Last week I worked on Friday the 15th from 8 am til 10 am.
I am just now getting around to posting because my computer is broken, and I have been swamped. Dr. Yanoviak cancelled class again so I got to spend extra time at the zoo, which was nice. I made the fire hoses stuffed with alfalfa again, but instead of cereal the apes got dried cranberries and raisins. I'm sure they enjoyed that a lot!
Mikey and Louie are adjusting great. Ann said that they are wanting to install a rubber "doggy door" type window so that if they and the other chimps decide to they can lift it and interact through the bars. This will be good, as they are going to need to be integrated soon. Sadly we will need to cut down on our interaction with Mikey and Louie as they prefer to interact with us and will ignore the other chimps if given a choice. Obviously, this will not help their social standing.
I wanted to watch the Orangutans this time, but they grabbed their hose and wandered around the corner out of sight. I did watch the aftermath of the chimps, and saw Chance trying to find the last morsels of fruit in a hose that someone else had already processed. I also saw Mosi with a hose, and he has improved his dexterity a lot. Before he would just play with the hose, but now he is starting to shake it and pull the alfalfa out. Of course, he still put it on his head at one point. So silly!
I am going to try and go tomorrow morning before Archaeology. I have to work tonight so I'll see how I feel when I get up. If I can 't go tomorrow I will have to put it off until this weekend or next week, which is Thanksgiving. This semester is flying by.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
And Finally, I Can Return...
I worked at the zoo from 10:15 to 11:15 (a.m. of course) on Friday (11/07/08)
I made treat bags for use the next day. I just mixed some of the forage (consisting of popcorn, sunflower seeds, monkey chow, cereal pieces) with some raisins and crushed up vanilla wafers. Then I put about a handful in a paper lunch sack, rolled up the sack, and wrapped masking tape around it. They were put out the next day, so I didn't get to see the apes process them.
So I got to meet the new male chimpanzees, Mikey and Louie. Mikey is a "teenager" (between 8 and 12 I think) and Louie is about 5 years old. Mikey was someone's pet, and Louie was acquired by his owner to keep him company. As they were both hand raised (and treated extremely well, like her own children) they are much different from the other chimps. Mahale was hand raised, but she was never someone's pet, living in a house. For one thing, I can actually touch Mikey and Louie (but ONLY in the presence of a keeper). You have to be careful of Mikey since he is at an age where he is testing his limits and may try to grab, but overall he is very sweet. Louie, who seems kind of small to me (Chance is only a year older and seems nearly twice as big) likes me. He was very interactive, and Ann said he had been kind of subdued. He kept reaching out to me (in imitation of Mikey, but Ann said he wasn't doing that before) and was handing a piece of chalk back and forth to me. He is so sweet. They are both really pale, since they have lived inside. They have been outside for a few hours at a time, but mostly they are inside and thier skin hasn't had a chance to darken. Louie is so young his wouldn't be very dark anyway. They both like to play chase, where basically you run back in forth in front of thier cage. Mikey likes to stick his hands underneath the cage and have you step on his fingers! He thinks its pretty funny. He is also getting to where he displays. He kept dragging a white plastic barrel around, and throwing it. He also likes to shake hands or to see other people hold hands. He kept telling me and Ann to hold hands, it was funny.
As they were house raised, they haven't been put out in the yard or with the other chimps at all. Ann said they seem kind of scared of the other chimps. Hopefully they will all get used to each other. Another interesting thing is that Mikey has a symbol for "bottle". He hits his knuckles together. Ann said they are too old for bottles but thier owner probably felt so guilty about having to restrain them more that she would give them treats.
They are definately different from the other chimps. Its pretty sad that they went from being in a home with a "mom" they had known for a long time to a zoo. They are well cared for in a zoo, but what a rough upheaval it must have been. This is yet another instance of why no one should ever get a chimp for a pet (or any other ape for that matter). NEVER GET A CHIMP FOR A PET. They grow up, and become dangerous to you and themselves, and become completely unmanagable. I am very happy to get to see and interact with these two guys, but it is sad what they (and thier owner) had to go through just because she wanted a chimp for a pet.
When I walked into the enclosure, I looked around for JJ, because he will usually grunt or move around or something when I come in. I didn't see him, so thought that maybe he had decided to go out with the family that day. Later that morning when Ann said she was going to let Brutus out, I asked where JJ was. She turned around and said "JJ died". I was so sad, I felt like my heart was breaking. I said with tears in my eyes "What?" She said he had died Sunday morning, and it had been in the paper and on the news, and Dr. Hartmann had even known. She was sorry she didn't email me, but she thought I would know from one of these sources.
I don't read the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and rarely watch the news, and I was in Houston all weekend. At first I was angry that Dr. Hartmann hadn't mentioned it, but then remembered that I had missed class on Tuesday and he had canceled class on Thursday, so I hadn't seen him all week. When I think about it though, it was probably better that I cried in the privacy of the Great Ape enclosure in front of Ann rather than during Theory of Anthropology in front of all my classmates.
As I think I have mentioned before, JJ (which stands for Jungle Jack) had a heart condition in which he only had 10% use of his heart. Ann said that Daphne had fed him breakfast on Sunday morning, and he had even gotten a treat (pie filling) in which his heart medicine was hidden. She went to clean an enclosure and when she came back she found him lying on the floor. It appeared he had a heart attack or heart failure and just fell sideways while sitting down. He had even finished his breakfast, so at least he got that one last bit of enjoyment. It appears it was very sudden, as there is no sign of struggle, so it was definately best that way. Ann said they were all shocked, because they had expected some sign, even a hint of decline before this happened. They knew that although he was 21, he was on borrowed time and was not likely to live a very long life. I was quite sad, he was a beautiful guy. I never got any picture of his beautiful face, and never really got to know him. He was the first guy I would see in the morning, and the last one I saw when I left. I will really miss him.
