For today’s blog post, I’m sharing this video of Dora being casually goofy with caregiver Grace.
Enjoy!
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P.S. I apologize for the title pun. I don’t even like that song.
Sanctuary
Poke!
Missy couldn’t resist poking Burrito in his little belly…
Enriching Negra
Negra was quick to investigate these Frisbee puzzles when we hung them in the greenhouse this afternoon. If an enrichment item involves peanut butter, Negra is first in line!
Where in the World is Annie?
I wanted to share a fun little story from this morning! As I gave Annie’s group Young’s Hill, everyone including Negra rushed out. Once Anna brought breakfast out to the greenhouse all the chimps were heading back in to eat, except Annie. We couldn’t find Annie anywhere. It had been more than 10 minutes of breakfast being served and she was nowhere in sight. Annie does not miss a meal! Sofia came over to help do checks when I said I think Annie is on the Hill, but we can’t see her anywhere. Sofia told us she did this yesterday, but eventually came back for breakfast. We finally got a glimpse of her 15 minutes into breakfast, she was far up on the top of the Hill foraging for what I assume was grass or some kind of foliage. Apparently, that grass was so good she didn’t even come back for breakfast! Breakfast was not a concern for Annie, because when she finally returned and Anna tried to call her over for food, she very contently laid back on the platform in the greenhouse and took a little nap.
Today was a beautiful spring day so we took advantage of the weather and did a Hill forage for lunch!
Don’t worry Annie got plenty of food!
But Missy seemed to score the most!
Negra was quite pleased with her haul! She even worked pretty hard for her food too, look at Neggie on the Esher structure!
Jody with a mouth full of corn and hands full of forage!
Jamie collected her forage and then took all of it to a secluded hammock to eat alone.
Burrito cradling an arm full of onions:
Little Foxie was having a great day roaming around the Hill and hanging out with friends!
Bonus Photos!
Rayne was asleep in a cozy nest up on one of the leaves in the Marmot Room.
And sweet Dora was hangout in the window ledge watching her caregivers cleaned her playroom.
New Friendships and Lots o’ Play!
We’ve talked a lot about the introductions of Honey B’s and Lucky’s groups on the blog over the last few months. After opening the last door 12 days ago, we have been watching as they sort out their social dynamics and build the trust needed to be a cohesive group. It is still very early in the process and we cannot pretend to know what the future will bring, but we can have hope! A common phrase heard almost daily throughout the chimp house, along with talking about how proud we are of the 9 chimpanzees, is- so far so good!
Integrating the two groups provides multiple benefits to everyone, with a key benefit being an increase in social partners. Each person now has eight other individuals they can choose to hang out with (or not), which provides increased opportunities for friendship, play, and all the other benefits that can come from having a bigger social group. As they figure out their place in the new social structure, we have been able to watch new friendships form and bonds strengthen. Some of these have been surprising (go, Mave!) and some have been more expected based on previous smaller introductions.
Today, I was able to catch an amazing moment of play between Honey B and Rayne on camera. It was lunchtime, they weren’t at the meal, and when we went looking for them we couldn’t help but smile. 🙂 Check out the video to see why!
It’s a Day for Celebrations!
Today is a day to celebrate mothers for all they do! Caregiver Katelyn said it best when she told me “There are 101 ways to be a mother”. So however you relate to this holiday, if you find yourself in such a role – cheers to you.
Mother’s Day is also the perfect time to celebrate the mother’s of the sanctuary, which includes: Negra, Missy, Jody, Foxie, Annie, Honey, and Betsy. Negra, Missy, Jody, Foxie, and Annie were not allowed the opportunity to raise their children, but all their living children are happy and safe in sanctuaries. They make our lives better every day, and we are so lucky to know them.
It’s also a very special day today, as we celebrate Jody’s honorary birthday! She is turning 47 today and spent the day doing some of her favorite things- foraging on the hill, eating watermelon bowls, and spending time with her group. There is no better day to celebrate Jody than Mother’s Day, as she fulfills the motherly role in her group- always making sure everyone is taken care of and safe. We love you, Jo, happy birthday!
We would also like to thank our longtime supporter Paulette Wrisley for sponsoring the day in honor of Jody’s Birthday. We are so grateful for you!
The Little Things
It has officially been one week (!) since Kelsi opened the final door that separated Honey B’s group and Lucky’s group. Like she wrote in yesterday’s blog, the staff over the last year have worked extremely hard to provide these two groups with tools to succeed through months of smaller introductions. The true credit, though, goes to the chimps as we watch them work hard to build the relationships and trust that is needed for the foundation of one cohesive group of nine chimpanzees.
The emotions of this last week have hit all the apes here in the chimp house, but taking things day-by-day has allowed us to better manage these emotions and has also provided us the ability to celebrate the little wins along the way. So, one week down and so far so good is something to celebrate indeed!
No matter the day, sometimes it really is the little things that can bring the most happiness – whether it be a moment of play between Dora and Mave, catching Negra asleep cuddled up under her blankets, or Jamie looking you in the eyes with her all-knowing gaze. These moments can take your breath away.
Terry and Mave sharing a sweet moment of grooming in the Oakwood Greenhouse this afternoon.
Lucky relaxing in the Oakwood Greenhouse.
And, on the other side of the chimp house, Jamie is still always watching. 🙂
And often kicking back, relaxing, and making sure her caregivers are staying on task.
