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!
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