I made treat bags for use the next day. I just mixed some of the forage (consisting of popcorn, sunflower seeds, monkey chow, cereal pieces) with some raisins and crushed up vanilla wafers. Then I put about a handful in a paper lunch sack, rolled up the sack, and wrapped masking tape around it. They were put out the next day, so I didn't get to see the apes process them.
So I got to meet the new male chimpanzees, Mikey and Louie. Mikey is a "teenager" (between 8 and 12 I think) and Louie is about 5 years old. Mikey was someone's pet, and Louie was acquired by his owner to keep him company. As they were both hand raised (and treated extremely well, like her own children) they are much different from the other chimps. Mahale was hand raised, but she was never someone's pet, living in a house. For one thing, I can actually touch Mikey and Louie (but ONLY in the presence of a keeper). You have to be careful of Mikey since he is at an age where he is testing his limits and may try to grab, but overall he is very sweet. Louie, who seems kind of small to me (Chance is only a year older and seems nearly twice as big) likes me. He was very interactive, and Ann said he had been kind of subdued. He kept reaching out to me (in imitation of Mikey, but Ann said he wasn't doing that before) and was handing a piece of chalk back and forth to me. He is so sweet. They are both really pale, since they have lived inside. They have been outside for a few hours at a time, but mostly they are inside and thier skin hasn't had a chance to darken. Louie is so young his wouldn't be very dark anyway. They both like to play chase, where basically you run back in forth in front of thier cage. Mikey likes to stick his hands underneath the cage and have you step on his fingers! He thinks its pretty funny. He is also getting to where he displays. He kept dragging a white plastic barrel around, and throwing it. He also likes to shake hands or to see other people hold hands. He kept telling me and Ann to hold hands, it was funny.
As they were house raised, they haven't been put out in the yard or with the other chimps at all. Ann said they seem kind of scared of the other chimps. Hopefully they will all get used to each other. Another interesting thing is that Mikey has a symbol for "bottle". He hits his knuckles together. Ann said they are too old for bottles but thier owner probably felt so guilty about having to restrain them more that she would give them treats.
They are definately different from the other chimps. Its pretty sad that they went from being in a home with a "mom" they had known for a long time to a zoo. They are well cared for in a zoo, but what a rough upheaval it must have been. This is yet another instance of why no one should ever get a chimp for a pet (or any other ape for that matter). NEVER GET A CHIMP FOR A PET. They grow up, and become dangerous to you and themselves, and become completely unmanagable. I am very happy to get to see and interact with these two guys, but it is sad what they (and thier owner) had to go through just because she wanted a chimp for a pet.
When I walked into the enclosure, I looked around for JJ, because he will usually grunt or move around or something when I come in. I didn't see him, so thought that maybe he had decided to go out with the family that day. Later that morning when Ann said she was going to let Brutus out, I asked where JJ was. She turned around and said "JJ died". I was so sad, I felt like my heart was breaking. I said with tears in my eyes "What?" She said he had died Sunday morning, and it had been in the paper and on the news, and Dr. Hartmann had even known. She was sorry she didn't email me, but she thought I would know from one of these sources.
I don't read the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and rarely watch the news, and I was in Houston all weekend. At first I was angry that Dr. Hartmann hadn't mentioned it, but then remembered that I had missed class on Tuesday and he had canceled class on Thursday, so I hadn't seen him all week. When I think about it though, it was probably better that I cried in the privacy of the Great Ape enclosure in front of Ann rather than during Theory of Anthropology in front of all my classmates.
As I think I have mentioned before, JJ (which stands for Jungle Jack) had a heart condition in which he only had 10% use of his heart. Ann said that Daphne had fed him breakfast on Sunday morning, and he had even gotten a treat (pie filling) in which his heart medicine was hidden. She went to clean an enclosure and when she came back she found him lying on the floor. It appeared he had a heart attack or heart failure and just fell sideways while sitting down. He had even finished his breakfast, so at least he got that one last bit of enjoyment. It appears it was very sudden, as there is no sign of struggle, so it was definately best that way. Ann said they were all shocked, because they had expected some sign, even a hint of decline before this happened. They knew that although he was 21, he was on borrowed time and was not likely to live a very long life. I was quite sad, he was a beautiful guy. I never got any picture of his beautiful face, and never really got to know him. He was the first guy I would see in the morning, and the last one I saw when I left. I will really miss him.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, October 17
Finally, I post for Friday. I had a great time, I feel like I have hit some sort of stride. I didn't get any pictures, but thats okay.
Today I did Juice Bottles. Basically, I would use the fruit juice from the cans of fruit they put in the apes' breakfast. I put about 2 tablespoons in a water (or large juice) bottle. Then, I would put about twice as much water in the bottle to dilute the juice. We don't bother putting the bottle lids on, as it doesn't much change the time it takes for the apes to process the enrichment.
So anyway, I just put the bottles out, about 2 per individual. It was so cute to watch them drinking their juice. Mosi didn't do as well, he got a bottle and just slung the juice everywhere. I didn't see the orangutans use theirs, I need to remember to try and watch them next time.
I am pretty sad though, there are some changes coming in the great ape program, there will be a couple of new guys coming. I am not supposed to broadcast the changes just yet so they can have time to adjust to their new lives, but I will write more about that later. So anyway, they are suspending the program for a couple of weeks, probably around a month. As soon as it resumes, I will be glad to meet the new guys when I can come back.
Ironically, I got my pass card/id card today! And now I can't use it for another month. Pretty funny.
