Posts by Elizabeth
A Surprise for Foxie
Tomorrow is Foxie’s 38th birthday, and we’ll be throwing a big party to celebrate. We’re going to fill her day with the stuff that makes her happiest, including this impressive collection of new troll and Dora dolls: Foxie hasn’t seen the new dolls yet. We want them to be a surprise on her big day.…
Read MoreAnnie on Young’s Hill
Annie is looking so serene and confident out on Young’s Hill these days.
Read MoreJamie and Foxie wrestle
Last week we posted some photos of a silly play session between Foxie and Jamie. Here’s some video from that play session. Enjoy the play faces and breathy laughter!
Read MoreFoxie and Dora
Kicking back has never looked so cool.
Read MoreHappiness
Jamie and Foxie show us how it’s done.
Read MoreNew Horizons
Negra doesn’t spend as much time outside on Young’s Hill as the other chimpanzees. She seems to feel safer and more comfortable inside. And when she does go out, she doesn’t venture far. So we’re always excited to see Negra explore new territory on the hill. This morning we set up a breakfast forage outside,…
Read MoreBubble Fun
We’re in the middle of a heatwave in Cle Elum; temperatures have been reaching 100 degrees some afternoons. We’ve been filling the pool in the playroom with water each morning to help the chimpanzees stay cool. This morning I decided to add a tiny bit of soap, thinking Jamie might like to do some cleaning.…
Read MoreJamie’s in Love
When Jamie gets a new pair of boots, they become an object of obsession for awhile. She carries them everywhere, and if she’s separated from them, she grows anxious. She often incorporates favorite boots into her nests along with her blankets. This morning she took a nap in the front rooms and snuggled up with…
Read MoreFor the Love of Nesting
We talk a lot about transformations we’ve seen in the chimpanzees since they arrived at the sanctuary six years ago, both physical and behavioral. But one thing that hasn’t changed about Jody is her love of a good nest. From day one, Jody has made use of every last blanket we’ve provided to build big,…
Read MoreSerenity
Annie has come a long way since arriving at the sanctuary six years ago. Early on, Annie was nervous and on edge almost all of the time. She lacked confidence and didn’t interact much with the other chimpanzees (except for BFF Missy, of course) or with her caregivers. Fast forward six years and we have…
Read MoreMissy Makes a Nest
Nestmaking is one of my favorite chimpanzee behaviors to watch. Although each chimp has his or her own style, the basics are the same. A chimp will add one blanket at a time to the nest, arranging it so that it’s perfectly placed before continuing. Precision and focus are the name of the game. Typically,…
Read MoreAnnie and Missy Play
I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching these BFFs play.
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