My heart pounded. I swiped my badge at the lab entrance, but the light stayed red. Denied. Again. I tried again, and again. Nothing. Something was happening with JJ. I hadn’t seen him in days.  Days!  And every time I asked, I got the same runaround.

I went to Dr. Chadwick, of course. I’m reassigned. No explanation. Just a reassignment. I’d been moved to a new desk, a new office, on the opposite site of the lab. It was a clear message: stay away from JJ!

I tried the lab door one last time, my hand shaking. Red light. Still denied. Panic started to set in. I had to see him. But they were keeping me away. They were hiding something.

Back at my new desk, I logged on, almost out of habit. And there it was: Draw Crayon Go! It was still there, accessible. It’s like they’d forgotten about it, or maybe they just don’t think it’s important. I can’t see his medical records anymore, but I can blog?!

I’m sorry for my snooty attitude towards Sue Ellen. She must have figured something out about JJ. What I didn’t tell you, is that she was caught taking JJ out of the facility and tried to drive off with him! It’s starting to come into focus. Like she was trying to RESCUE him. I’m going to get out here and track her down. JJ is no longer the only player I’m worried about.

This is the last time I’ll be able to communicate with you all. It’s been a pleasure.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. I’ve been working with chimpanzees for years, but JJ… he’s different. It started with his age. We ran the usual DNA tests, but the results were inconclusive. It was like his biological clock was… off. The usual markers just weren’t there. It was strange, but not unheard of. Sometimes, with exceptional care, chimps can defy the usual signs of aging. But then I tried to trace his history. Standard procedure. We keep meticulous records of every animal’s background. But with JJ, the trail went cold. The facility where he supposedly came from… they had no record of him. It was like he appeared out of thin air.

I started making calls, contacting other research centers, zoos, even sanctuaries. Everyone gave me the same answer: no JJ, no record. It was like he’d never existed before he arrived here. And the few times I did get someone to talk, they were… evasive. Vague. They’d change the subject or claim they couldn’t disclose information. It was like hitting a brick wall at every turn. And the biggest obstacle of all? Well, let’s just say it’s proving difficult to get the information I need from certain people here at the facility. They’re polite, professional, but… resistant. It’s like I’m asking for state secrets. It’s making me uneasy. I’m starting to wonder if there’s something more to JJ than meets the eye. Something… otherworldly. The age thing, the missing records, the cold shoulder from other facilities, and now this… obstruction… it all adds up to something strange. Something I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m starting to think JJ’s story is much bigger, and much stranger, than I ever imagined.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. I’m still fairly new here at the research facility, and I’m constantly amazed by JJ. He’s such a fascinating chimp. One of the things that really strikes me is his memory. It’s… uncanny. Before I came along, JJ used to watch a lot of television. I know, it sounds strange, but apparently, the previous caregiver let him watch educational programs and nature documentaries. When I started, I thought it was important to wean him off the screen time. I mean, how much could he really be retaining? I figured he’d forget about it pretty quickly.

It’s been months since the TV was removed, and JJ still remembers things he saw on those programs. It’s not just a vague recognition. He’ll react to certain sounds or images that were featured in the shows, sometimes even mimicking behaviors he saw the animals doing. It’s like he has a mental library of everything he’s ever seen. We do memory tests with the chimps here, of course. We use all sorts of methods, like showing them a sequence of symbols and then asking them to recreate it or hiding objects and seeing how long it takes them to find them again. Chimpanzees, in general, have pretty good memories. They need to in the wild to remember where food sources are, which other chimps are friends or foes, and so on.

But JJ’s memory is on a whole different level. He excels at all the standard memory tasks, often surpassing the other chimps by a significant margin. He remembers things for far longer than we’d expect, and he seems to make connections between things that other chimps don’t. It’s like his brain is wired differently. It makes me wonder about the impact of that television watching, even though I still think it’s best he’s not watching it anymore. Could it have somehow enhanced his cognitive abilities? Or was he just exceptionally gifted to begin with? It’s a puzzle, and JJ is definitely the most intriguing piece. He makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about chimpanzee intelligence and memory.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. We often get asked about JJ’s age. It’s a good question, and one that’s not always easy to answer definitively, even with our best methods. Determining a chimpanzee’s age isn’t as simple as counting rings on a tree. In the wild, researchers often look at things like tooth wear, the condition of their fur, and other physical signs of aging. But here at the facility, JJ and the others receive excellent care, which can sometimes mask these typical signs of aging. They don’t face the same environmental challenges as wild chimps, so their teeth might not show as much wear, for example.

