Icy days, flying pigs and bonobos
January 14, 2019 by Katelyn -
Yesterday we had freezing fog rolling through the sanctuary all day and overnight the sanctuary turned into an icy wonderland. With a wind chill of 20 degrees it’s remained enchanting, if not frigid, but that hasn’t stopped several of the chimpanzees from a quick run around Young’s Hill. But most of the chimps have been enjoying their day indoors, playing constant games of chase and making huge blanket nests.
And boss lady, Jamie, has no problem finding indoor activities to keep her busy in between her frosty runs. She began by taking an after breakfast nap complete with yawns and choosing to wear a hot pink sock with flying pigs in capes on it. Naturally.
We put out a forage of purple cabbage and dried oranges, but Jamie was most interested in what might have been hidden in her kitchenette. And we just love that giant caterpillar:
She later discovered a surprise pair of new boots:
And then she finally settled back into her nest for some reading about her cousins, the Bonobos. Jamie is utterly fascinated by the books she has been given about bonobos, even more so than her chimpanzee books. She spends ages looking at them over and over:
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I love it when Jamie has her books, she gets this dreamy thoughtful look.
I wonder if she thinks the Bonobo’s are cute….Kinda like baby chimps ?
Thank you for the wonderful pictures.
The photos are beautiful, Katelyn!
Well your headline sure did make me curious (and it made me laugh just imagining the possibilities!). The flying pig socks are the best. And why study books on chimpanzees when you could write one on the topic (or these are thoughts I imagine Jamie is thinking to herself). Why not study your close cousins instead, after all they are fascinating aren’t they?
Were the new boots hidden in her kitchenette? What a day, thanks for all the wonderful photos of sanctuary life, inside and out.
Hi Kathleen,
Her new boots were by the caterpillar, which she placed on top of the caterpillar for safe keeping while she checked out her kitchenette! 🙂
Thank you for this beautiful post that brings our realities together! Love and hugs to you all…
Wonderful photos and story. O my, love the flying pigs socks!!! Jamie had quite a day…caped piggies, new boots, and I just love seeing her study that Bonobo book. She is clearly a scholar. She’s really intense!
Great post! I love the socks.
I just love how they become like little children with their toys, blankets, boots etc. Thank you for showing them love and keeping their minds busy with activity and such. I will soon donate again. Thank you for the great posts folks.
Maybe Jamie heard that bonobos are matriarchal and wants to learn about apes that think the way she does. 🙂
A-ha! That explains Jamie’s interest.
A-ha! That explains Jamie’s interest.
Which leads me to ask: Where are the sanctuaries — both here in North America and elsewhere — for
other species of great apes? When I was visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo over the New Year, I asked one of
the docents if there was an equivalent to ChimpHaven (the zoo has a partnership with that sanctuary) for
gorillas. I didn’t get a straight answer, but, I certainly see the need. And something must be done soon to increase the
population of bonobos. I share Jamie’s interest.