while she let me groom her head with a toothbrush:
Burrito had been quietly napping behind Jamie, once Jamie moved Burrito was ready to play!
In this photo Burrito was playfully shaking his leg and breathy panting quietly:
Then Burrito started shaking his legs and play slapping his head, Burrito later got up and we played a bit before Jamie wanted me to come back and finish grooming her head:
Bonus photos:
Negra enjoying the warm Greenhouse:
Jamie stealing Burrito’s smoothie while she drinks her own (don’t worry Burrito had some smoothie earlier):
Jody’s 43rd Birthday Celebration!
Today is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Jody’s birthday! We had double to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate than to have a Green House and Young’s Hill forage, we even set out a whole coconut (I bet you can guess who ended up with it)! We love celebrating Mother’s Day, why not tell the strong women who helped shape who you are how much you love them! We do have a few mothers at our sanctuary including Jody. Jody is kind, nurturing, and always making sure that everyone is safe. For Jody’s birthday we set out lilacs because she loves to go on the Hill and find things like thistles, spruce trees, etc. Well, it turns out Missy LOVES lilacs and got most of them! Jody did get one of her favorites, which is the top of a pineapple (she was pleased)!
Missy eating all the lilacs:
Neggie had a nice relaxing day. She foraged on the Hill in the morning all by herself, attended the party, and napped for most of the day (it was pretty exhausting):
Power pose, Negra actually jump with all her might to get the enrichment, it was very exciting to watch:
Annie gathered some lilacs and then ventured out to the Hill to forage:
Burrito stayed pretty close to the birthday girls side, but found some opportunities to enjoy a drink and go on the Hill:
Foxie actually found the coconut and tried ever so quietly to sneak away:
Foxie eventually ditched the coconut and came back for it later in the afternoon, however Jamie heard Foxie trying to crack it open on the new structure and Jamie food peered her way into getting the coconut…
But Foxie did get to enjoy herself at the party:
Jamie enjoyed some cold drinks and some snacks as well:
Later when it was very warm Jamie and I took a few walks, when she got hot she would just hide in the shade:
Jody spent a lot of her day laying around, enjoying good company, and eating some of her favorite things. That sounds like a great 43rd birthday to me!
The birthday girl, Jody:
Cheers Jody! Happy 43rd Birthday (Missy is holding the drink):
Practice Makes Perfect
Jamie had a lot to do today. J.B was doing some work around the Chimp House so of course Jamie needed to monitor his work, but Jamie also had to get her perimeter walks in, as well as practice her tight rope walking.
Jamie started the day with making sure J.B. was doing his job (he was, as always):
Than Jamie and I surveyed the Hill (it was clear):
Once the Hill was secure, Jamie hit the logs to warm up her balance:
After Jamie was warmed up she decided to get straight to business:
Wow! She really nailed round 1, but this was practice so she had to go again:
Her technique was impeccable, so she tried again:
Wow, Jamie was flawless by round 3! Practice really does make perfect! But, with her busy schedule Jamie decided she needed to get back to work. This morning was nice and warm, so it wasn’t just Jamie out and about. Everyone made an appearance on the Hill at one point in the day, even Neggie came out to forage for some grass, or at least before the rain came.
Missy exploring on the Hill:
Annie lounging around:
Foxie was hanging out on the Hill too:
Foxie and Jody spent some time outside together:
But, Burrito was never too far behind Jody:
Negra made a nice nest and took advantage of the peace and quiet while everyone explored the Hill:
