Foxie playing in the mirror

March 9, 2009 by Diana -

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Today I discovered a new game with Foxie. I was having difficulty throwing her troll doll back to her (some days my aim is just off), so I put it in a sock and tossed it up, my thought being that she would have more to grab on to. It worked like a charm, and Foxie actually really liked the sock! She almost immediately flung it over her neck, walked down the stairs and began playing with it in front of the mirror. I am sure other chimpanzees have done this before, but it was the first time I have personally seen a chimp play in front of a mirror. She was so enamored with her own reflection playing, that she completely ignored Missy’s attempts to get her attention. For the rest of the day, Foxie carried around the sock, sometimes in her hand, sometimes over her shoulders, and once on the top of her head. Every once in a while she would go back to the mirror and play.

8 Comments

  1. Avatar Shelly C on March 9, 2009 at 4:51 pm

    Missy is like ///come on Foxie lets play….what are you doing over there..you are not listening…okay I will throw my balnket at you….you are still not paying attention to me…..go Foxie , you are the light of my life!



  2. Avatar Shelly Knapp on March 9, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    Diana, thanks so much for the post and the video….very fun!!



  3. Sara Lissabet on March 10, 2009 at 5:41 am

    Seeing happy chimps makes my day!



  4. Avatar Amy M. on March 10, 2009 at 8:32 am

    Diana — I think you’ve got a great marketing opportunity here. Edit together video of the chimps being themselves — running, climbing, swinging, jumping, Foxie doing her mirror exercises, etc. — and you’ll have a really good all-round exercise dvd! Exercise with the Cle Elum Seven and build your strength, flexibility and muscle tone!



  5. Avatar dee on March 10, 2009 at 9:20 am

    what a relief in the day to catch a few moments of sweetness!
    thank you.

    GO Missy! GO Foxie!



  6. Jeani Goodrich on March 10, 2009 at 10:59 am

    Oh I can’t wait to get home to see the video! Right now I just am enjoying the images in my head. Thanks Diana.



  7. Jeani Goodrich on March 10, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    That was definitely worth the wait. it is so fun seeing Foxie playing like that. I had to watch it twice to realize Missy even threw her blanket at Foxie, to no avail I might add. Thanks for the great video.



  8. Avatar Theresa on March 11, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Fun video Diana. Thanks for sharing. Foxie looks like she is having a ball. Poor Missy…she tried her best. Girls just want to have fun! I love seeing them no matter what they are doing.



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