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The Thanksgiving Feast

November 28, 2014 by J.B. -

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All week we’ve been giving thanks for the people and organizations that make this sanctuary possible. Yesterday, it was all about the chimps. Which means that here at the sanctuary, it was all about the food.

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You know who likes food?

This guy.

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He somehow managed to hold six baked apples in his hands while he vacuumed up everything else with his mouth.

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I’ve never seen him concentrate this hard on anything before.

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Burrito wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the Thanksgiving party. You’ll have to watch the video at the end of this post to see what Negra had to do to get this treat bag. All I can say is that it was very un-Negra like. But as you can see from her expression, it was well worth the effort.

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Foxie was joined by this little black-haired troll during the forage.

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After lunch, they went for a stroll on the hill together (if you don’t see the troll, look closely for some hair that seems out of place).

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There was no Thanksgiving food coma for Missy. Once the sun came out, she hit the hill to get some exercise.

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Many thanks to Patti, Sandra, and Katie for volunteering to help the chimps on the holiday, and to Patti and Denice for preparing the feast. As you’ll see, it was quite a hit:

YouTube video

4 Comments

  1. Avatar Lorraine on November 28, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    I am so happy they have such a nice home now….. they all seem very happy.



  2. Avatar Dalyce Kowalski on November 28, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    That was fabulous! Love the food squeaks – Burrito sure loves his food. Wonderful to see. They are all such dear characters.



  3. Avatar June on November 28, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Beings happy tears to my eyes for them. What a wonderful life they are living now in comparison to their terrible pasts. I wonder do they remember or do they live completely in the present? I hope that is the case.



  4. Avatar Kathleen on November 28, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    Not only have I become better at recognizing the chimpanzees, I have become better at recognizing the blog authors as well. I no sooner read “You know who likes food? This guy.” and I knew it was you J.B.! I so enjoy your sense of humor when it comes to the chimps. You had me giggling through your post as you described the day!

    And I loved the video. Why is it so heartwarming and touching to watch (and hear!) these chimps enjoy their meals?! I honestly love to watch them sit quietly and chew, like Foxie and Missy in the doorways, and Burrito (with a bushel of baked apples in his one hand!) chewing and licking his plate clean and Annie with her glass of soup. So touchingly sweet.

    There is just no substitute for your videos. To actually witness the chimps eating, blinking, squeaking and grunting, CLIMBING up to snatch a treat bag (YEAH Negra, I am so proud of her. That’s my girl!!) — it is an experience I can’t quite put into words.

    To see Annie and Missy peacefully gazing out over Young’s Hill (the look in Missy’s eyes is so bright and beautiful) and to see Foxie and her troll walk through the grass, it is a privilege. They are all so beautiful. Thank you for making me feel as if I was there.



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