Posts by Anna
Jamie and caregiver bonding time
There is nothing quite like sitting down with your chimpanzee friend for a long afternoon grooming session. Jamie loves to groom her caregivers through the caging using a carefully selected tool, but seems to equally enjoy a relaxing moment where her caregivers return the kindness.
Read MoreEarly morning excitement
The chimpanzees’ open-top outdoor enclosure always changes a bit overnight. We do a daily morning check to make sure nothing has dramatically changed (like a broken fence wire) or a stray animal who can’t quite find their way out, but there are inevitably little changes that occur each day. This morning the sanctuary was cool…
Read MoreFoxie’s Birthday Celebration!
Can you believe that Foxie has celebrated 11 birthdays in her sanctuary? Here’s to many many more! Thanks to everyone that helped make the day a special one!
Read MoreSanctuary nesting
In free-living situations, chimpanzees build night nests in the forest canopy. They make these platform-like nests out of branches and leaves. At the sanctuary, most of the chimps build nests out of the fresh clean blankets that caregivers set out for them each morning after we finish scrubbing and squeegeeing their enclosures. Our trusty washing…
Read MoreKeeping the fridge full!
Did you know that an easy way to support the chimpanzees’ health and happiness is to help us keep their fridge stocked? The chimps require a constant supply of fresh and diverse produce to keep them full and enriched! We get an amazing weekly donation of fresh fruit and veggies courtesy of Darwin’s Natural Pet…
Read MoreLazy Play
These warm summer days have generally been keeping the chimps in reclined positions. Jody and Foxie were calmly grooming and relaxing before lunch, but suddenly Foxie’s toes went rogue and started a mini-play session.
Read MoreSummer Negra
It might be just our imaginations, but we think we’ve seen a subtly more energetic Negra this summer! It seems like she’s spent more time outdoors, been more playful and shown more interest in different enrichment items recently. Don’t get me wrong, she still enjoys an extra amount of down time, but we are always…
Read MoreFire hose knots
We borrowed this enrichment idea from another sanctuary (thanks Project Chimps!) Caregivers put nuts in lengths of fire hose and tie off the ends. Each chimp has their own technique for solving the food puzzle, but recently Jamie has really honed her skills.
Read MoreEagle eyes
There are moments in every caregiver’s life when a chimpanzee is wildly gesturing for something that they want, but we simple minded humans just can’t decipher their communication. This afternoon Jamie spotted something on the ground that she needed me to give her. After several minutes of frustrated gesturing. I spotted this single tiny black…
Read MoreNot worth the risk
Missy and Jamie have tightrope walking skills that are unparalleled by any of the other chimps at the sanctuary. Some of the other chimps will use the horizontally stretched fire hose, but usually more like this: (Annie) Today Burrito tried his hand at the tightrope: But immediately thought better of it: His preference seems to…
Read MoreThe Fun Police
Jamie has some pretty simple rules for training her caregivers: If you want to interact with a chimpanzee, it’s got to be with her. Burrito and level 3 caregiver-in-training Chad, were enjoying a nice game of tug-o-war with a plastic tube when she saw them disobeying her law. The Boss is always right, so Chad…
Read MoreWhat’s in a wadge?
The chimpanzees all enjoy wadging fibrous materials in their bottom lips. When something is too tough or dry to eat, but has some flavor left in it, they make a chewed up ball by adding water and sucking out the juices through their teeth. It’s got to be pretty relaxing to finish a meal and…
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