Oct 19
Enjoying Autumn Chestnuts
We harvested some beautiful chestnuts in September, though there were fewer than usual this year.
After sharing the news that Ai the chimpanzee has passed away, we received so many kind words and thoughtful messages. We are deeply grateful for your warmth and support. All those who watched over Ai, cheered for her, and walked alongside her over the years helped make her life such a rich and meaningful one.
Through this blog, we would like to look back on Ai's life little by little, and share the memories and records she left with us. By keeping a record of the expressions and behaviors she showed us in both research and daily life, we hope to share with you something of what Ai gave to all of us.
There are still ten chimpanzees living together at the facility today. Through this blog, we also hope to share glimpses of their everyday lives and the relationships they have with one another.
September has brought some unsettled weather this year, with long spells of rain and heavy downpours followed by hot days when temperatures rise above 30°C (86°F). The weather has been rather unpredictable. Still, the days are gradually getting shorter, and the nights longer. We can sense the approach of fall in the coolness of the mornings and...
The Risshū, or Beginning of Autumn, has already passed in the Japanese calendar. Compared with the scorching heat we experienced in July, when temperatures came close to 40°C (104°F), it feels a little more bearable now. That said, there's no doubt that the hot days will continue.