I really like talking to Ann. I feel that she really really cares about the apes and is very thoughtful about their situation. Not that the other keepers don't, but I find it very easy and interesting to talk to her about the apes. She was telling me that she was glad I liked the program so much, so I came out and told her how I was feeling after the second and third time I came. I wasn't dealing well with the apes captivity, and how to deal with them as more than just organisms, but individuals. Almost people. I told her that I had moved past it, but it was so hard that I wanted to quit. She told me that it was something she went through every couple of years. I was so glad she told me that, I felt that she really understood where I was coming from. A piece of wisdom that she told me was that even if you aren't there, they still are. Essentially, if you are bothered by the fact that the apes are in captivity, just because you avoid the fact doesn't they are closer to being free. I agree. I hope that I, and anyone else who works with the apes, can just make life better for them. The enrichment activities gives them something to look forward to, something to break up the monotony of life in captivity. And the truth is, none of these guys would last long on their own in the wild. Beautiful neurotic JJ would have to suffer for his heart condition, and probably wouldn't last long with the stress of life in the wild. Laid back, sweetheart Fossey probably wouldn't be able to have his harem and his little son Mosi. Mahale would still be Miss Priss, but she wouldn't get her way near as much in the wild. Chiquita, who doesn't like to go outside, would be out all the time! Of course, all of these guys would probably have different personalities if they were born and raised in the wild. But with the zoo, I hope that some little boy or girl will come to the zoo and watch Mosi, and really care for the gorillas. Or someone who looks at Chiquita or Rok and wants to know more about how the wild orangs live may someday lead the movement to save the orangutans left in the wild. Or someone may see the little comedian Chance, and want to know how he can be so similar to any 6 year old human. Its important for people to empathize with these guys, and therefore it is important to have zoos. And as I was telling Ann, although I am loathe to say it, there may not be any great apes left in the wild in my lifetime. That would truly be a tragedy, but we are moving towards that. Ann made a good point when she said to me that even the great apes in the wild are essentially living in a cage. Their habitat is forever being encroaching upon, and their homes shrinking is similar to a shrinking cage. Populations are being isolated, less resources are available to the groups existing now.
Sorry to leave on such a serious note. Soon I hope to have news of the new arrivals, as well as updates on enrichment. The whole idea, in my head, is to preserve our closest cousins in the animal kingdom. They are so important to us, for so many reasons.
Today I did Juice Bottles. Basically, I would use the fruit juice from the cans of fruit they put in the apes' breakfast. I put about 2 tablespoons in a water (or large juice) bottle. Then, I would put about twice as much water in the bottle to dilute the juice. We don't bother putting the bottle lids on, as it doesn't much change the time it takes for the apes to process the enrichment.
So anyway, I just put the bottles out, about 2 per individual. It was so cute to watch them drinking their juice. Mosi didn't do as well, he got a bottle and just slung the juice everywhere. I didn't see the orangutans use theirs, I need to remember to try and watch them next time.
I am pretty sad though, there are some changes coming in the great ape program, there will be a couple of new guys coming. I am not supposed to broadcast the changes just yet so they can have time to adjust to their new lives, but I will write more about that later. So anyway, they are suspending the program for a couple of weeks, probably around a month. As soon as it resumes, I will be glad to meet the new guys when I can come back.
Ironically, I got my pass card/id card today! And now I can't use it for another month. Pretty funny.
I really like talking to Ann. I feel that she really really cares about the apes and is very thoughtful about their situation. Not that the other keepers don't, but I find it very easy and interesting to talk to her about the apes. She was telling me that she was glad I liked the program so much, so I came out and told her how I was feeling after the second and third time I came. I wasn't dealing well with the apes captivity, and how to deal with them as more than just organisms, but individuals. Almost people. I told her that I had moved past it, but it was so hard that I wanted to quit. She told me that it was something she went through every couple of years. I was so glad she told me that, I felt that she really understood where I was coming from. A piece of wisdom that she told me was that even if you aren't there, they still are. Essentially, if you are bothered by the fact that the apes are in captivity, just because you avoid the fact doesn't they are closer to being free. I agree. I hope that I, and anyone else who works with the apes, can just make life better for them. The enrichment activities gives them something to look forward to, something to break up the monotony of life in captivity. And the truth is, none of these guys would last long on their own in the wild. Beautiful neurotic JJ would have to suffer for his heart condition, and probably wouldn't last long with the stress of life in the wild. Laid back, sweetheart Fossey probably wouldn't be able to have his harem and his little son Mosi. Mahale would still be Miss Priss, but she wouldn't get her way near as much in the wild. Chiquita, who doesn't like to go outside, would be out all the time! Of course, all of these guys would probably have different personalities if they were born and raised in the wild. But with the zoo, I hope that some little boy or girl will come to the zoo and watch Mosi, and really care for the gorillas. Or someone who looks at Chiquita or Rok and wants to know more about how the wild orangs live may someday lead the movement to save the orangutans left in the wild. Or someone may see the little comedian Chance, and want to know how he can be so similar to any 6 year old human. Its important for people to empathize with these guys, and therefore it is important to have zoos. And as I was telling Ann, although I am loathe to say it, there may not be any great apes left in the wild in my lifetime. That would truly be a tragedy, but we are moving towards that. Ann made a good point when she said to me that even the great apes in the wild are essentially living in a cage. Their habitat is forever being encroaching upon, and their homes shrinking is similar to a shrinking cage. Populations are being isolated, less resources are available to the groups existing now.
Sorry to leave on such a serious note. Soon I hope to have news of the new arrivals, as well as updates on enrichment. The whole idea, in my head, is to preserve our closest cousins in the animal kingdom. They are so important to us, for so many reasons.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Went last Friday, and Today
But I will just write about last Friday for today. Today will be posted tomorrow. You get it.
