Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Willy B

Champion Among Apes

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The fact that the apes exist and that we can study them is extremely important and makes us reflect on ourselves and our human nature. In that sense alone, you need to protect the apes.”

We join the primatology world in mourning the loss of researcher Frans de Waal. Frans was one of the bigger names in primatology. His studies on cognition, emotions, empathy, intelligence, (this list goes on) are widely regarded as some of the most important studies contributed to the study of primates, particularity those relating to chimpanzees and bonobos.

Though in his early years most of his studies we focused on captive lab settings, he started to champion for non-lab studies and conservation efforts. In fact, he has been associated with many sanctuaries either as a member of board of directors or as consultant on behavior and welfare.

Frans was the author of many books on the topic of intelligence and empathy. Some of those aren’t all centered around primates but go through a whole spectrum of species. I could list all the books I recommend to read, but it would be a just a majority of his works. I will though say if you haven’t read his most influential book “Chimpanzee Politics,” that would be the best place to start. “Chimpanzee Politics” is the book that actually set me down the path to where I am now. At the time, I was well down the rabbit hole of majoring in political science and only a minor in anthropology, one of the many umbrellas the field of primatology falls under, which I was unaware of at the time. That book allowed me to realize I could marry up my political science and anthropology studies together.

“Chimpanzee Politics” was so influential to me, I was able to get Frans to sign my copy when he was passing through Seattle and giving a talk about animal emotions in conjunction with the release of his book “Mama’s Last Hug,” which I also recommend. “Mama’s Last Hug,” was written after the viral video of Mama recognized one of her oldest researchers, Jan van Hooff, visited her as she was in her final days. Not only can you read all about Mama in the book, but you can also read about her in “Chimpanzee Politics.” She plays a HUGE role in that monumental book.

The world of primatology has taken two big hits recently. Other than Frans, influential researcher Christophe Boesch passed away in January. Christophe also contributed a lot to the field with his research on social cognition, tool use, and cooperation of the chimpanzees in the Taï National Forest of Côte d’Ivoire.

With that, I will leave you all with links to Frans’ TED Talks about “morality” and “alpha males.” The are both really great.

To not leave everybody totally down, here are some happy photos!

Rayne

Rayne put her breakfast pears in a cup from yesterday’s celebration to avoid walking with totally full hands.
Look at that happy face! Rayne’s play session with Honey B this morning was just like this photo; a blur of fur and laughs.

Cy

Cy watching the traffic go by on the nearby highway from Ryan’s Lookout.

Lucky

Check out those peanut butter lips from her afternoon Kong!

Gordo

On his way back in from today’s lunch forage on The Bray.

Mave

Waiting for caregivers to give her and her family access back to the Marmot Mountain Playroom after cleaning.

Mora

These next few photo are terrible, but also too good not to share.

Grooming each other while laying down.
Who knows what warranted this hug? These two seem to find ANY reason to hug.

Cy and Lucky

It’s actually a little difficult to get photos of these two siblings together.
So it was nice to capture a few when they were both on Ryan’s Lookout during today’s lunch forage.

Mirror Mania

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Chimpanzee intelligence is well-known and a specific aspect of their intelligence that I find particularly fascinating is their awareness of self as separate from others, or ‘theory of mind’. A classic experiment used to test for theory of mind in animals is the mirror test whereby a mark is placed on the face or some other body part of an animals and then they are presented with a mirror. If the animal notices the mark and reaches towards their own face instead of the one in the mirror, this indicates that they are aware that the image in the mirror is themself and not another animal. This works on a number of species we all recognize to be intelligent like elephants, dolphins, and the great apes while, interestingly, other nonhuman primates like monkeys, will fail this test. Human children typically begin to pass the mirror test around the age of two.

I’ve always enjoyed watching chimpanzees look at themselves in the mirror. Some are more interested than others in their own reflections, usually picking at marks or scabs on their face and head, opening their mouths to inspect their teeth and tongue, and sometimes making faces at themselves. Are they amused? Are they curious? What’s happening in those minds?!

To celebrate this endearing behavior, I’ve decided to put together a compilation of photos and videos of the chimps at CSNW looking at their own beautiful faces. Enjoy!

A Path Out

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We finally have a decent break from the snow and subfreezing temperatures. Though there are some more winter storms in the forecast, at least most days are going to be fairly mild in regard to temperature. In fact, for the first time in a long time, the sun has broken through the clouds to grace us with it’s warm presence. With the sun out, it was too good of an opportunity not to try to give Annie’s group Young’s Hill. After some light shoveling, a path to Young’s Hill was forged.

I must apologize, however. As I watched the pileup at the door that leads to Young’s Hill was opening, I realized I had forgotten the camera and my phone. I guess it boils down to I was too plum excited to see the color contrast of chimp and snow.

