Posts by J.B.
Encouragement
A few weeks ago, I posted about Willy B’s growing comfort on the Bray. Here’s a little update that shows him walking on grass with almost no hesitation at all. But of course his friends still know it’s not typical for him to spend so much time out there or to walk so far up…
Read MoreHuman Time
Chimp house mornings are quite busy. We begin by prepping meds and breakfast and putting together the day’s food puzzles, and then spend the next 4-5 hours cleaning enclosures. The chimps spend most of that time eating, playing, grooming, and occasionally squabbling with one another. When lunch is finally served, there is a bit of…
Read MoreLucky’s Birthday and Reaching New Heights
Today we celebrated the 32nd birthday of the one and only Lucky! Due to the seemingly unending rain here in Central Washington, we held the parties fully indoors, which meant that Lucky was out of view of the paparazzi for most of the corn, cherry tomato, and gum forage (yes, gum is one of Lucky’s…
Read MoreAlpha Male
Some dominant male chimpanzees maintain power through brute force and intimidation. But not all. Traits such as kindness, fairness, and tolerance are often overlooked in discussions about chimpanzee dominance hierarchies, yet they can also be effective as a means to achieve status. Cy is a good example of this. It’s true, he has been known…
Read MoreThe Grass Isn’t Lava Anymore
It seems like all of the Californians are making great strides these days. Honey B, Mave, and Dora have all been on the Bray multiple times (true, only to chase the boys but hey, you’ve got to start somewhere), Cy is exploring the very top of the hill, and now Willy B is learning that…
Read MoreKing of the Mountain
Fear is something we usually try to avoid instilling in the animals we care for. In fact, one of the original frameworks for thinking about animal welfare, known as the Five Freedoms, included as one of its central tenets the “freedom from fear and distress.” But a little fear can also be a good thing.…
Read MoreThe Chimps Aren’t Alright
In 2011, primatologists Lucy Birkett and Nicholas Newton-Fisher conducted a study that sought to shed light on a simple yet provocative question: How abnormal is the behavior of captive, zoo-living chimpanzees? I encourage you to read the paper but I’ll spare you the suspense: Very. Their treatment of the issue was only slightly more nuanced.…
Read MoreClaiming the Bray
When Jamie’s group first got access to Young’s Hill back in 2011, it was the first time any of them had stepped outdoors in decades. Young’s Hill quickly became a place to tentatively explore, to run, and even, at times, to play. But it would be a while before it truly became their own. Young’s…
Read MoreMave’s 34th Birthday Party
Mave and her family celebrated her 34th birthday today with a forage that included young coconuts. Initially, Mave did not get her own coconut but after some time foraging her best friend Dora placed an extra one by Mave’s side. Did she mean to offer it to Mave or did she simply not object when…
Read MorePlay All Day
If you hear laughter coming from the chimp house, chances are Burrito is involved. Also – we put out a lunch forage for Cy’s group this afternoon and Chad placed a whole tomato where only the bravest chimpanzee could find it. Look at Lucky go!
Read MoreGrooming with Terry
Chimpanzee grooming vocalizations fall into a few broad categories. Generally speaking, you’ve got your teeth clackers, your lip smackers, and your raspberry blowers. But within those categories, every chimp’s vocalization is unique. Some are quiet, with the lips just barely touching as if they are whispering. Others are quite loud – I can often hear…
Read MorePerimeter Patrol Parkour
While the caregivers were preparing breakfast, Burrito and his family set out on their first patrol of the day. Sometimes patrolling is serious business, like when there are strangers on the property or unusual animal noises coming from the hillside above. But most are a more laid back affair, with the object being to enjoy…
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