Summer has come early this year so we’ve been busy making sure everyone stays safe and comfortable. That means moving the cows to pastures with plenty of wooded areas for shade and ensuring our wildfire sprinkler system is ready for fire season. The chimps have gone into summer mode as well, taking full advantage of the outdoor habitats in the early mornings and finding shade or a quiet spot indoors to ride out the afternoon heat.
summer
National Relaxation Day
Today is National Relaxation Day! According to the Economic Times, National Relaxation Day is observed to “encourage individuals to slow down and unwind.” Though chimpanzee life can be very chaotic and dramatic, they all find some time throughout the day to let their hair down and relax. It’s all about balance, right?
In homage to National Relaxation Day, please enjoy some photos of the chimpanzees in relaxation mode!
Honey B taking a quick nap after her play session with Lucky.
Foxie taking a rest after breakfast.
Gordo taking a breather after returning from the Bray.
Burrito taking a break in his Greenhouse (though I am convinced he was playing because seconds later he had caregivers playing chase).
Dora enjoying the shaded part of the Chute.
And as you might have guessed, right next to her is Mave.
Willy B taking advantage of the large fan in the front room area on a hot day.
And of course, the Queen of Relaxation, Queen Negra.
We hope you are able to find some time to get your relaxation in today!
All Around the Raspberry Bush
When caregivers are assigned to be the lead caregiver on a certain day, one of our first tasks is to “open up” the Chimp House. For me, this is one of the best times of day because it’s still early in the morning and some residents are still not fully awake. Case in point: Negra
To walk in the morning to see Negra still in bed, you kind of watch in real time what kind of mood she will be in that particular day. And yes. She has been in a really good mood today.
Since she was in a good mood upon awakening, and because today’s high temperature in Central Washington is 70º, it was a perfect day for a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. As of this typing (almost dinner time), they have been going on and off Young’s Hill looking for anything they may have missed. On today’s forage menu was: baby iceberg lettuce heads, prickly pears, and sweet potatoes.
Foxie
Burrito (and Foxie) enjoying some baby iceberg lettuce
Missy does the same
Negra: (Iceberg) Head Hunter
With everybody in high spirits, it was also a great day to set up a browse of raspberry branches! Jamie could not have been more content!
And just like the chimpanzees’ night bags, here is a final treat of bonus photos to end today’s blog!
Rayne fishing for cherry tomatoes yesterday
Gordo keeping an eye on the medical staff during a tour after Willy B’s procedure yesterday
And finally, this guy! If you look carefully, you can find an “Easter egg” within this photo
The Cattle Apple Saddle
Please join Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg for lunch! During the colder months, we supplement the cattle’s diet with grass hay, oat hay, and alfalfa. During the warmer months, other than the cattle’s other supplements that we provide, caregivers generally allow the cattle to roam and graze on whatever their hearts desire. In this video, Nutmeg and Meredith are eating some apples from the apple tree in their pasture, Betsy is munching on some willow near the pond, and Honey was just getting done grazing on some grass.
Here are some bonus photos from today!
With the weather holding out with temperate conditions, Negra’s group had a nice lunch forage on Young’s Hill.
Negra
Burrito and Foxie
Foxie
Missy
Here are some Bonus-Bonus photos!
Burrito
Foxie taking it easy
Annie making her bird noises
And Jamie taking notes
Recently, we added Sprout Pencils to our Amazon Wish List as a new type of enrichment. These pencils have a capsule full of seeds where the eraser is supposed to be. When you are done with them, you can plant the pencil and different types of plants are supposed to grow. There are still some on the Wish List if you would like to help us stockpile some of them for the chimps!
Fawns and Fledglings (and Chimps)
“Today, just do what you can.”
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The Waning Days of Summer
We’ve reached the time of year where the days are still warm but the mornings are cold enough to remind you that summer’s days are numbered. When I arrived at the chimp house this morning I had trouble finding Negra. After calling her name a few times, she poked her head out of this mountain of blankets in the Greenhouse just long enough to greet me with a few soft grunts.
Before long, a breeze had cleared out the wildfire smoke that had settled overnight and things began to warm up. Jody and the gang took to the hill to enjoy some sunshine.
The chimps had a surprise treat at lunchtime. Volunteer Patti brought watermelon and Field Roast veggie dogs so that the chimps and their caregivers could have an End of Summer party.
Foxie was still on the hill with Jody when lunch was brought out. When she came back and saw what was on the tray, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Without context, the behaviors and body language of fear and excitement can be difficult to distinguish in chimpanzees. Foxie grimaced, baring all of her teeth, and sought reassurance from the other chimps and her caregivers. When chimpanzees are overwhelmed with emotion, good or bad, they seek comfort in their friends.
It was also Patti’s birthday (Happy Birthday, Patti!). We wholeheartedly endorse this idea of bring food to us on your birthday, Patti, and hope that it is the beginning of a new trend wherein anyone who has a birthday brings us lunch.
Even party lunches have to end with bags of primate chow, lest we upset The Queen. By lunch, Negra had shed all of her blankets except for the bare minimum needed to maintain a sense of comfort and security.
Chimps nibble on certain foods, while other foods are almost always stuffed into their mouths as though they are trying to set a Guinness record. Primate chow makes excellent wadge material and the chimps often chew it into a thick paste and spit it back into their hand periodically to admire their handiwork. Missy has additional reasons for stuffing her face with chow – it’s much harder for Negra to steal pieces out of her mouth than it would be if they were still in the bag…
Normally the humans around here lament the end of summer but this year feels different. It’s been hot and dry and smokey for too long. We’re looking forward to some gray, rainy days and the opportunity to throw on an extra blanket or two.
Summer Lovin’ 2015 Party Video
As promised, below is the Summer Lovin’ Party video. This video is a thank you to everyone who made a Summer Lovin’ donation as part of our Summer Biddin’ online auction. The chimpanzees certainly deserve a party!
As the video mentions, Burrito really won the day by keeping his cool when he snagged one of the coconuts.
Burrito has come a long way and knows a lot more about how to navigate the social world of chimpanzees than he did when the chimpanzees arrived at the sanctuary seven years ago!
I hope you enjoy the lighthearted video:
