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Spending the Night with a Chimpanzee
Jan. 10th, 2006 10:19 amTuesday 9:21 am
Well, you learn fast. One lesson is -- don't tickle a chimp who might have to pee.
I had to do a quick leg-spread yesterday as Shaga started peeing after a wild, laughing tickle session. I managed to avoid getting peed on at ALL, but it was somewhat of an unpleasant surprise.
Anyway, so this chimp will be in quarantine for two weeks, and until we had proper arrangements, she was going to have to stay at the office last night.
We got a mattress, a blanket and sheets/pillows and set them all up in the garage. When you're sleeping, the last thing you want is to have a chimp messing around with computers and what-not.
Anyway, with everything set up in the garage, Sucari/Shaga and I played around in the office, and I gave her some dinner. Jackson, the driver, had gone over to the Doga and gotten me some macaroni with chicken, so it felt very domestic. Her, sitting on the chair with her carrot, and me, sitting, eating dinner. She listened when I scolded her, didn't eat my food while I got up to get her more, and overall, it was just incredibly cool.
It was about 8 pm and I took Laptop, my purse and two mugs full of pineapple along with me. As of yet, she hadn't gotten any pineapple for dinner, so it was coveted. She wanted me to carry her, which I just didn't have hands for, so I held her hand and we went. I was worried, because you know, five year old chimps can be willful and how would I convince her to go into a dark garage?
Thank goodness for the pineapple. I somehow doubt that she ever had pineapple before, and, when she climbed the tree by the garage instead of GOING in the garage, I pretended to eat the pineapple noisily, making slurping sounds, and she came right down.
She ate pineapple while I put movies on the laptop, and I wrapped her in blankets and she went right to sleep. And so did I.
It was just totally peaceful and serene. I woke up at 5 am this morning, desperate for a pee, but I couldn't just leave her there. It was freezing too, so I just held it. Which, for anyone who knows more morning routines, is really tough for me to do.
At quarter to 6, I just couldn't hold it, and she seemed to be semi-awake. So, I opened up the garage, and she blinked, yawned, and ran over, jumping into my arms. I carried her into the house, and she was shivering, and seemed afraid. She wouldn't let go of me either. So, instead of peeing, I sat on the couch with her and hugged her until she stopped shivering. I got her a carrot, and finally, after 25 minutes, she was okay again.
I RAN to the bathroom, and she, of course, followed me. Funnily, (and perhaps gross) as I was peeing, she squatted next to me in the bathroom and peed on the floor.
I felt such kinship as she watched me clean the pee from the floor. I got her some breakfast, and we sat. It was a good time to go outside, and we sat outside, playing and relaxing. She would come to me for reassurance, and I felt good to be the one taking care of her.
I was exhausted, and it was freezing, so we went back into the garage and laid down on the bed again. I was ready to just sleep, but she crawled over to be closer to me, and very intently started grooming my hair. Usually chimps prefer to BE groomed and are lazy about grooming, but she groomed me for a good 20-25 minutes. We both got under the blanket (wow it was so cold) and slept for another hour+ while she got closer to me and snored, farting. I loved it.
We sat outside at last as people arrived at work, and she used me like an armchair. Sprawled on my lap, knowing I was safe.
I'm still happy that she's out there in the yard playing with Carol right now. It's not the caregiving that's exhausting, but being the constant source of attention, and always keeping a watchful eye out.
Being able to be online, and NOT watch her right now -- wow, I'm finally letting myself realize how tired I am. I wonder if I'll be this tired the whole time I'm in Congo?
Also, I really miss swimming. I'm thinking that I'll just try to WALK to the Kivu Sun, in Rwanda, where there's a nice, big swimming pool. It'd pay to know the route to walk to Rwanda anyway.
It is certainly a respite now to not be watching her, although I just got an emergency call from Carol. *yawn*
Is it naptime yet?
Well, you learn fast. One lesson is -- don't tickle a chimp who might have to pee.
I had to do a quick leg-spread yesterday as Shaga started peeing after a wild, laughing tickle session. I managed to avoid getting peed on at ALL, but it was somewhat of an unpleasant surprise.
Anyway, so this chimp will be in quarantine for two weeks, and until we had proper arrangements, she was going to have to stay at the office last night.
We got a mattress, a blanket and sheets/pillows and set them all up in the garage. When you're sleeping, the last thing you want is to have a chimp messing around with computers and what-not.
Anyway, with everything set up in the garage, Sucari/Shaga and I played around in the office, and I gave her some dinner. Jackson, the driver, had gone over to the Doga and gotten me some macaroni with chicken, so it felt very domestic. Her, sitting on the chair with her carrot, and me, sitting, eating dinner. She listened when I scolded her, didn't eat my food while I got up to get her more, and overall, it was just incredibly cool.
It was about 8 pm and I took Laptop, my purse and two mugs full of pineapple along with me. As of yet, she hadn't gotten any pineapple for dinner, so it was coveted. She wanted me to carry her, which I just didn't have hands for, so I held her hand and we went. I was worried, because you know, five year old chimps can be willful and how would I convince her to go into a dark garage?
Thank goodness for the pineapple. I somehow doubt that she ever had pineapple before, and, when she climbed the tree by the garage instead of GOING in the garage, I pretended to eat the pineapple noisily, making slurping sounds, and she came right down.
She ate pineapple while I put movies on the laptop, and I wrapped her in blankets and she went right to sleep. And so did I.
It was just totally peaceful and serene. I woke up at 5 am this morning, desperate for a pee, but I couldn't just leave her there. It was freezing too, so I just held it. Which, for anyone who knows more morning routines, is really tough for me to do.
At quarter to 6, I just couldn't hold it, and she seemed to be semi-awake. So, I opened up the garage, and she blinked, yawned, and ran over, jumping into my arms. I carried her into the house, and she was shivering, and seemed afraid. She wouldn't let go of me either. So, instead of peeing, I sat on the couch with her and hugged her until she stopped shivering. I got her a carrot, and finally, after 25 minutes, she was okay again.
I RAN to the bathroom, and she, of course, followed me. Funnily, (and perhaps gross) as I was peeing, she squatted next to me in the bathroom and peed on the floor.
I felt such kinship as she watched me clean the pee from the floor. I got her some breakfast, and we sat. It was a good time to go outside, and we sat outside, playing and relaxing. She would come to me for reassurance, and I felt good to be the one taking care of her.
I was exhausted, and it was freezing, so we went back into the garage and laid down on the bed again. I was ready to just sleep, but she crawled over to be closer to me, and very intently started grooming my hair. Usually chimps prefer to BE groomed and are lazy about grooming, but she groomed me for a good 20-25 minutes. We both got under the blanket (wow it was so cold) and slept for another hour+ while she got closer to me and snored, farting. I loved it.
We sat outside at last as people arrived at work, and she used me like an armchair. Sprawled on my lap, knowing I was safe.
I'm still happy that she's out there in the yard playing with Carol right now. It's not the caregiving that's exhausting, but being the constant source of attention, and always keeping a watchful eye out.
Being able to be online, and NOT watch her right now -- wow, I'm finally letting myself realize how tired I am. I wonder if I'll be this tired the whole time I'm in Congo?
Also, I really miss swimming. I'm thinking that I'll just try to WALK to the Kivu Sun, in Rwanda, where there's a nice, big swimming pool. It'd pay to know the route to walk to Rwanda anyway.
It is certainly a respite now to not be watching her, although I just got an emergency call from Carol. *yawn*
Is it naptime yet?
