Had to share this last photo of the day. Negra and what’s left of the pumpkin:
rescue
Birthday/Halloween Video
As promised!
Smiling?
For me, going to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video to look for a movie is always an interesting experience. It never fails- I will see a movie with a chimp on the cover “smiling”. This facial expression that we, as humans, understand as a happy face is not a happy face for a chimpanzee. A “human smile” displayed by a chimpanzee is actually a “fear grimace” and is displayed when a chimp is afraid or excited. When a chimpanzee is used for entertainment purposes, they are trained to fear grimace for the camera. I thought, in this regard, I would post some pictures to demonstrate the difference between a fear grimace and a chimpanzee smile.
Below is an older picture of Jody displaying a fear grimace. If I had to guess, I would say she was afraid someone might steal her watermelon…
Here is a picture of Jody with a playface or a chimpanzee smile. THIS is a happy chimpanzee:
and a happy Foxie:
Burrito
A window with a view
Here’s Negra earlier today, at one of her favorite lookout spots. She spends a lot of time gazing out the windows here. Early next year we’ll have an exciting project: replacing some of our “caged” windows with bullet-proof glass so that the chimps can look out upon the valley without having to see bars. We can’t wait!
Annie & Missy
Annie is the most anxious member of the Cle Elum Seven, but you wouldn’t know it from the photos we take. She always looks so serene:
Missy rivals Foxie for “most playful member of the group”. Here’s Missy in the middle of a game of tug-of-war with me today. She always looks like she’s up to no good:
Always playful
There was a short break in the gloomy weather today, so Foxie made sure we got in a good game of pass-the-troll outside. Even though she’s in her 30’s, she has the spirit and energy of a little kid. The last photo captures the look she gives just before she does some crazy twirl or flip.