Here is Mosi and his mom eating some of the forage, which includes popcorn. This is the only picture I have of Mosi, I need to take another picture of him on the inside of the building, so you can see his sweet little face. Today was the day before his 2nd birthday! The next day the zoo had a "birthday party" in which people could come and eat a cake donated by a bakery. Even the gorillas got a treat, Ann told me they were given some gorilla-friendly muffins. You could even bring Mosi a birthday present, such as juice. It was so sweet. 
So the enrichment for today was fire hoses, stuffed with alfafa and cereal. Actually, the Enrichment for today was "nothing", but since the next day would be super busy with Mosi's birthday, I did the next day's enrichment instead. Its good for them to have "nothing" days as well as enrichment days, because the point is to break up the monotony.
Therefore, no enrichment every couple of weeks is a change! Ann also gathered some forage for them, so you can see the gorillas with the forage. Its basically cut bamboo from near the chimp yard, behind the lemur enclosure. The picture to the left is Catherine and Sekani (Mosi's mom) getting forage and the cereal from the fire hose. 
October 10, 2008
8 am to 9:30 am
Today Jeff Wright came and took pictures. So finally, pictures! Please do not use the pictures without permission, email me if you need it. They are his pictures and I am using them with his permission. Here are some pictures of me doing the enrichment. On one I am walking back to 
the staging area where the enrichment stuff is kept. In the other I am showing Jeff the schedule on which every day's activities are recorded. This ensures that the primates aren't given the same enrichment day after day. Unfortunately, Jeff didn't seem to take any pictures of the silverbacks. I will have to take pictures of JJ, Fossey, and Brutus. They are magnificent, I don't know how he neglected to get pictures of them, they must have been out of sight. I know that he started to take a picture of JJ, but the poor guy was nervous and grinding his teeth so Jeff just left him alone.
the staging area where the enrichment stuff is kept. In the other I am showing Jeff the schedule on which every day's activities are recorded. This ensures that the primates aren't given the same enrichment day after day. Unfortunately, Jeff didn't seem to take any pictures of the silverbacks. I will have to take pictures of JJ, Fossey, and Brutus. They are magnificent, I don't know how he neglected to get pictures of them, they must have been out of sight. I know that he started to take a picture of JJ, but the poor guy was nervous and grinding his teeth so Jeff just left him alone. Here is Mosi and his mom eating some of the forage, which includes popcorn. This is the only picture I have of Mosi, I need to take another picture of him on the inside of the building, so you can see his sweet little face. Today was the day before his 2nd birthday! The next day the zoo had a "birthday party" in which people could come and eat a cake donated by a bakery. Even the gorillas got a treat, Ann told me they were given some gorilla-friendly muffins. You could even bring Mosi a birthday present, such as juice. It was so sweet. 
So the enrichment for today was fire hoses, stuffed with alfafa and cereal. Actually, the Enrichment for today was "nothing", but since the next day would be super busy with Mosi's birthday, I did the next day's enrichment instead. Its good for them to have "nothing" days as well as enrichment days, because the point is to break up the monotony.
Therefore, no enrichment every couple of weeks is a change! Ann also gathered some forage for them, so you can see the gorillas with the forage. Its basically cut bamboo from near the chimp yard, behind the lemur enclosure. The picture to the left is Catherine and Sekani (Mosi's mom) getting forage and the cereal from the fire hose. 
Here is Catherine when she first came out, inspecting the fire hose. I liked this enrichment activity in particular. Basically, strips of old fire hose have been donated by the fire department. They are cut into strips between 1 and 2 feet long. When they are constructed, you have to make sure they are shaken out because they are kept in piles, and we don't want the apes being bit by spiders. Some alfalfa is stuffed in, then a little cereal is thrown in, then more alfalfa. It was great to see the apes processing them. The gorillas mostly pulled the alfalfa out themselves. The chimps, however, just picked up one end and shook them. Some of the chimps were as meticulous of the gorillas. 
I didn't really get to see the orangutans process the enrichment, but I have pictures of Chiquita with cereal in her mouth! The chimps and orangutans got a cereal that looks a lot like Cheerios. The gorillas, with their special diets, got a different cereal. It was something with whole grain flakes and dehydrated strawberries. 
It looked pretty good! Here is old Trudy, eating her forage. I don't see her and Brutus much, they are in the more overgrown area and I almost never see them as a visitor. Brutus is a very young male, and I think Trudy is the 3rd oldest gorilla in the United States. She is always very sweet to me, and the first time I ever talked to her she was laying on her back holding her feet, just looking at me.
Here are the chimpanzees with their enrichment. They were funny to watch. Chance, ever the antagonist, was chasing Judy around with a hose, and actually threw it at her at one point. He is a mischievious guy. This is Chance with his hose, before he started tearing around after Judy. I wish we had gotten pictures of that!
Sometimes Mahale is a spoiled brat, and doesn't want to go out with the others. Today she ran out as fast as she could, grabbed her enrichment materials and some forage, and ran back in. So while she was in there, I talked with her and Jeff took pictures.
Isn't she beautiful? She has so much intelligence in her eyes. I tried to get her to play tug of war with a blanket with me, but she just looked at me like I was an idiot. However, she seemed to really like Jeff. Ann said that she likes guys. You could tell! She was so relaxed she was letting her lip hang. She is so cute.
Isn't she beautiful? She has so much intelligence in her eyes. I tried to get her to play tug of war with a blanket with me, but she just looked at me like I was an idiot. However, she seemed to really like Jeff. Ann said that she likes guys. You could tell! She was so relaxed she was letting her lip hang. She is so cute.
Ann was talking to her at one point, rubbing her lip. Mahale opened her mouth and showed her teeth and Ann explained to us that she was trained so they could check her teeth and ears, as well as administer shots. Ann asked for her to show her teeth and she did, and asked to see her ear, which you can see she did in the photo. She asked for Mahale's arm, and Mahale turned and pressed her arm to the bars. Such a smart girl! 
