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...
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