Posts by Elizabeth
Intrepid Explorers
It’s not the wilds of Africa, but Young’s Hill is looking pretty good this time of year. Even nervous Negra is exploring more than ever. Negra: Missy: Jody: Burrito, Missy, Annie, Jamie, and Foxie: Burrito, Foxie (with Dora), and Jamie: Annie: Foxie:
Read MoreUp Close and Personal
Grooming is a bonding experience for chimpanzees, and one reason is that it requires a lot of trust in one’s grooming partner. Chimps aren’t afraid to get quite personal with each other. The other day I caught Jamie very gently grooming Negra’s eyes and ears.
Read MoreBurrito
This guy seems to have an unending supply of boyish charm.
Read MoreDominance
Jamie reminds us multiple times a day who’s boss.
Read MoreOvercoming Fears
As a rule, Negra does not like to be touched by humans. For over three decades, Negra lived in a research laboratory where human touch was usually painful or scary. Sometimes she seeks out touch from her caregivers at the sanctuary by pressing her back against the caging for a little massage, only to panic…
Read MoreCuriously Sweet
Annie has changed in many ways since arriving at the sanctuary eight years ago. As the chimpanzee who occupies the lowest position in the hierarchy, Annie has plenty of reasons to be cautious. When she first moved here from the lab, she was anxious, shy, and prone to panic attacks. Nowadays, we see a much…
Read MoreFootloose and fancy-free
The skies are blue, the sun is shining, and Foxie doesn’t have a care in the world.
Read MoreThe Two Sides of Burrito
Burrito is not the most popular guy on the block. That may shock those of you who are human beings, because humans are completely unable to resist his many charms. But if you were a chimpanzee living with Burrito, he’d probably be a thorn in your side. Burrito is a unique (and completely endearing, says…
Read MoreNegra Ventures Out
Some people are known for being adventurous, curious, open to new experiences. Negra is not one of these people. Negra is an old lady who is stuck in her ways, and she loves her ways, thank you very much. Her ways include curling up with a pile of blankets and napping the day away. She…
Read MoreEaster Revisited
Yesterday, Keri shared some photos from the chimpanzees’ Easter party. We didn’t get a ton of video footage of the party, but I thought I’d share a few clips. Enjoy!
Read MoreThe Art of Grooming
Grooming is a standard activity here at the sanctuary. Usually, the chimpanzees groom one another. Some of the chimps enjoy being groomed by their caregivers. Jamie, though, likes to be the one doing the grooming. For safety reasons, the chimps don’t have the same level of physical access to their caregivers as they do to…
Read MoreJamie’s Weakness
Jamie does not exhibit vulnerability often. She is in complete command of herself and everyone else at all times, and what she sometimes lacks in confidence she makes up for in bluster. In her relationships with humans and other chimps, she rarely lets her guard down. But Jamie has one weakness: men. Men make Jamie…
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