Posts by Anna
Enriching Jamie Chimpanzee
Of all the residents at CSNW, Jamie is the most interested in participating in human activities. We’ve seen her shovel snow and use tools, along with many other human oriented projects. Our strict guidelines for enrichment mean we can’t give her absolutely everything she desires (can you imagine Jamie wielding a real power tool?!). But…
Read MoreDrinks from the hose
Despite the fact that they have access to their own personal water sources 24 hours a day, the chimpanzees seem to really enjoy drinking out of the hose. Caregivers are always happy to oblige.
Read MoreOne of those days
Today is one of those days where we are so far off our daily routine and the blog comes in between a myriad of other sanctuary management tasks that we (but mostly J.B.) have to accomplish. We joked that we needed to come up with a technical difficulties graphic to post, but despite today’s craziness,…
Read MoreOff the beaten path
When I was a kid, I walked to the school bus down our half mile driveway every morning, rain, snow, or shine. Yes, I realize this sounds like your grandparent’s story of how they had to walk to school uphill both ways in a blizzard, but my story is true! During this time of year,…
Read MorePILO!
Have you ever noticed a photo of the chimpanzees looking larger and “fluffier” than normal? Having hair that is pilo erect means that it involuntarily stands on end due to excitement, fear, or cold. Humans become pilo when we get goosebumps, and since we have less hair, it’s less obvious. Another example of piloerection is…
Read MoreSunny Spirits
This morning as we shoveled a pathway to one of the platforms on Young’s Hill, I could tell it was going to be well worth the effort. The sun was so warm and comforting that I knew there would be chimpanzees out on the hill the moment I gave them access to it. There is…
Read MoreJamie’s Display
Generally, a chimpanzee’s display involves pant hooting vocalizations, pilo erect hair (hair that stands on end), and it builds up to a dramatic finish. Each chimp seems to have their own preferred method or technique when they display. Burrito often claps his hands as he runs around the enclosure. Jamie usually has a plastic barrel…
Read MoreHappy New Year!
The chimpanzees have spent the last two meals welcoming 2016 in the only way we know how, with back to back forage parties! Last night they had a black and white themed forage complete with a sparkling pear cider “champagne” toast and today we broke out another bottle of cider and the chimpanzees had a…
Read MoreCloseup Activities!
In the last couple of weeks caregivers have been busy trying to come up a few additional enrichment activities to help beat off the inevitable extra boredom that comes with a snow filled late December. Yesterday, in addition to extra shoveling on the hill, Katelyn and I set up a special lunch forage in the…
Read MoreTake-out or Dine in?
Lunch time is usually a pretty peaceful affair for the chimpanzees. The morning cleaning has just finished and the chimps get to enjoy their meal in any part of their enclosure that they wish. Usually, most of the chimpanzees will linger in the area that we serve the meal so they don’t miss any of…
Read MoreBurrito’s guide to communicating with humans that don’t understand!
Ok so first a little bit of background for my story… Every morning we usually start the daily cleaning by closing off the part of the chimpanzees’ enclosure we call the greenhouse. To do this we usually have a trained caregiver serve a little snack in the front rooms to make sure everyone is out…
Read MoreDigging out
Yesterday we got about 6 more inches of snow at the sanctuary and staff and volunteers spent the day battling the weather with car chains, snow shovels and the tractor. Today was one of those beautiful winter days where the sun and blue sky makes the new fallen snow blindingly white. The weather has warmed…
Read More