Foxie

Annie

Even with access to get their own snow, sometimes having the snow brought to you is the best. At least that seemed to be Jamie’s preference, with the addition of icicles and black cherry Stur water enhancers.

Missy also had joined Jamie in snow and icicles.

Some bonus photos of Willy B playing with Lucky a couple of days ago!

Indoor Recess

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Brrrrr! It has been cooooold. Luckily, it will start to warm up a little after today, at least in the afternoons. Since it has been so cold and the chimps haven’t been able to go outside, we have been trying to make sure the chimps have a lot of enrichment opportunities such as forages, food puzzles, and of course snow cones. As you will see in the video, Honey B has no problem keeping her friends busy! When watching the video I can’t believe all three of those girls can fit on that leaf, they have such great balance. I hope that you all are staying warm and this video warms your heart like it did ours. Also a special thanks to Grace for lending me the amazing video footage!

We have been using Stur (water liquid enhancer) to help spice up the snow that we put out as enrichment! We are getting a little low on the Stur as well as some other items, check out our Amazon Wish List if you would like to help us stock up. 🙂

Our current situation:

Jamie loved her “snow cone” was dragging the sandbox with her everywhere! Don’t worry we put out smaller snow cone buckets for everyone else:

Jamie snuggled up with her Lucy book in a cozy nest:

Rayne during the lunch forage:

Willy B:

Honey B picking through the forage in the green house:

Gordo with a whole lot of chow:

Mave:

Terry:

The Allure of Willy B (aka William, Wilbert, or Willard)

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If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that all chimp personalities are different. Each chimp has their own unique quirks, traits, and histories that have no doubt played a role in who they are today. One of the greatest joys for me, as a caregiver here, is having the opportunity to get to know each of them on their own terms.

Life in the chimp house is a busy one and a lot of our days are taken up with cleaning, enrichment / food prep, and other important tasks that have to get done every day and usually by a certain time. In between the tasks of the day, we try and find moments to hang out with the chimps- if they want to see us, that is. Sometimes, we have everything done early and have a good amount of time in the afternoon to hang out with the chimps, but they’re not feeling it and would rather hang out with each other or nap (fair). Sometimes, we have to make the tough choice of balancing time with a chimp that’s asking for attention vs. catching up on the long list of tasks. Most of the time, though, it all works out to where we are able to get everything done and make ourselves available for the chimps.

These moments, I think, are where we really get to know each other. Trust and mutual understandings can be built and solidified through serving meals and little interactions throughout the day, but I think when we set aside everything we have going on and are totally present with a chimp friend is when we get to know them and they get to know us.

Willy B, as mentioned throughout a variety of our blogs, does seem to have some anxiety that can make it tough for him to interact or engage with both other chimps and the humans. He’s really grown as a person in the last few years as his group was integrated with Cy’s group and it’s been so wonderful to see him forming bonds with the other chimps in his group, who seem to have a high level of patience for the often-awkward guy who enjoys causing intermittent chaos throughout the day.

Up until recently, most of my interactions with Willy B have been him asking to look at photos / videos on my phone, which is totally fine. The last few weeks, though, he has seemed more interactive.Yesterday we finished cleaning in the morning and the task list was looking good, so I changed out of my scrubs to head out for office time. I went in to say goodbye and immediately Willy B initiated a game of play! It was the longest I’ve ever experienced with him and I couldn’t get myself to walk away, until he signaled to me that he was wrapped up with it too.

He can be aloof and hard to read, but he can also be so funny and sweet. He’s a complex guy and it’s such a special moment when he initiates spending time together!

Willy B, also affectionately known as William, Wilbert, Willard, and / or Sir William:

Bonus Photo:

The drive to work in the winter can be treacherous, but boy is it a ‘beaut!

A Few Handsome Guys

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It has been an uber busy day in the chimp house today with cleaning, general tasks, staff meetings, and more! The day has flown by, so for this blog I went through my phone for a few ‘photos from the vault‘ and found some great ones of our handsome chimp gentlemen. They really are just the best guys around!

We’re off to serve dinner to the chimps now, so I hope you enjoy! 🙂

Terry, eating a snowball earlier this week:

Willy B, enjoying a quiet moment:

Gordo enjoying an avocado for dinner this past fall:

Cy, taking a moment to look through his magazine before diving into his coconut during a party this summer:

Burrito, finding out what we stuffed pineapples with during a party on Young’s Hill this summer:

Happy Tuesday!

Theme of the Day

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The theme of the day: a little bit of play and a WHOLE lot of grooming! Since the weather wasn’t very nice out (mostly rain), what better way to spend the day than grooming and playing with your friends? It was fun to see all the different pairings branching off to groom today. This afternoon, I found Cy and Gordo grooming, which is not a common occurrence in comparison to Cy and Willy B, or Cy and Terry.

Bonus photos!

Rayne:

Terry series:

Gordo series: