Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Play Initiation

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Chimps have a number of different ways to indicate that they would like to play. If you read this blog regularly, you’ve seen a chimpanzee play face. This face (top teeth covered, bottom teeth exposed, bottom lip drooping) says “Hey, I’m about to slap you in the face and bite your foot, but its all in good fun – don’t take it the wrong way!”

But its not just the face that indicates a playful mood. Quite often, chimps use objects to get things going. For example, Missy sometimes likes to steal a blanket from Annie’s nest, and Annie quickly jumps up and engages in a game of chase. And around here, the wearing of socks is a universal sign that a chimp is ready to play. You can see the look in Missy’s face that says “As soon as I pull this sock up to me knee, it’s go time!”.

Foxie, in all her new found playfulness, has developed a her own unique way of initiating play with her human caregivers, and of course, it involves a troll. She pushes a troll through the caging so that it lands on the floor in the human area. As soon as we pick it up, the game of chase begins. She gets so excited when we chase her with the troll that she will sometimes do standing back flips or climb to the ceiling of the outdoor area and hang upside down while rubbing her feet together. Occasionally, she pushes the troll out when we’re not looking. When this happens, she claps until we notice the troll lying lonely on the floor.

This morning, Foxie must have been feeling creative, because I think she invented the “I have a troll on my head, so it must be time to play” signal.

A Man of Extremes

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Burrito is a man of extremes. Being a male chimp, he has a tendency to cause havoc just for kicks. I don’t envy the girls who have to live with him – it’s like being locked in a room with the Tasmanian Devil.

But there’s a gentler side to him. He can often be found taking a nap in one of the front rooms (as you can see in this photo), enjoying the seclusion. And surprisingly, he and Negra groom each other quite often. My guess is that Negra is currying favor with him so that she’ll be spared when he goes on a rampage, but maybe I’m being too cynical.

He can also be very playful. Usually he plays with a youthful intensity – whereas some of the girls like to tickle or play tug-of-war, Burrito prefers an all-out race around the building, banging on the walls as he goes. But once and a while he’ll sit for a quiet game, sticking his face up against the caging so we can blow in his mouth or in his ears.

When we arrive at the chimp house each morning, we’re never sure which Burrito we are going to meet. But usually, a cold mouthful of water in the face tells me that the mischevious Burrito is ready for breakfast.

The Real Annie?

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As long as we have known her, Annie has been one of the most playful members of the Cle Elum Seven. She and Missy can barely stop playing long enough to eat. But she has always played exclusively with the other chimps, and never with us. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. If she wants to play with the other chimps all day and rely on us just to serve meals and clean, that’s OK.

But lately she has been engaging us in games of tickle and chase, and it is quite an honor. There have been so many changes in the chimps lately that its hard to keep up, but I guess she’s just feeling more comfortable around us now.

Which leads me to wonder: How well do we know the Cle Elum Seven? Every time we see a new side of one of the chimps, I wonder if we are finally seeing their real personality. But I’ve realized that while we are trying to figure out who they are, they are just beginning to figure it out for themselves. How much of your personality can come through when you are trapped in a small cage for 20 or 30 years?

Its difficult to imagine what they are going through now, but it is a joy to watch and to be a part of.

Jody changing

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Welcome to new blog readers! We are so excited about the ABC coverage that brought you here! To get you up to speed, I hope that you have perused the blog and learned about the wonderful Cle Elum Seven and their growing human family of supporters.

We have periodically been posting some “then” and “now” photos of the chimpanzees to show how quickly they are changing, and I thought it would be appropriate to post another one of these today as so many new folks view the blog. I think that Jody’s physical improvements have been the most dramatic. What do you think?

Jody on day one at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, after decades in research.
Jody on day one at the sanctuary, after decades in research.
Jody a few days ago outside.
Jody, taken a few days ago outside, after four months of sanctuary life at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

Acrobatics

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During a game of chase with me today, Foxie decided to hang upside down from the roof. Amazingly, she managed to hang on to both of her trolls. I wish I had been able to capture her next act, where she let go with her hands and hung straight down by her feet.

Foxie Challenges Diana to a Clap-Off

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Those of you that read this blog regularly know that Foxie has been coming out of her shell. Every day now she seems a little more playful, and this huge personality is emerging from a formerly reserved and guarded chimpanzee.

My favorite part of this video is when Foxie does a “pirhouette”, a behavior more often seen in juvenile chimpanzee play. The “new” Foxie does seem younger.