Chimp Haven Celebrates Easter

Mon Mar 17, 2008

Chimp Haven staff members celebrated Easter early by painting honeydew melons with non-toxic paints and hiding the Easter melons throughout the chimpanzees forested habitats.  Staff members came up with many unique ways to paint the melons. There were melons that looked like traditional easter eggs,  one painted to look like a ladybug, and colorful rainbow eggs of multiple colors.  Some of the eggs seemed to be tye-dyed, while others might be painted to look like a smiley face or a pumpkin.  There was no limit to the staff's creativity.  In addition to the melon's, staff members also hid hard boiled eggs that were recently painted by the visitors at Chimpanzee Discovery Days for the chimpanzees.  

The first group to receive the melon "eggs" did not catch on right away and seemed to think that these colorful objects were new balls to play with.  Then Derma and some of the others took a bite and began to food grunt.  The other chimpanzees then began to search for the "eggs".  Both Rita and Mason ambitiously gathered their eggs from up in the trees, while Puddin' chose to roll two "eggs" halfway down to the moat before he sat down to eat and enjoy them.  Suzanna and Sheila sat in the woods with their eggs while Conan, Magnum and Jimoh sat together enjoying the feast.  

When the 2nd group was let out to search for their "eggs" they immediately went to the colorful melons.  Perhaps hearing the food grunts from the neighboring group gave them the idea that this was something good to eat.  Verana immediately went out and gathered two "eggs" and took them to a private spot to sit down and eat.  Kevin was smiling when he found his egg and you can see his picture with a typical play face!  Kevin's best friend is Karin; Kevin had found two eggs and as he was eating one of them, Karin approached.  Chimpanzees will sometimes share food with one another, but it is a behavior that is not seen every day.  Kevin rolled his 2nd melon over to Karin as she approached and she sat down with him to enjoy the Easter buffet.  Kasey, Jeff, Gwennie, and Brenda all searched out their own favorite "egg" and found special spots in the forest to enjoy them. 

If you would like to see more photos of this very special Easter egg hunt, please click here.