Posts by J.B.
Dora’s Check-Up
Dora made her first appearance in the veterinary clinic last week for a routine physical exam. Like Rayne, she willingly took the anesthetic injection (this time from Sabrina and Dr. Erin, with a prior assist from the entire positive reinforcement training team). While we have to wait for specialists to review some of the data…
Read MoreRayne’s Exam
Rayne took a trip into our veterinary clinic recently for a physical exam. Take a look at what goes into making such a trip possible. Some of Rayne’s diagnostic results are pending review by specialists, but she appears to be in very good health! If you’re new to this blog, here’s a primer on the…
Read MoreLate Winter on the Hill and A Day in the Clinic
The weather has been beautiful lately and the chimps have been taking full advantage of this false spring before the inevitable second winter strikes back. Enjoy a few scenes from The Bray and Young’s Hill from the past couple of days. I also want to share with you that yesterday, Honey B took what we…
Read MoreFront Room Fun
At CSNW, the chimps typically have the freedom to be in whichever space they choose, so long as we aren’t cleaning it. And while their favorite places are the large playrooms and greenhouses or, for some, the multi-acre outdoor habitats, they tend to have the most fun together when they congregate in the smaller indoor…
Read MoreItching to Go
Chimpanzee gestures often have multiple meanings depending on the context. One gesture, known as exaggerated self-scratching or the Big Loud Scratch, can be either a request for grooming or a way to initiate group travel. Missy, having finished her breakfast, was eager to take a walk up the hill and was seeking traveling companions. But…
Read MoreSurrounded by Liars
Next time you wander around the woods, take a moment to appreciate the fact that you are surrounded by liars. The natural world is filled with examples of deception: Opossums that play dead when cornered. Butterflies that mimic a predator’s gaze. Bugs that look like sticks. Flowers that look like bugs. Bugs that look like…
Read MoreAsk Jamie: Can I Hold a Chimpanzee?
And now for another installment of…Ask Jamie.
Read MoreCy’s Ultrasound
Cy’s last exam showed some testicular edema, which is not uncommon in chimpanzees like Cy with congestive heart disease. His veterinary team and caregivers began training him so that we could gather diagnostic images using ultrasound and share them with specialists. This will help us monitor the amount of fluid around his testicles more frequently…
Read MoreTwo Awkward Guys
As Diana mentioned, we swapped Gordo and Terry in the reintro group yesterday to try to get a better idea of what might trigger Willy B’s antisocial behavior. The reunion between Terry and Honey B was easy – after a brief, half-hearted display, Terry approached the mesh and the two began to play, at which…
Read MoreHow to Handle a Bully
I thought it would be a good time for another quick update on our reintroduction process (see an initial overview here, and a previous update here). Actually, there’s not much in the way of news to report. We are still holding steady with Gordo and Honey B in one group and everyone else in the…
Read MoreBargaining
Two things I know about chimps: 1. Whatever it is, they will find a way to break it. 2. If you want something from them, they will give it to you…for a price. Ellen has been coming up with some really cool food puzzles lately. One, named the hanging holey lid, involves a 5-gallon bucket…
Read MoreBurrito Turns 42!
It’s hard to believe, but this young-at-heart chimpanzee is now 42 years old. Many thanks to Paulette for sponsoring this day in honor of her Pal!
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