After Hours
June 23, 2016 by Elizabeth -
After dinner each day, most of the chimps grab their blankets and bed down for the night.
Jody:
Negra:
But for Jamie, the day is just getting started.
Jamie likes to be in control. It’s hard to say whether this is a result of spending decades in a research lab where she was absolutely powerless, or whether this would have been her personality regardless of the circumstances she was born into, in which case it’s even sadder to imagine her stuck in a cage with no choices and no control over her life.
But not to worry; Jamie is making up for lost time. One of the ways she exerts her newfound power is by keeping the staff at work after hours. Before we go home each night, we close the door to Young’s Hill and make sure all the chimps are safe inside the building. As long as the door to Young’s Hill remains open, the staff are required to stay at the chimp house. Jamie is aware of this policy and will often run at top speed to throw her body into the doorway to prevent us from closing the door. This serves the dual purpose of buying her extra time outside in the evening, as well as extra time with her human friends/minions.
Until recently, Jamie has been the only one to take advantage of this “loophole.” She will keep her caregivers at work until 9 or 10pm some evenings, while the other chimps are snoozing away inside. But this summer Jamie has had some company during her after hours adventures. The other chimps are starting to see the appeal of warm, peaceful summer evenings outside.
Burrito:
Annie:
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Those clever little devils. But I feel sorry for you caretakers. The day is long enough without having to miss out on your own personal family/friend/relax time.
There are definitely days where we’re ready to get home at the end of the day, but we couldn’t be happier that the chimps have choices now!
Does someone stay on the property overnight?
Yes, our Co-Directors live in a house on the property.
Mr. B and Annie?! Oh no. So does Jamie enjoy having cohorts in crime? She must be aware of what she is starting with this night time mutiny. Annie has come a long way, good for her! (Love the way she seems to be captured walking bipedally most of the time).
I’m not sure how Jamie feels about having other chimps out with her in the evenings. It’s so new! But she definitely appreciates human company. She walks us around the hill endlessly. 🙂
Is there a possibility of restructuring staff schedules?? (easy for me to say, right? ) LOL but maybe just to give them time to hang out later? She looks so happy…
We’ve brainstormed on ways to have longer days in the summer, but we just don’t have enough staff to make it happen. Someday…
I can be on the next flight! Way to go Burrito! I can just picture her bolting for the door. “Oh no you don’t. I’m not done here!”