Its probably a very good thing that it is so easy to do checkups on her, its much easier on everyone than having to sedate. Sedation, while not really too dangerous, is just stressful for everyone involved and saved for necessity. Of course, there is the added bonus that she got a piece of monkey chow from Ann for showing us that she knew what "arm" "ear" and "teeth" means!
Its probably a very good thing that it is so easy to do checkups on her, its much easier on everyone than having to sedate. Sedation, while not really too dangerous, is just stressful for everyone involved and saved for necessity. Of course, there is the added bonus that she got a piece of monkey chow from Ann for showing us that she knew what "arm" "ear" and "teeth" means!Last but not least is the orangutans. Jeff got a couple of pictures of them, this is one of my favorite overall. You can see Chiquita's success with the enrichment activity, apparently she had no problems. Look at the cereal in her mouth! 
Jeff got a picture of both of them. I am pretty excited about it, since it shows their sexual dimorphism. Rok is obviously the huge guy! Rok is sitting over one of the fire hoses. A little in front of them you can see one of their sheets. There is one beside Chiquita as well, in the picture to the left. Apparently, Orangutans love fabric. The gorillas and chimps like fabric too, but if you put it out daily they quickly tire of it and start to ignore it. The Orangs, however, will use it every day. They mostly either drag it around or wrap up in it. I see Chiquita put it over her head sometimes. Ann postulated that it may have something to do with the fact that in the wild Orangs will use large leaves to shade themselves, and have been seen holding large leaves and dragging them around. Who knows. 
Jeff got a picture of both of them. I am pretty excited about it, since it shows their sexual dimorphism. Rok is obviously the huge guy! Rok is sitting over one of the fire hoses. A little in front of them you can see one of their sheets. There is one beside Chiquita as well, in the picture to the left. Apparently, Orangutans love fabric. The gorillas and chimps like fabric too, but if you put it out daily they quickly tire of it and start to ignore it. The Orangs, however, will use it every day. They mostly either drag it around or wrap up in it. I see Chiquita put it over her head sometimes. Ann postulated that it may have something to do with the fact that in the wild Orangs will use large leaves to shade themselves, and have been seen holding large leaves and dragging them around. Who knows. 
And now, I will leave with a video of Fossey and Sekani playing, when Mosi was about 4 months old. You can see how massive Fossey is, yet he can play with Sekani without harming Mosi. Its so amazing how something so incredibly strong can be so very gentle. Here is another of Fossey and Mosi playing around that same time. Now they play a lot, and a lot rougher, but its mostly Mosi trying to beat up on Fossey while Fossey just rolls him around like he weighs nothing. Pretty much like any human father and his little son!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Waiting.
I found out today that I don't have Ecology on Friday. At first, I thought that I could show up to Isgrig early (the archaeology site I have been volunteering on) but then I remembered that I need to increase my hours at the zoo. I just emailed Ann, and hopefully I can work on Friday morning. I also asked if Jeff, one of my fellow students, could come and play photographer. We need more pictures of students actually doing things for the Anthropology Club. We will see!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Today was...
great! Miss Mahale did not spit on me. When I was walking by her cage at one point, she raced over to where I was but I made it to the next room (and past her cage) before she got there. Now, the last time she spit on me it was when she raced over and leapt up and got me as I was walking by. This was the same situation, and although it was hard not to, I didn't try to hurry through the doors, I just happened to beat her. At this point I thought, "okay, this has to stop, I can't work like this, and it isn't good for her". I walked in front of her and crouched down. I looked at her from the corner of my eye, but didn't directly look at her. She stared at me for about a minute, then just started looking away. After that, she didn't even go to the bars everytime I walked past. I hope that maybe we have reached an "understanding", I guess I will know next time I am there.
Speaking of next time, I need to email Ann and ask if she cares when I come in again, because I am officially DONE with my orientation, and can now act autonomously. Pretty cool!
I got to see Brutus up close today. He is the third adult male gorilla. He's a pretty young guy, and is in an enclosure with Trudy, who is an older female. Normally Trudy is in the cage adjacent to the main hallway, but today since one of the automatic doors wasn't working right Brutus was forced to be in the area with her, instead of nearer the outside door as he usually is. He wasn't really excited about me, he kind of hit the bars a little and gave me menacing looks.
JJ is getting used to me apparently, he didn't try to scare me today. He just grunted a little when he saw me. I could tell that someone strange had been in there (a guy trying to fix the door) because it smelled pretty bad, and JJ had peed over the entrance corridor. His cage is in the very front on both sides of the entrance, connected by a walkway over the hallway. So, if he wants, he can stand directly above you. Apparently he stood up there and peed. Its such a pungent smell, very far from pleasant indeed.
Ann wasn't there today, but I finally got to meet Daphne. She is the one I originally talked to about the program over the summer but then I think she had some personal things come up, so this is the first time I have seen her. She's prettty nice. On the schedule for today was "kool aid bottles". I am not sure what they are, and never found out. Daphne said that we have a crapload of cardboard tubes to get rid of, so it was yogurt bombs again. Today the chimps and orangs got lemon pie filling (!) and the gorillas got natural creamy peanut butter. Apparently the pie filling has way too much sodium, and as male gorillas don't have the best hearts around here, they got the peanut butter which has NO sodium. While I was making them, I stood in front of Fossey & Co's cage, and Mosi was sitting on a podium right in front of me with his mom. He is so cute, he just stared and stared at me. At one point he thought I was ignoring him so he rattled a metal toy (it looked like a climber's hook) to get my attention. He is so sweet and cute. He reminds me so much of a human toddler.