We also have the option of using DNA testing to get a more precise estimate of a chimp’s age. It’s a fascinating process. Scientists can analyze specific regions of the chimpanzee’s DNA, looking at changes that occur over time. These changes can act a bit like a biological clock, giving us clues about the chimp’s age. It’s a bit like looking at the wear and tear on a machine, but on a microscopic level. However, even with DNA testing, there’s still a bit of a range, a margin of error. And with JJ, it’s even more puzzling. He just doesn’t seem to fit the typical aging patterns. The usual physical markers are vague, almost nonexistent. And even his DNA doesn’t give us a completely clear picture. It’s like he’s defying the normal aging process, or maybe he’s just a late bloomer. It’s a bit of a mystery, and it makes you wonder. Is he just unusually youthful for his age? Or is there something else going on?

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. Spending time with JJ, you start to wonder just how much is going on behind those intelligent eyes. We’re always learning more about chimpanzee cognition and it’s fascinating. One of the ways we try to understand their thinking is through cognitive testing, sometimes called “IQ tests” for chimps. These aren’t exactly like human IQ tests, but they help us measure things like problem-solving ability, memory, and how well they understand concepts. We might present them with puzzles to solve to get a treat or ask them to remember symbols or patterns. It’s amazing to see how they approach these challenges. Most chimps here do pretty well on these tests, showing impressive cognitive abilities. But then there’s JJ. He just seems to… get it. He masters the tasks quickly, sometimes even figuring out shortcuts or new ways to solve problems that we didn’t anticipate. It’s like he’s thinking on a different level. He seems to grasp the underlying principles more readily than the other chimps. It makes you wonder if there’s something more to his intelligence, something beyond what our current tests can even measure. He’s definitely a special chimp, and he makes you think about just how much we still have to learn about the minds of these amazing primates.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. JJ is a real character, especially when it comes to eye contact. It’s fascinating to watch him. While other chimps mostly use eye contact to establish who’s boss or to show they’re not happy about something, JJ does something different. He seems to make real eye contact with us. It’s almost like he’s trying to say something, something beyond the usual chimp communication. He holds their gaze a little longer, a little softer, than you usually see with chimps. It’s not typical chimp behavior. Usually, if a chimp looks you directly in the eye for too long, it can be a sign of a challenge. But with JJ, it just feels different. Maybe it’s his way of building trust, of making a connection. He seems to use his eyes to show curiosity, even a little bit of playfulness. Like when he’s us prepare his food – his eyes follow every single move. Or when someone’s talking to him, he locks eyes with them, appearing to listen so intently. Of course, JJ’s still a chimp, and he uses all the usual chimp ways to communicate – the vocalizations, the gestures, the body language. But this special way he uses his eyes adds something extra, something really special. It makes you wonder just what JJ is thinking, what he’s trying to say with those expressive eyes of his.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. JJ the chimpanzee might look a little different from us, but did you know he’s actually one of our closest relatives? Chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA with humans! That’s incredibly close – closer than to any other animal. This shared genetic heritage means JJ and his chimp buddies at the research facility have a lot in common with us. The dedicated team studies chimpanzee behavior and cognition, and because of our close genetic link, what we learn from JJ and his group can sometimes help us better understand ourselves. Like us, they can learn, problem-solve, and even experience a range of emotions. They have complex social structures and communicate with each other in surprisingly sophisticated ways. Seeing JJ interact with his family group at the facility, you can really see those similarities. While there are definitely important differences, it’s amazing to think about how much we share with these incredible primates. It makes you feel a special connection to JJ and all the chimpanzees!

