Annie and Missy never seem to tire of each other. Maybe it’s because they’re always thinking up new ways to play. This morning, during a lengthy play session, Annie decided to stand on Missy.
Archive for the ‘Play’ Category
Annie gets creative
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010New enrichment
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010Volunteers Amanda and Tennyson helped us build a new enrichment device for the chimps. The woven fire hose has pockets to stick browse in (browse includes leaves, branches and twigs – an important part of a chimp’s diet). Many thanks to Chimps Inc. and the Honolulu Zoo for the idea! Annie, Missy and Jody spent hours picking out the cattails, bamboo and fennel.
While we were installing the browse feeder, we also hung a few more fire hose swings near the new windows. As you can see, they created the perfect game for Missy.
Missy’s Birthday
Monday, August 23rd, 2010Today we celebrated Missy’s 35th Birthday. What a great day! We set the party up first thing this morning and scattered tons of gift bags of goodies from Dick and Robbi, and set up a forage of oranges, peaches, carrots, frozen cantaloupe, and “night bags” (or “breakfast bags”, if you will) of sunflower seeds, which were hidden inside the gift bags. The chimps loved the party and were in excellent moods for the duration of the day!
If you are friends with Missy or any of the Cle Elum Seven chimps on Facebook, you might have seen posts this morning about another birthday fundraiser. It’s not too late to participate- send us a $35 donation and I’ll email a special gift to you and a friend (be sure to put your friend’s email in the gift note section of the donation form). She’s celebrating with her friends, why don’t you celebrate with a friend as well?!
Missy:
Negra enjoying her “breakfast bag”:
Burrito and Foxie enjoying some frozen cantaloupe:
Jamie, in true spirit of a party:
Missy eating a carrot:
Here’s a peek at the party:
Keeping busy
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010This is what greeted me when I arrived at the chimp house this morning:
For at least ten minutes, her concentration was so acute that she couldn’t be distracted. Jamie is so busy these days that it’s almost impossible to imagine how she occupied her time during her decades in laboratories with nothing to play with or explore. What a different world this must be for her!
How to Nest by Jody and Missy
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Jody and Missy are master nest-builders. I managed to get some recent photos of them making midday nests.
Jody’s step one: stand in the middle of the nest and build it around you.
Jody’s step two: include both sheets and blue paper in the nest for full comfort
Jody’s step three: dive face first into the bed (this movement often accompanied by a “Jody happy noise”)
Jody’s step four: enjoy the comfort you’ve created
Missy’s step one: first see if someone will play with you if you put a blanket over your head
Missy’s step two: if no one takes the play bait, proceed with nest-making by placing blankets around you where you sit
Missy’s step three: unfold and place blankets carefully
Missy’s step four: do a headstand
Missy’s step four: roll into a comfortable position and enjoy
More benefits of the new windows
Saturday, August 7th, 2010Thanks to Karen and Don Young, LUSH Cosmetics, Anna Kircher and the blog readers, and everyone who donated during our 2nd Anniversary fundraising drive, we’ve been able to replace seven caged windows in the play room with clear, chimp-proof glass. In addition to flooding the playroom with light, there are some other benefits to these new windows:
Windows!
Thursday, August 5th, 2010Great news! Today we installed the last of the cageless playroom windows.
Here is a before shot of the garden side of the playroom:
And here is the after shot, with four caged windows replaced with chimp-proof glass:
Here is a before shot of the wall facing the chimpanzees’ outdoor area (these are the windows you’ll see in the video below, from the other side):
And here is the after shot, with three upstairs and one downstairs window replaced with chimp-proof glass:
This video was taken yesterday when the chimps were first given access to the outdoor area after the installation of the two upper left picture windows. The upper right window wasn’t quite finished, but it was the first time the chimps could sit in that windowsill because it was previously covered by a large polycarbonate panel on the outdoor area side. Everyone was visibly excited about the new additions and spent the remainder of the afternoon climbing in and out (and in and out) of the new windowsills.
To everyone who has given funds, time and energy, or kind words: We can’t thank you enough. You have given the chimps a brighter view!
To nest or to play?
Monday, July 26th, 2010Burrito and Missy have so much fun together! They played this particular game for nearly an hour this morning.
Foxie and Burrito laugh and laugh
Saturday, July 17th, 2010Burrito and Foxie had a lengthy laughter-filled play bout this morning while we cleaned the playroom. I’m not sure who was having more fun…
Thanks, Shelley Winfrey for the donation of the upgrade to our video software! It gave me an excuse to play today too.
CSNW Caregiver Exercise Program
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010Next to Missy, Burrito and Foxie are probably CSNW’s biggest goofs (chimp-wise, anyway) and balancing games of chase between the two of them can be quite a workout. I couldn’t ask for better personal trainers. :)