Well, hopefully I will be back at the zoo in a couple of days. I haven't logged but maybe 4 hours and it is already October 7th. I may start doing hours in the afternoons and weekends.
Speaking of next time, I need to email Ann and ask if she cares when I come in again, because I am officially DONE with my orientation, and can now act autonomously. Pretty cool!
I got to see Brutus up close today. He is the third adult male gorilla. He's a pretty young guy, and is in an enclosure with Trudy, who is an older female. Normally Trudy is in the cage adjacent to the main hallway, but today since one of the automatic doors wasn't working right Brutus was forced to be in the area with her, instead of nearer the outside door as he usually is. He wasn't really excited about me, he kind of hit the bars a little and gave me menacing looks.
JJ is getting used to me apparently, he didn't try to scare me today. He just grunted a little when he saw me. I could tell that someone strange had been in there (a guy trying to fix the door) because it smelled pretty bad, and JJ had peed over the entrance corridor. His cage is in the very front on both sides of the entrance, connected by a walkway over the hallway. So, if he wants, he can stand directly above you. Apparently he stood up there and peed. Its such a pungent smell, very far from pleasant indeed.
Ann wasn't there today, but I finally got to meet Daphne. She is the one I originally talked to about the program over the summer but then I think she had some personal things come up, so this is the first time I have seen her. She's prettty nice. On the schedule for today was "kool aid bottles". I am not sure what they are, and never found out. Daphne said that we have a crapload of cardboard tubes to get rid of, so it was yogurt bombs again. Today the chimps and orangs got lemon pie filling (!) and the gorillas got natural creamy peanut butter. Apparently the pie filling has way too much sodium, and as male gorillas don't have the best hearts around here, they got the peanut butter which has NO sodium. While I was making them, I stood in front of Fossey & Co's cage, and Mosi was sitting on a podium right in front of me with his mom. He is so cute, he just stared and stared at me. At one point he thought I was ignoring him so he rattled a metal toy (it looked like a climber's hook) to get my attention. He is so sweet and cute. He reminds me so much of a human toddler.
Well, hopefully I will be back at the zoo in a couple of days. I haven't logged but maybe 4 hours and it is already October 7th. I may start doing hours in the afternoons and weekends.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Late Post!
Well, the my last visit was actually Tuesday September 23rd, but I am just now getting around to posting. I worked from 8:15 am to 9:15 am. I was late because I forgot the ridiculousness of morning traffic at 8 am, I usually don't have to be anywhere until 9 am at the earliest.
Anyway. So this time we did "forage". We basically cut some bamboo down from behind the lemur enclosure and put some pieces in the enclosures. We had to cut them in half, because Ann said that anytime the Orangutans get long sticks or branches they break the light bulbs above their enclosures. Chiquita has even blackmailed Kristin by threatening to knock a light out when she wanted a treat. They are so clever!
Mahale spit on me again. I am going to have to just ignore it, and not try to avoid it. If I try to avoid it (or her) it will just exacerbate the problem and I will have a miserable rest of the semester. JJ didn't crash and bang around this morning, so I guess he is getting used to me.
Fossey showed some temper today. After I first got there, Ann gave Mosi and Cat (the other female in Fossey's group, Mosi's "auntie") pieces of Monkey Chow, but not Fossey. She said he had just had several pieces. Of course he held out his hand and she said no. He slammed his palm into the cage and held out his hand again. Once he figured out he was out of luck, he slammed the cage again. He is so very strong, It sounded like an elephant was slamming into the cage.
Mosi is so cute. He reached out and grabbed the bucket of food near his door, and pulled it to him. He started grabbing the popcorn and stuffing his face. I pulled the bucket back, and he is STRONG. He is probably smaller than a one year old human, but he was definately out pulling me! Ann told me to be careful with things like that, since if his mommy saw me take something from her baby she would FLIP OUT. Later, Ann looked over and Mosi's dad, Fossey, was doing the same thing. Mosi had pulled the bucket back over, and Fossey shoved him out of the way. He started to delicately pick up pieces of popcorn (his fingers just barely fit through the bars) and eating them. Ann couldn't pull the bucket back, even though he was only holding on with two fingers. She tried to distract him with pieces of popcorn, but he wasn't impressed. She eventually wiggled the bucket out of his grip and out of his or Mosi's reach. He was fairly pissed, and slammed the bars a few times. These guys are so amazing.
On a more serious note, there are some things that are starting to bother me about the great apes. I am going to stick with the program until the end of the semester (it is for credit, and I did commit to it) but I think I may drop it after this semester is over. I know that I am helping the apes by creating enrichment, but I am starting to feel moral "twinges". I have always realized that although the great apes are not quite "human", they are definately not just "animals" either. However, the full implication of this fact has never materialized until now. When you look at their faces and especially those eyes, you wonder why we have the right to keep them as we do. I feel like I have wandered into some kind of strange limbo. I think that the apes are well treated at the zoo, the staff genuinely care for these creatures, and do everything in thier power to provide them with good lives. However, I feel very uncomfortable with the fact that apes are in captivity. I know that its important for the public to see the apes so that they may empathize with them, care about them and their welfare, and their future in the wild. I also know that releasing these captive apes into the wild would be a disaster, and they would not be able to survive on their own. I feel a sickness when I think about it, though. It just doesn't feel right. I went up to watch the chimps eat, since the last time I only watched JJ. Ann suggested I would be able to see them all, and see them better, if i went up to the top where the public views them. Of course I did so, and I watched the chimps. After a while I walked to the other side where JJ was and watched him. Just then a couple walked up and began watching JJ. I realized at that moment that I felt like a creepy spy. I squatted down and watched JJ, and later Brutus (the third male gorilla) when I walked down to where he is kept. I don't feel right being higher than they are (this is a dominance threat to them) and I am starting to feel uncomfortable looking directly at them (also a dominance issue) even when they aren't looking up at me. It feels so strange, and I don't know how to reconcile it.
