Posts by J.B.
Imaginary Play
Chimpanzees have rich imaginary lives. Chimps who use American Sign Language have been observed signing to inanimate objects and engaging them as if they were live social partners. For example, a chimpanzee named Dar was once seen signing “tickle” to a stuffed bear that he was playing with. I personally recall (and will never, ever…
Read MoreWhy don’t they take him seriously?
Despite Burrito’s best efforts, the girls still don’t treat him as the alpha of the group. I wonder why…
Read MoreFall mornings
The chimps love these cool fall mornings. As soon as we’re done serving breakfast in the greenhouse, they pack up whatever they have left – in this case chow bags and pomegranate rinds – and head out to the hill take in the view.
Read MoreThe Tortoise and the Hare
The Tortoise and the Hare is a helpful allegory, but who wins in real life? The tortoise (Jamie) or the hare (Missy)?
Read MoreYour Inner Chimp
You’ve got a chimpanzee lurking inside of you. This might come as a surprise, I know. But you might as well embrace it because whether you like it or not, your inner chimp will always find a way to reveal himself. Under certain conditions, your sympathetic nervous system launches a cascade of seemingly useless hormonal…
Read MoreFamily
Despite all they’ve been through, or perhaps because of it, these seven chimpanzees have become a family. After decades of isolation and prolonged periods of fear and uncertainty, they have found someone to love, someone to trust, someone to comfort them in times of need. If we see ourselves in them, then perhaps it’s time…
Read MoreHappiness
Seeing Foxie take a moment to give her doll a hug before heading out for a walk on Young’s Hill. Watching Negra enjoy a moment of peace and quiet in the greenhouse while the others are outside. Seeing Burrito torn between playing with his caregiver and keeping an eye on lunch preparations.
Read MoreOnly the beginning
Today, the chimps watched from the greenhouse as heavy rainstorms passed through Cle Elum. Rain is a rare occurrence here in the summer and while it puts a damper on the chimps’ outdoor activities, they seemed to welcome its return as much as we did. They curled up next to one another in cozy nests,…
Read MoreSnake!
Anna and volunteer Becca got some great footage of the chimps going on the offensive against a snake yesterday. Don’t mess with Foxie!
Read MoreFriendship
Primatologist Robert Yerkes once said, “One chimpanzee is no chimpanzee.” Spend a single morning watching the Cle Elum Seven and you will know exactly what he meant.
Read MoreLearning to speak chimp
The thing that originally sparked my interest in chimpanzees was the fact that they could learn sign language. Ape language studies of the ’60s and ’70s not only helped bridge the gap between the complex languages of humans and the seemingly much simpler grunts, barks, and chirps of other animals, but they hinted at a…
Read MoreAdapting
People who have been incarcerated for long periods can have trouble adapting to life outside prison once they are released, a phenomenon we call institutionalization. Chimps are no different. For the Cle Elum Seven, life in the lab was horrible, but after as much as 35 years it made some kind of sense. The deprivation…
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