BAD CHIMPANZEES

I took Bryce to the zoo yesterday for a short visit before we went to have lunch with Daddy. As we were fixing to leave, we went by the are where all of apes, gorillas and chimpanzees were. At our zoo, they are in an open area and you look down on them. I was holding Bryce so he could see over the wall and down to where the chimps were.

We were walking along and casually looking when one of the chimps came running up below us and starting at us. Bryce pointed to him and told me to look so I stopped and turned to see him. The chimp was below us making faces and dancing at Bryce.

We were the only ones over at that side at the time. Everytime we would start walking the chimp would make noises and follow us, dancing and making faces. Bryce was loving it so we stopped and Bryce started making faces back and dancing - and LAUGHING like I have never heard him laugh. When the chimp saw we had stopped he turned around and started walking up the hill to where their shaded platform was (they sleep and play on this platform thing). Every couple of steps he would turn around and make a face and dance, like he was trying to make sure we did not leave.

There were about 3 other chimps on the platform. He goes up to one and pushes it off the platform. I began to question what was about to happen at this point and was trying to decide if we should start walking, but Bryce was having so much fun, so we stayed to see what was going to happen. Usually when we are there, none of the chimps, etc even seem to notice anyone, so to have one interacting with Bryce was kinda neat.

So, he pushes this chimp off the platform and starts making it walk down the hill. This chimp did not seem to want to play along, but the original chimp made it. He takes the second chimp right in front of Bryce and starts...well... lets just say that the male chimp was doing something to the female chimp (I am hoping) that the female chimp was not too interested in doing and my 3 YEAR OLD did NOT need to see. He was obviously very proud!! He came right in front of us to do it.

As the chimps were walking in front of us, another mother came up and told her kids how neat it was that the chimps were looking up at us. Then she realized what was really going on, she said "never mind," with big eyes and walked off. I told Bryce it was time to go, and he replys "but Mommy they are playing!!" I just agreed and said it was time to go. As we were walking off I turned and looked and as soon as we leave he quits!!

Maybe the chimp knows that if he does this in front of kids, the parents will take them away and then noone is staring at him!! It was quite a trip!!!