Either way, I will be there tomorrow at 8 am. I hope I'm not late. I will also bring a change of clothing, who knows what that naughty Mahale will do. I told Dr. Hartmann that she doesn't like me, and he said "What, sweet little Mahale?" Oh Dr. Hartmann, she is now hormonal teenage Mahale. I'm sure she will get over it though. I believe him when he says she is sweet, and I know she is a very beautiful and intelligent girl.
Today was my second day of orientation. Tomorrow will be the third, then I'm on my own. I hope I am ready!
Anyway. So this time we did "forage". We basically cut some bamboo down from behind the lemur enclosure and put some pieces in the enclosures. We had to cut them in half, because Ann said that anytime the Orangutans get long sticks or branches they break the light bulbs above their enclosures. Chiquita has even blackmailed Kristin by threatening to knock a light out when she wanted a treat. They are so clever!
Mahale spit on me again. I am going to have to just ignore it, and not try to avoid it. If I try to avoid it (or her) it will just exacerbate the problem and I will have a miserable rest of the semester. JJ didn't crash and bang around this morning, so I guess he is getting used to me.
Fossey showed some temper today. After I first got there, Ann gave Mosi and Cat (the other female in Fossey's group, Mosi's "auntie") pieces of Monkey Chow, but not Fossey. She said he had just had several pieces. Of course he held out his hand and she said no. He slammed his palm into the cage and held out his hand again. Once he figured out he was out of luck, he slammed the cage again. He is so very strong, It sounded like an elephant was slamming into the cage.
Mosi is so cute. He reached out and grabbed the bucket of food near his door, and pulled it to him. He started grabbing the popcorn and stuffing his face. I pulled the bucket back, and he is STRONG. He is probably smaller than a one year old human, but he was definately out pulling me! Ann told me to be careful with things like that, since if his mommy saw me take something from her baby she would FLIP OUT. Later, Ann looked over and Mosi's dad, Fossey, was doing the same thing. Mosi had pulled the bucket back over, and Fossey shoved him out of the way. He started to delicately pick up pieces of popcorn (his fingers just barely fit through the bars) and eating them. Ann couldn't pull the bucket back, even though he was only holding on with two fingers. She tried to distract him with pieces of popcorn, but he wasn't impressed. She eventually wiggled the bucket out of his grip and out of his or Mosi's reach. He was fairly pissed, and slammed the bars a few times. These guys are so amazing.
On a more serious note, there are some things that are starting to bother me about the great apes. I am going to stick with the program until the end of the semester (it is for credit, and I did commit to it) but I think I may drop it after this semester is over. I know that I am helping the apes by creating enrichment, but I am starting to feel moral "twinges". I have always realized that although the great apes are not quite "human", they are definately not just "animals" either. However, the full implication of this fact has never materialized until now. When you look at their faces and especially those eyes, you wonder why we have the right to keep them as we do. I feel like I have wandered into some kind of strange limbo. I think that the apes are well treated at the zoo, the staff genuinely care for these creatures, and do everything in thier power to provide them with good lives. However, I feel very uncomfortable with the fact that apes are in captivity. I know that its important for the public to see the apes so that they may empathize with them, care about them and their welfare, and their future in the wild. I also know that releasing these captive apes into the wild would be a disaster, and they would not be able to survive on their own. I feel a sickness when I think about it, though. It just doesn't feel right. I went up to watch the chimps eat, since the last time I only watched JJ. Ann suggested I would be able to see them all, and see them better, if i went up to the top where the public views them. Of course I did so, and I watched the chimps. After a while I walked to the other side where JJ was and watched him. Just then a couple walked up and began watching JJ. I realized at that moment that I felt like a creepy spy. I squatted down and watched JJ, and later Brutus (the third male gorilla) when I walked down to where he is kept. I don't feel right being higher than they are (this is a dominance threat to them) and I am starting to feel uncomfortable looking directly at them (also a dominance issue) even when they aren't looking up at me. It feels so strange, and I don't know how to reconcile it.
Either way, I will be there tomorrow at 8 am. I hope I'm not late. I will also bring a change of clothing, who knows what that naughty Mahale will do. I told Dr. Hartmann that she doesn't like me, and he said "What, sweet little Mahale?" Oh Dr. Hartmann, she is now hormonal teenage Mahale. I'm sure she will get over it though. I believe him when he says she is sweet, and I know she is a very beautiful and intelligent girl.
Today was my second day of orientation. Tomorrow will be the third, then I'm on my own. I hope I am ready!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Day One
09/18/08
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Although I had been to the great Ape enclosure a couple of weeks ago, Friday was my first official day. It was the first of three orientation days I have to do, so I mostly followed Ann around. I have met everyone in the enclosure, and so got a re-introduction. Mahale does NOT like me, and let me know it. She spit at me, mean girl. Ann said that Mahale doesn't like any young women, so don't feel bad. JJ also tried his best to scare me. Didn't work, I am always ready for his banging and crashing. I got to see Mosi playing with Fossey, his dad. Mosi is such a little cutie. I wish I could have seen him when he was a little baby, but he's still pretty small.
Today on the schedule was "yogurt bombs". Ann showed me how to make them and made quite a few herself. We used sugar-free low-fat mixed berry yogurt. About a tablespoon was spread on the inside of a cardboard tube (it looked like a toilet paper roll!) and then the ends were folded up. Ann said they used to tape the ends, but it takes longer to tape the ends than it takes for the apes to get into them. I saw what she meant when JJ lit into one. He basically ripped it in half. Hopefully it took the chimps and the orangs longer and more thought to open theirs.
