We included raisin boards in this morning’s enrichment, and Missy demonstrated a new technique for fishing the raisins out (at least one that I haven’t seen before). Rather than trying to pry the raisins out or poke them out the other side, she would insert the chopstick and push it all the way through, like she was sewing with a big needle. It seemed to work well, except for when her tool would get stuck, in which case she would just break it off and start over with a smaller stick.
rescue
Negra
When you take care of chimpanzees in a sanctuary, your whole life revolves around trying to make them happy. You live for those moments when they are food squeaking over a good meal, or playing a wild game of chase around the outdoor enclosure. For some members of the Cle Elum Seven, we’ve begun to take these moments for granted. When does Missy not want to play chase? And is there ever a moment when Foxie is not playing with her troll dolls?
But for some chimps, its harder to tell when they are happy. Negra has one speed (slow) and a limited number of activities that she engages in (eat, sleep, groom, gaze out the window). Perhaps its due in part to her personality; some folks just live life at a different pace. But you can’t help but wonder how much of it is due to 35 years of confinement in a laboratory.
Determining what effect a lifetime of stress in the laboratory has on chimpanzees is currently the work of two researchers, Debra Durham and Hope Ferdowsian. Debra and Hope are conducting a large-scale study of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ex-laboratory chimpanzees. This summer, we participated in interviews with the researchers to look for indications of PTSD in the Cle Elum Seven.
Debra recently penned an Op-Ed for the Orlando Sentinel (see Drawing Ourselves into the Lives of Chimpanzees), in which she comments on the improvements they have seen in Negra. And, as fate would have it, the article’s publication coincided nicely with this video we took of Negra playing with Missy right before Jamie’s birthday party. (My favorite part of the video? When Negra grabs both or Missy’s ears and shakes her head back and forth 🙂
Its not likely that Negra will ever be rambunctious like Missy, or acrobatic like Foxie. Usually, I take comfort in the fact that when Negra chooses to put a blanket over her head and stare out the window, at least she has a choice. But she does have her playful moments, and according to Debra and Hope’s research, she is still showing signs of improvement. So we can all look forward to seeing Negra pull Missy’s legs and ears more and more in the days to come.
On the radio
Arik Korman, the director of 102.5 KZOK’s The Bob Rivers Show, recently visited the sanctuary. Arik has shared a podcast full of great questions, a dramatic intro and some terrific audio of the chimpanzees food grunting (in the beginning) and Jamie displaying (toward the end).
You can learn more about the sanctuary and chimpanzees by listening to the podcast linked to below or hear it broadcast on KZOK this Sunday in the 6am hour, KJAQ in the 7am hour and on AM 1090 in the 11am hour.
http://www.twistedradio.com/podcasts/ArikKormanPodcast_2009-11-05_1649.mp3
Construction volunteers needed
Construction continues this week on the greenhouse project, as we prepare to pour the concrete floor for what will be the 6′ x 10′ human area of the chimps’ winterized outdoor enclosure. Once our final building permit has been issued, we will begin constructing the framework for the polycarbonate greenhouse panels…weather permitting!
We are currently looking for more volunteers to help with construction. If you have building experience, or if you are simply willing to do manual labor in cold weather, we would appreciate your help! Please email [email protected] for more information.
Negra and a Pumpkin
Had to share this last photo of the day. Negra and what’s left of the pumpkin:
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:
