 Shortly after arrival, Chiquito wraps himself in a security blanket. |  Chiquito always keeps his blanket away from urine and feces. |
Shortly after Chiquito arrived I gave him bedding to use as a "crate pad" so he wouldn't have to sleep on the hard plastic bottom of the airline crate. He didn't use it as a mattress...he used it to cover himself. When I gave him two fuzzy "throws" he would just use one of them at a time.
Animal behaviorist David Peiro told us Chiquito needed a "security blanket" which was how he initially used it, and sometimes still does. What I failed to "see" (since what we see and what we observe are different things) was that he also used it as an actual blanket...which is why I never thought to give one to Lolita.
Chiquito spent his first two years living like a human child. He used the toilet and flushed, he drank milk from a sippy cup, and he slept in bed with his surrogate parents. So given the adage "monkey see, monkey do," it isn't surprising that Chiquito learned to cover himself with a blanket.
Animal behaviorist David Peiro told us Chiquito needed a "security blanket" which was how he initially used it, and sometimes still does. What I failed to "see" (since what we see and what we observe are different things) was that he also used it as an actual blanket...which is why I never thought to give one to Lolita.
Chiquito spent his first two years living like a human child. He used the toilet and flushed, he drank milk from a sippy cup, and he slept in bed with his surrogate parents. So given the adage "monkey see, monkey do," it isn't surprising that Chiquito learned to cover himself with a blanket.
 Lolita's "travel playpen" on wheels. |  Lolita improvises a pillow and blanket.. |  Big yawn. |
Lolita has two cages now; a large immobile metal dog crate in the great room, and the original (rabbit cage) playpen which I wheel around when I'd be out of sight otherwise. Lolita was on my arm the other day when I was cleaning the cages, and grabbed a hand towel I had thrown over my shoulder. Thinking that it would keep her entertained for a while, I tossed it in with her when I put her back in the playpen...and a blanket was born.
It's possible that, like Chiquito, Lolita is imitating us. She sleeps in her playpen on my side of the bed at night, and occasionally even snuggles in our bed for a while after lights out. It's also possible that it's a normal primate behavior to cover the body with something when sleeping (and vulnerable). So even though a blanket isn't "natural," maybe primates in zoos and laboratories (which aren't natural habitats) would be happier with blankets, too?
It's possible that, like Chiquito, Lolita is imitating us. She sleeps in her playpen on my side of the bed at night, and occasionally even snuggles in our bed for a while after lights out. It's also possible that it's a normal primate behavior to cover the body with something when sleeping (and vulnerable). So even though a blanket isn't "natural," maybe primates in zoos and laboratories (which aren't natural habitats) would be happier with blankets, too?
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