Given the fact that Foxie is probably the most playful chimp I’ve ever known, normally one would not need the following instructions. But I suppose they could be good to keep around, just in case. 🙂
Play
Caregivers as enrichment
Let’s face it- no matter how much we do to spice up captivity with enrichment and projects, it can still get pretty boring sometimes. We try to do what ever we can to keep the chimps entertained, including simple things like drinks from the hose. The chimps have access to water 24 hours a day, but sometimes they just seem to prefer to have us “fill them up”, so to speak, instead. Chimps have prehensile lips and a large pouch in their bottom lip, so they can hold a lot of water in there! And, as always here at CSNW, they have the choice to drink or…
An Unusual Play Trio
J.B. and I were cleaning the playroom this morning, when we saw Negra, Foxie and Annie playing together. This is quite the unusual trio of playmates, and I’ve never seen Negra play this long in one stretch! There was more than what is shown in the video, but it was challenging filming conditions – through the glass window with the playroom filling up with steam from cleaning. J.B. caught some choice moments, and I know Negra fans will be thrilled.
Trolls
Jamie and Foxie spent some quality time with trolls today. I still can’t get over how integral troll dolls have become in the lives of these chimps…
Noisy Burrito
As explained in Elizabeth’s post a couple of weeks ago, Burrito doesn’t play with toys too often, but as you will see in the video below, he’s really been liking these popper toys these days! He played with this toy for at least an hour today. This video of Jamie and the popper toy comes to mind.
Jamie and Foxie’s wild play
The chimpanzees all have different comfort levels when it comes to intensity of play. Jody and Negra, for example, engage in play less frequently and less boisterously than some of the other chimps. When Foxie and Jamie get together, though, they completely let loose. There’s lots of stomping, slapping, and (play) biting. This morning they spent about 20 minutes running around the playroom like maniacs.
Burrito expands his horizons
It’s always fun to catch one of the chimpanzees doing something he or she doesn’t usually do. Burrito doesn’t engage in much self-directed play with toys or objects. He’ll pick up a wooden block to chew on, or pass a scarf to a caregiver for a game of tug of war, but he doesn’t seem much interested in toys for their own sake. Today, though, he found a toy he couldn’t get enough of. I had to stop filming eventually, but he entertained himself for quite awhile.