puzzle

Moments With Cy’s Group

April 29, 2024 by J.B.

Let me tell you, those toy keys are the most exciting thing to happen in a while. Some of the chimps in Cy’s group are prone to chewing up and ingesting enrichment so we’ve been introducing new items very slowly and cautiously over the last couple years. These are made by Nylabone and we’re optimistic that they will hold up and won’t pose any danger. It’s rare for nearly everyone in the group to have an interest in the same piece of enrichment—since they’ve been introduced, the keys have only been put down a minute or two at a time before they are snatched up again!

As I was sitting down in the foyer to upload some video, Chad noticed Rayne on the security monitor flipping through her magazine on the greenhouse catwalk. It’s amazing how much we would miss without those cameras.

Two Ways to Spend a Rainy Day

November 12, 2021 by J.B.

See how Cy and Dora spent a rainy Friday morning.

Speaking of Cy…this morning there was a large blanket under a door that I needed to close at breakfast time. Hydraulic doors can be closed securely with blankets in the way but then the blankets tend to get wet when we clean the floors. So we usually ask the chimps to help move the blankets out of the way, with mixed results. My first request was to Gordo, which I should have known would get me nowhere. Nothing but a blank stare from that guy. Then I asked Terry and Dora, but they were preoccupied at that moment, if you know what I mean. I could have gone to Lucky or Rayne next but at that point I knew who I had to call. Even though he was at the far end of the room, with a word Cy calmly walked the length of the front rooms and pulled the blankets out of the doorway for me. What a guy.

Stuffed Socks With Raffia

October 2, 2016 by Keri

Every day at the sanctuary has an enrichment theme. This enables staff and volunteers to mix up the various enrichment given to the chimps and how it is given. This way, each day is different. Some examples of these themes include “Fort Day” or “Troll Scarves Day” or “Giant Pile Day” to name a few.

We also rotate the enrichment that is given to the chimps each evening. The evening enrichment given is in the form of food puzzles. It’s not that we need to give the chimps more food at the end of the day, it’s more to give them something to work on, while staff and volunteers are busy finishing the checklist of things to do before leaving each day. Pine cones, drink buckets, KONGS and hanging puzzles are some examples of the types of puzzles given throughout the month.

Here is the calendar of evening enrichment for last month.

Stuffed socks is another type of puzzle for the chimps. Volunteers stuff long socks with paper and other clothing items, and add a small handful of nuts, seeds and dried fruit within. This way the chimps have to search through the sock to find the hidden treats. The socks can be hidden throughout the enclosure or tied to various caging and railings (using raffia).

Here are photos from “Stuffed Socks with Raffia” puzzle given to the chimps last month.