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. JJ the chimpanzee, like all his buddies at the facility, knows how to stay in shape! He and the other chimps get their exercise through a bunch of fun activities designed to be just like what they’d do in the wild. We make sure they have plenty of ways to move and play, because keeping active is super important for chimps’ bodies and their minds. A favorite for JJ is climbing; he loves scaling the artificial trees and ropes, which makes him super strong and agile. Swinging is another big hit – JJ can often be seen swinging from ropes and old tires, building his upper body strength and getting his Tarzan on! And of course, there’s lots of room for running and walking, which is great for his heart.

Playtime is the best time, though! JJ loves chasing his friends and wrestling – it’s a great workout and helps everyone get along. Even finding his food can be an adventure! The keepers hide treats and use puzzle feeders, so JJ has to use his smarts and his muscles to get his snacks. This keeps him entertained and active. We are always thinking up new ways to keep chimps like JJ moving and grooving, because it’s so important for them to be healthy and happy.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. The most asked question we get about JimJim is ‘what is his favorite food?’ Drum roll please… It’s bananas. He goes ape for bananas. If he could speak, I imagine him saying “I know it’s cliche, but I know what I like and I like bananas.’ He gets three carefully planned meals a day. Each meal consists of some fruit (apples, bananas, figs, grapes, etc.), vegetables (carrots, celery, broccoli, lettuce etc.) some grains like bread, oats and cereal, and special occasional treats like peanut butter sandwiches, Jello, or hardboiled eggs.

In the wild, they spend most of the day foraging. They can spend up to an hour fishing for termites, or hours climbing a tree to reach some fruit on an awkward branch. The way we feed them is important. We don’t often just hand them their food. We’ll put the food behind some activity such as up on a high ledge, so that they will climb. We try to simulate foraging when we can.

I gave JimJim a flip book the other day and he was entranced. We bound together some of his drawing sheets and he’s been creating some rough animations. Fascinating! He’ll carefully draw an item over and over again, page after page, altering each somewhat, then cackles with glee when he flips it into action. Seeing JimJim happy is what our work is all about. He is a constant joy. Soon we’ll share some of his animated flips on his channel.

— Calvin Poe

Hi all! Calvin here. I’ve worked with chimpanzees for over 25 years, and JimJim is the first I’ve met that is a gentleman. I’m mystified. As you know, I stopped TV-time when I came onboard; it simply has to be his sharp and prolonged memory. We’ll be doing some non-invasive scans on his frontopolar cortex. We’re combining sulcal pattern analysis with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and cytoarchitectonic analysis to show that old-world monkey brains have the same principles of organization as hominid brains, with the notable exception of sulci in the frontopolar cortex.

This exists in all chimpanzees but presents as advanced for JimJim. He shakes hands when he’s introduced to someone, he waves goodbye when visitors leave- chimpanzees meet and greet a lot like humans. This, I’ve seen before. But JimJim will press his hands together in a praying gesture to say thank you. We’ve never shown him this behavior. Maybe all the TV? He will stop at thresholds and bow, waving an arm out as if to say, ‘after you.’ He won’t touch his food until you give him the explicit go-ahead. He likes to be held- nearly all chimpanzees do, but unlike every other monkey I’ve ever seen who climb people they like as if they were rock-climbing walls, JimJim will wait at your feet, get to his knees and make that praying gesture again?!

We’ll see how he behaves after no TV for a few months. In the meantime, JimJim has been drawing up a storm, and it’s odd to even put these words together, here goes: he played Monopoly with us the other day. He grabbed a player piece (he chose the shoe), picked up the dice and rolled double fives. Then he moved the shoes ten spaces, tapping each on out neatly along the way, grabbed the dice again, rolled a three and a four, landed on Saint James Place and handed me nine twenty-dollar bills.

We sat there with our mouths gaped. When I didn’t move because I was too stunned, he pressed his hands together in that praying gesture and stared. I’m sure we’ll find some valuable data from the scans that will shed some light on his behavior/long-term memory. In the meantime, Doctor Chadwick gave us his blessing to continue uploading and sharing JimJim’s art with you all. We’ll keep these coming as long as he keeps drawing.

— Calvin Poe