Posts by Elizabeth
Making Up
Burrito depends on Foxie quite a bit. Despite the fact that Foxie’s about half his size, she’s his friend, his security blanket, and his most loyal protector. She’s always there when he needs a hug. But everyone behaves a little unkindly to their friends from time to time. Yesterday, during a dominance display, Burrito thumped…
Read MoreCooling Off
It’s been a hot summer in Cle Elum, with heatwave after heatwave. Recently, volunteer caregiver Patti helped Jamie cool down.
Read MoreBouncing Back
Burrito’s been through a lot lately. In early June, he fractured a canine. The injury itself didn’t seem to phase him, but in order to prevent future pain and infection, we needed to extract the tooth. In late June, we performed an exam to do some blood work, check on his heart condition, and assess…
Read MorePositive Reinforcement Training
A few months ago, we began a positive reinforcement training (PRT) program with the chimpanzees. (Read JB’s thorough description in this blog post.) Our ultimate goal with this program is to give the chimps the opportunity to participate in their own medical care, and to make it a positive experience for them. By teaching them…
Read MoreJody adopts a friend for the day
Jamie and Foxie are well known for their longtime obsessions with boots and troll dolls, respectively. But occasionally one of the other chimps will develop a fleeting infatuation with a particular piece of enrichment. Today, Jody has not let this Dora the Explorer doll out of her sight. She was carrying it when I greeted…
Read MoreTaking in the view
When the weather is just right, Negra likes to make a nest in one particular corner of the upper platform in the greenhouse. After breakfast when the other chimpanzees head out onto Young’s Hill, Negra grabs an armful of blankets and climbs up to her spot. Sometimes she sleeps, and sometimes she just lies there…
Read MoreMaking Friends
New staff caregiver Anna is busy making friends with the chimpanzees. Some of the chimps warm up to new people right away, and others take their time. It’s a piece of cake to win over Burrito; he just wants someone who will play with him 24/7.
Read MoreThe Watchdog
As the alpha, Jamie has a lot of responsibility. It’s her job to make sure all the chimps and humans at the sanctuary are following her rules. Anyone who’s ever worked in management knows that this isn’t always the most enviable position. But Jamie is diligent and dedicated to the task. She is a great…
Read MoreA New Friend for Burrito
This morning, new staff caregiver Anna showed up at the chimp house with a giant stuffed gorilla for the chimpanzees. Stuffed animals have a sad history at the sanctuary; the chimps tend to either ignore them or tear them limb from limb. Stuffed animals that resemble apes or monkeys, in particular, don’t often live long…
Read MoreLazy Days
After lunch is the laziest time of the day here at the sanctuary. The chimpanzees have a few hours between lunch and dinner, and they usually spend it in quiet pursuits like grooming, nesting, and napping. This afternoon we set up a lunch forage on Young’s Hill, and after all that activity and excitement, Jody…
Read MoreMan vs. Boy
Burrito is a completely charming combination of man and boy. At times he is a typical male chimpanzee: blustery, macho, a whirling dervish. And at others he’s all little boy: sweet and playful and full of laughter. Man: Boy:
Read MoreJamie at Rest
It is nearly impossible to satisfy Jamie. She has a mind that never sleeps; it needs constant stimulation. She demands a lot of her caregivers. When she’s bored – and captive chimpanzees are always in danger of boredom – she turns to us to entertain her. Most of the time, we are able to figure…
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