Hitching a lift
October 28, 2015 by Katelyn -
As autumn transitions into steadily colder and darker days, the chimpanzees (even Negra!) have been extra busy on Young’s Hill. And thanks to the Armstrong family, with a new structure to explore, and new dolls to explore with, Foxie took her current favorite troll doll along to check things out. And JB got some ridiculously adorable photos!
One of Foxie’s most endearing habits is how she carries her dolls on her back. Chimpanzee mamas are highly invested in raising and nurturing their children. The bond they share is the same we experience with our human children. They carry their infants for about the first six months of their lives and then as the babies become strong enough to grasp for extended periods, they begin to ride around on their mother’s back. Chimpanzee children are highly dependent on their mothers and even as they grow and become more independent they remain in close contact for the first several years of their lives.
Foxie’s four children were all taken from her during her years in biomedical research and it’s emotionally appealing to think that she carries the dolls on her back with her children in mind. But we can never know what she’s truly thinking and it may just be a natural and effective way of carrying her beloved dolls with her when she’s on the go. Whatever the reason, though bittersweet, it never fails to warm our hearts and I think it’s safe to say, hers as well. And that’s what matters most.
Foxie and troll, on the go:
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Very adorable! ????
Are the able to breed at this time of freedom?
Hi Beverly, thanks for your question! Burrito has had a vasectomy which is common practice for accredited sanctuaries. We would love for the chimpanzee mothers to be able to raise their own children, but with hundreds of chimpanzees still in labs waiting for a space in sanctuary to retire to, we feel it would be irresponsible to not only take a much needed space, but to intentionally create a situation where another chimpanzee was subjected to a lifetime of captivity. We definitely understand the emotional appeal though and wish things had been different for our chimp moms and their children.
I want to think she is thinking about the dolls as her children if it gives her peace.
Love she and the other chimps are living happy and peaceful lives now.
My heart is warmed looking at these photos. And like you said Katelyn, I hope those silly trolls warm Foxie’s heart too.
Katelyn,
As usual you capture the essence of who these wonderful creatures are and share it so eloquently. thank you.
We do not know the true reason why Foxie chooses to carry the troll dolls on her back but it seems to make her content to do so and that is what is important. They have choices now. Sweet pictures.
They have choices and the freedom to carry them through. That is sanctuary.
The first two pictures made me smile immediately: looks like Foxie is going for the hair extensions effect. She is so cool, no matter what she does!!