Courage, little by little
May 16, 2020 by Diana -
Willy B has gotten a lot more confident in the courtyard. He usually just marches right out there like he’s been doing it for years. He does, however, still stick to the boardwalk and usually keeps to the parts of the platform by the posts.
So today we decided to scatter pieces of food (instead of one whole piece of fruit) all over both tiers of the platform.
The photos that J.B. took today are in sequence and tell the story of Willy B’s exploration for the day. You can see he gathered the food and then ate it in his comfortable spots near the post, but still, he went to the middle of the platforms. We’ll continue to push his comfort zone in different ways so that he gets used to being on the grass too. Little by little.
The last photo in the sequence shows what a great view there is at the top of that structure. I wonder how he feels when he’s up there.
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How lovely. I bet he feels awestruck up there.
So brave, and so handsome !
Sweet Willy B looks SO long or tall in that 7th photo…I can’t stop giggling…
On a more serious note…I can hardly wait til the day he trots down that chute & instantly takes off running through the doorway to explore Young’s Hill out of pure happiness & a true sense of real freedom…Such a brave & resilient guy…His ongoing, developing courage just makes my heart POUND with more & more & more love for him…
I know! I love following his journey.
Woohoo! So proud of you Willy B. !!
What I would give for just a moment of his thoughts from on top of his world.
Indeed what an amazing thing it would be to get a glimpse into his thoughts.. just for a minute… So exciting that he has become at ease with going this far… each day a new adventure. Thank you.. as always!
Whatever it is he’s thinking, it’s not all bad….. He’ s SITTING on top of the platform!!
😀
Congratulations Willy B. You have become very brave and secure in climbing
to the top and enjoying being a chimp. I love it and know that you will be more
secure day by day to venture out. Be happy and be you.
I am so proud of you, Willy B.
Is Willy B missing toes on his left foot? If so, what happened?
No, he has all his toes.
One step at a time, one day at a time – so glad he’s continuing forward in this journey!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos. A month ago this would have been unthinkable! So much has happened so quickly, I’m glad that some of those things are really good. Thank you Willy B.
The view from the top is breathtaking! It’s funny, when looking up from the boardwalk in your past photos, the top doesn’t seem that high but in these images, yikes. How high is the top level from the ground? But oh that view. What wondrous and exhilarating thoughts Willy must have up there. These days, since I never leave my house, I am living vicariously through Willy B and it’s thrilling. Thanks!
It’s ~14-16 feet off the ground. The perspective is a little weird because the chimp house is so high above the road. Still, almost two stories up is not nothing! I think we’re all living vicariously through Willy B right now!
Thanks JB for taking the photos in sequence…it was like being there and watching it in real time. Truly amazing at how fast Willy B has progressed in his bravery. I think I read that it could take even as long as a year.
That’s my boy keep up the good work!
What a brave fellow is Willy B! Having spent his entire life under a roof of one sort or another, all that empty space (aka, SKY) above him must feel very intimidating! Watching his trepidation these past weeks makes me feel even greater admiration for the CE 7’s courage as they first ventured onto Young’s Hill.
Have the 7 been able to observe Willy B’s little forays into his courtyard?
Bravo! What a view it is! Wondering if he is proud of himself? We’re all so proud of him!
When the three have an open door to the courtyard, do the 7 have access to Young’s Hill or are they open at separate times? I wonder how the 7 are reacting to Willy B’s new courage- do they watch from the windows?
The 7 do not have access to the hill when the three have access to the courtyard, but they do indeed watch from the windows of the playroom. Actually, Burrito has discovered this is a great time to play with caregivers who are monitoring the courtyard through the playroom windows – he’s been hilarious lately. Sometimes Jamie displays, but lately she’s been displaying towards the caregivers rather than in the direction of the three in the chute.