I need to either watch the chimps or the orangutans next time. I love watching JJ though! Because he has a heart condition, and had decided to leave the "family group" he was in (Fossey & Co.), he is only out first thing in the morning and then stays inside the rest of the day. Apparently this makes him pretty happy. He is really mischievious. He tries to scare people in the enclosure by watching you and, when he thinks you're not looking, banging on the walls of his cage. Ann and Kristin said that when he succeeds in making you jump he laughs. A gorilla laugh is like a low, breathy chuckle. He tried to scare me again when he was outside. After he ate a little , he charged the metal doors that Ann and I were behind. I stepped back but Ann just kept leaning on the doors. She told him "Yep, you got us JJ". Then he tried to be sneaky, and slowly sidled up to the doors. He kept looking out of the corner of his eye at me, and then he'd look away really fast. Finally, he sprang at the door and slammed into it with his left side, and then ran off. It was pretty amusing. He's a beautiful gorilla as well. This was the first time I could see him clearly since he wasn't in his enclosure. Ann said he could be a gorilla model, and I know what she means. He has such a beautiful gorilla face. I hope to get some decent pictures of him later on.
I don't know many of the chimps names. I know Mahale, of course. Chase is the youngest, his face, hands and feet are still so pink! Poor Jodie, the oldest and a female, died last week. She had a check up but when they brought her home and brought her out of her anesthesia, she just died. She was very old, but its still very sad. Ann said that you could feel that her group had been very subdued since she went.
Since there are only two orangutans, I know thier names already. Rok is the big male, and Chiquita is the petite female. She is so small, she looks like she is smaller than the adult female chimps. She is quiet and seems pretty shy. Ann said she doesn't much like her yard, and is usually coaxed out by Rok. Rok is amazing. His fingers are enormous, about the size of a banana each. He has long red hair and the large cheek pouches dominant males develop. He looks so enormous to me, but Ann said he is average sized for a male orang, and unlike many he isn't even overweight. He is an amazing creature to see up close. When I first came in, he began vocalizing and showed off who was boss by going at Chiquita. Ann said he did that to show dominance. His vocalizations are pretty loud, and deep. You can imagine a voice like that echoing through a forest for miles!
Next day to work is Tuesday at 8 a.m. I have to be in class by 9:25 a.m., so here's hoping Mahale doesn't spit on me again. I should bring extra clothes...
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Although I had been to the great Ape enclosure a couple of weeks ago, Friday was my first official day. It was the first of three orientation days I have to do, so I mostly followed Ann around. I have met everyone in the enclosure, and so got a re-introduction. Mahale does NOT like me, and let me know it. She spit at me, mean girl. Ann said that Mahale doesn't like any young women, so don't feel bad. JJ also tried his best to scare me. Didn't work, I am always ready for his banging and crashing. I got to see Mosi playing with Fossey, his dad. Mosi is such a little cutie. I wish I could have seen him when he was a little baby, but he's still pretty small.
Today on the schedule was "yogurt bombs". Ann showed me how to make them and made quite a few herself. We used sugar-free low-fat mixed berry yogurt. About a tablespoon was spread on the inside of a cardboard tube (it looked like a toilet paper roll!) and then the ends were folded up. Ann said they used to tape the ends, but it takes longer to tape the ends than it takes for the apes to get into them. I saw what she meant when JJ lit into one. He basically ripped it in half. Hopefully it took the chimps and the orangs longer and more thought to open theirs.
I need to either watch the chimps or the orangutans next time. I love watching JJ though! Because he has a heart condition, and had decided to leave the "family group" he was in (Fossey & Co.), he is only out first thing in the morning and then stays inside the rest of the day. Apparently this makes him pretty happy. He is really mischievious. He tries to scare people in the enclosure by watching you and, when he thinks you're not looking, banging on the walls of his cage. Ann and Kristin said that when he succeeds in making you jump he laughs. A gorilla laugh is like a low, breathy chuckle. He tried to scare me again when he was outside. After he ate a little , he charged the metal doors that Ann and I were behind. I stepped back but Ann just kept leaning on the doors. She told him "Yep, you got us JJ". Then he tried to be sneaky, and slowly sidled up to the doors. He kept looking out of the corner of his eye at me, and then he'd look away really fast. Finally, he sprang at the door and slammed into it with his left side, and then ran off. It was pretty amusing. He's a beautiful gorilla as well. This was the first time I could see him clearly since he wasn't in his enclosure. Ann said he could be a gorilla model, and I know what she means. He has such a beautiful gorilla face. I hope to get some decent pictures of him later on.
I don't know many of the chimps names. I know Mahale, of course. Chase is the youngest, his face, hands and feet are still so pink! Poor Jodie, the oldest and a female, died last week. She had a check up but when they brought her home and brought her out of her anesthesia, she just died. She was very old, but its still very sad. Ann said that you could feel that her group had been very subdued since she went.
Since there are only two orangutans, I know thier names already. Rok is the big male, and Chiquita is the petite female. She is so small, she looks like she is smaller than the adult female chimps. She is quiet and seems pretty shy. Ann said she doesn't much like her yard, and is usually coaxed out by Rok. Rok is amazing. His fingers are enormous, about the size of a banana each. He has long red hair and the large cheek pouches dominant males develop. He looks so enormous to me, but Ann said he is average sized for a male orang, and unlike many he isn't even overweight. He is an amazing creature to see up close. When I first came in, he began vocalizing and showed off who was boss by going at Chiquita. Ann said he did that to show dominance. His vocalizations are pretty loud, and deep. You can imagine a voice like that echoing through a forest for miles!
Next day to work is Tuesday at 8 a.m. I have to be in class by 9:25 a.m., so here's hoping Mahale doesn't spit on me again. I should bring extra clothes...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)