CSI: Chimp House
December 15, 2021 by Sofia -
One of the many reasons why chimpanzees should never be pets is their natural destructive behavior. On the daily basis we enter enclosures for cleaning and find destroyed toys, ripped blankets, broken night time enrichment, and on many occasions stuffed animals with severed limbs and stuffing coming out. This is why we follow rigorous rules that dictate the type enrichment and toys that each group is allowed to have. Ranging from choking hazards, to possible obstructions if ingested each item is checked by at least two caregivers before the item is placed inside an enclosure to ensure that the chimpanzees, as individuals and as groups will be safe. Every item that is placed inside is potentially going to be destroyed, and sometimes we encounter crime scenes that may never be solved. I mean we could, we can just watch security footage, but working around mysteries is more intriguing.
Case #1
First on the scene: Special Agent de Bree
Victim: Stuffed teddy bear
Cause of death: Severe stuffingloss by limb amputation and decapitation. Strangulation has not been ruled out.
Location: Greenhouse 1
Evidence collected: Plaid ribbon scarf
Case #2
First on the scene: Special Agent Castro-Loza
Victim: Stuffed tiger
Cause of death: Severe stuffingloss by amputation of left hind leg and tail.
Location: Front Room 3
Evidence collected: Unopened pumpkin seed
Number of suspects: 7
But three individuals matched our previous offense data base. Jamie, Annie, and Burrito are on the top of the suspect list pending investigation and forensic analysis.
Jamie de-stuffing a lion
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“One of the many reasons why chimpanzees should never be pets is their natural destructive behavior.” Point taken. And, yet, were the Seven Suspects alluded to in the afore-mentioned post enrolled in — or teachers of — some Postmodern Studies class at one of our finer Grievance Academies (Yale, Oberlin, Berkeley, et al), could not their work be defended if not lauded as Deconstruction of the Dominant Hierarchical Paradigm? As has long been observed and noted, Jamie (as demonstrated above) has a most inquiring intellect.
Tobin, I adore your philosophical approach! They also open up their regular enrichment choices to see what’s inside and we call it “enrichment”. Opening up a stuffed toy is possibly the same thing to them despite the nuisance/expense and inconvenience of cleaning and replacing the objects. Innards might just be really fun to explore esp if fluffy and soft and good for nesting materials. The clean-up must be very annoying at times, for sure!! Thanks, wonderful staff, for your patience and tolerance despite the frustrations!
Look no further. This is definitely the work of Foxie! she is a terror when it comes to protecting her “babies”from those dangerous stuffed animals! This observation is from personal experience!
For the bear, I got Foxie, too.
Oh my! Such “creative” displays of the internal workings of stuffed critters and objects. Is some of it curiosity about what makes the thing tick? Is some of it frustration & getting out aggressive behaviors that we’re glad they don’t foist on each other as much as they might? Is some of it showing each other how powerful they can be so adding to the social hierarchy/dominance, etc? Clearly, all of the caregivers who are so wonderfully trained in these things would know more than I do about some of the other underlying processes going on. We’re glad they don’t often tear each other from limb to limb except the occasional wound and that the dominance structure can exist in whatever form they choose among themselves. Whatever it all is, I love them for it because those qualities have helped them survive very hard things, including their own captivities over far too many years. I’m grateful the Doras usually still have legs so they can be carried in one’s teeth on treks outside. Anybody want to help me tear up my new winter blanket so it’ll be “just” right for nesting?
Very funny post, I’m looking forward to the Dateline version of this coming out .:wink:
Love this post… I suspect there will be no indictment as this is the nature of their inquisitiveness and it’s glorious to see.. in all it’s stuffingloss-ness!
I like Foxie for that utsin3 unstuffing, too.
But as for da Boss, and that lion….well, word on the street is the lion had it comin’, see?
Well done Sofia! I want see the video footage of the person who meticulously took apart Mr. Teddy Bear. Destructive, yes, but in a caring manner. For Case #2 I believe there are only 5 suspects. Negra and Burrito would never leave behind a single pumpkin seed, a pumpkin shell perhaps but never a seed.
Narrowing down the suspects by elimination, I like that!
I like Foxie for the ursine dismemberment, precisely because there’s no stuffing removed. It wasn’t about nesting material or seeing what makes it tick, it was about “this bear is a plushy. It must die.” That bear’s only crime was not being a friend of Dora….’cause if he’d been her friend, Dora would have warned him….
But the lion had it comin’.
Thanks, Sofía, this was fun!
Very clever post, Sofia.
I think the stuffing is the motivation. I have one dog that does this. He will do the same to any pillow he can get his fangs on. The stuffing will be spread over a wide aria. He also loves to move his blankets around to make a nest in the best spots for spying out the back door or for where people will walk when they come out in the mornings.
I think pulling things apart is more investigation than aggression.
As a retired English teacher, I have to commend your clever and witty evaluation of “crimes” committed!
Love reading your blog, especially since I have worked with some of the “critters” mentioned!
Made me laugh Sofia.!
My theory – maybe they think there is a yummy treat hidden inside
Unless!
Dr Missy was attempting an autopsy, and was interrupted…
Perhaps some of them are doing a home study course in stuffed toy anatomy and that was just the practical exam. Just a theory, I might be wrong as I don’t see the incoming mail.
Very funny. I don’t know how you all can keep coming up with amuzing blogs. So Clever. That first photo gave me a good laugh to start off another boring, lonely day. Thanks
The chimps always brighten my day, too Elaine!
False accusations! These cases are not destruction, they are forensic studies performed with surgical precision by a group of skilled professionals.
Love this post. So creative.