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Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Archives for July 2008

Being a caregiver

July 31, 2008 by Diana

I started to write the post below a few months ago. I didn’t finish it because I thought it might be too much of a downer, but I think it speaks to the question of whether we would allow babies to be born at the sanctuary. To be clear – there is no way we would intentionally bring another chimpanzee into a life of captivity. I have no doubt that some of the chimpanzees at CSNW would love to have a baby to nuture, and it could bring new energy and focus to the group, but the cost is too high. Chimpanzees belong living free in the wild.

It is not possible for the Cle Elum Seven to have the life of free-living chimpanzees for a variety of reasons, the main one being that they would not know how to survive – they were not brought up by other chimpanzees and taught the necessary skills to be a ‘free’ individual. What we can do, with the help of all of you, is do the best we can to provide for them for the rest of their lives in a sanctuary. Thanks to all of you who are doing this and for asking great questions!

Here’s the post I began in April before moving back to Washington to work at CSNW:

It won’t be long before I am in Cle Elum and I will be returning to caring for chimpanzees on a daily basis. After being away from that work for a few years, and spending some time with the Buckshire Seven, I’ve been reflecting about all of the good and bad that comes with caring for chimpanzees in captivity. Sometimes it is really difficult – not just the heartbreak when a chimpanzee dies, or the worry that comes when watching chimpanzees fight with one another, or the concern that arises when a chimpanzee behavior changes – it’s the daily knowledge that neither you nor the chimpanzees should be in that position. When I was at Fauna there were definitely days when I felt much more like a prison guard than a caregiver. And it wasn’t just because there were chimpanzees throwing things at me (a favorite past time of Binky) and spitting to get my attention (or just to get me wet), it was the understanding that chimpanzees simply don’t belong in captivity, but we have no choice but to keep them behind bars, penned by electric fencing, or surrounded by moats for the rest of their lives.

Filed Under: Sanctuary Tagged With: captivity, chimpanzee, Cle Elum, Fauna Foundation, northwest, rescue, Sanctuary, seven

Missy making a nest

July 31, 2008 by J.B.

Filed Under: Sanctuary Tagged With: Animal Welfare, Buckshire, chimp rescue, chimp sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Cle Elum, csnw, missy clothes

Jamie at her desk

July 30, 2008 by Sarah

Usually we fill up the pool you see here with water. Today, we left it empty and put lots of enrichment inside instead. Jamie got right in the pool and used it as her workspace. Note the tie!

Filed Under: Sanctuary

Burrito puts a sock on his foot

July 29, 2008 by Sarah

Filed Under: Sanctuary

Jamie busy with enrichment

July 28, 2008 by Diana

Jamie is always busy doing something – often multiple things at the same time. She definitely gets a lot of use out of the enrichment that we provide, as you can see from this video:

Filed Under: Sanctuary Tagged With: animal rights, Buckshire, chimp enrichment, chimpanzee, chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Primates, rescue, Sanctuary

Put the lime in the coconut

July 26, 2008 by Sarah

A special volunteer brought the chimpanzees an exciting treat today – whole coconuts! We put the coconuts (and some Key limes) out with their enrichment and watched as they found them. Missy was by far the most skilled coconut-opener. Here’s a video of her working her magic.

Filed Under: Sanctuary

Video of Negra

July 25, 2008 by Diana

We’ve been going through some older videos we have and I just love this clip of Negra. I was standing on a ladder filming the chimpanzees coming into the playroom for the first time (it was only a little over a month ago!) through one of the windows. Negra saw me and approached, presenting her belly for a little rub. The window where I was is still a favorite spot for Negra – it looks out over the valley. Negra’s expression at the end of this clip is absolutely precious. 

Filed Under: Sanctuary Tagged With: Animal Welfare, Buckshire, chimp rescue, chimp sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Cle Elum, csnw, Negra

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PO Box 952
Cle Elum, WA 98922
[email protected]
509-699-0728
501c3 registered charity
EIN: 68-0552915

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