Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Not only do we have an awesome camera (thanks to our awesome board of directors), but we also have some really photogenic chimps! Here’s an up close photo of Foxie, who was keeping a close eye on the boss, Jamie.
In addition to keeping her eye on her boss, she’s also been keeping her eye on this troll doll for the last two days:
On a warm day, Jody loves having the barn doors open. She seems to love the fresh air and the view, and as soon as we open them up for the day, she usually starts going around the playroom collecting as many blankets as possible and makes a giant nest right next to them, either in the sun or where ever she can get the most breeze. Here are a few photos I took of her the other day doing just that in a nest of about 15 blankets.
Negra loves looking at the valley below the chimp house. The other day, I removed the greenhouse panels on the south side of the building, giving her a much clearer view. During lunch, she couldn’t take her eyes off of the valley.
Later I caught Foxie spending some time in Negra’s corner, just taking it all in.
I’m guessing most people who are reading this are also signed up for our e-newsletter and hopefully you also follow us on Facebook, so you already know about our 3rd anniversary fundraising and your chance to be a permanent part of the Young’s Hill habitat.
For a donation of just $50, you’ll get an engraved plaque with your custom message – your name, a dedication, a favorite quote – whatever you like! It’s a unique gift idea, so you should probably think about donating for several posts.
Our goal is to have all 220 posts “adopted” by our 3rd Anniversary (and Negra’s honorary birthday) on June 13th. As I type this, we’re up to 76 posts adopted. A couple of our board members adopted a good chunk of those this morning!
So, after just two days, we’ve reached 35% of our goal.
Thanks to all who were the first to donate! If you haven’t already, get your post plaque today.
Learn more about our plans on the Young’s Hill FAQ page.
Negra thinks it would be great to reach our goal early.
Today is avid chimp fan and Cle Elum Seven friend, Marie Cross’ birthday, and her husband, Peter, sponsored today in honor of her. The couple has been following us closely on our blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter, for about a year now, and have, of course, fallen in love with the “magnificent seven”.
We just can’t thank you two enough for supporting the chimps and we wish you the best of birthdays, Marie! As you said to Jody on her Facebook Page on her birthday: “you deserve a million roses on your special day xxx”.
Jamie loves her cowboy boots and will often do everything in her power to cram her extra-wide feet into them, no matter what sized boot it is (I’ve seen her try to squeeze her foot into a size 5 boot!). Therefore, supporter Chris Frutiger is Jamie’s new best friend. Chris made a connection with an Australian-based company called Vegan Wares, which sells top quality vegan footwear and accessories, and convinced them to make a pair of custom-sized boots for Jamie. Chris and her husband, Dave delivered them to the sanctuary yesterday– we were all so excited!
(**Please keep in mind that Jamie always has the choice to wear the boots or not. We neither encourage or discourage- see this blog post regarding our take on chimpanzees wearing clothes**)
Since they are wider than most, the boots were made with no sole, which made them easy to roll up and fit through the caging:
It was slightly unusual that Jamie didn’t try them on right away– perhaps she just wanted to thoroughly inspect them first:
She carried them around with her for the rest of the day- nesting with them, inspecting them, smelling them, putting her hand in and out of them, and carrying them around in her pelvic pocket.
But from the moment I arrived this morning until about noon, Jamie was wearing them… and seemed pretty happy about it.
Thanks so much to Vegan Wares for creating the perfect Jamie boot, and to Chris, who spearheaded the whole project! We are all so grateful!! CSNW has the best supporters– is it possible to say that too much? I don’t think so.
Diane and Syd Marcus sent us some fabulous goodies for Jody’s Birthday Party, but unfortunately we didn’t get them until after the big day. As a compromise, today we held a “Diane and Syd are awesome” Party. Let me explain:
Diane and Syd frequently send the chimps goodies and each time there is one hand-picked and individually wrapped thing for each chimp, along with a note to whom it belongs to. Among the gifts this time– a stuffed animal for Jody, a popper toy for Burrito, a silky scarf for Annie, a toolbox for Jamie, socks and a beaded necklace for Missy, a troll doll for Foxie, and both Foxie and Negra got something extra special– several months ago, Diane and Syd sent a monogrammed Winnie the Pooh blanket for Negra. It was adorable and Negra actually seems to like it! This time, Diane and Syd had a king sized blanket monogrammed for her! They also sent a small monogrammed blanket for Foxie. Here’s their note to Foxie:
Darling Foxie,
We were overjoyed to see you reaching for blankets. You are not only a troll collectrice extraordinaire, but also a nest maker par excellence. And a beautiful peacekeeper. What a girl!!
We chose this blanket because it is a girlie girl blanket- which is what you are. Red and pink are your colors. Snuggle with it when you wish– you can do a few lovely flips.
Of course, we have also enclosed something else. No present to you would be complete without one.
You are a very special and lovely girl.
We are so fortunate to have such lovely supporters like Diane and Syd Marcus who light up the chimps’ day. The party was excellent, as always!
First, a video:
Negra was super happy about the rice cakes Diane and Syd sent:
They also sent some blueberry tea, which was a big hit. Here’s Missy enjoying a glass:
Jody checking out the beaded necklaces:
Jamie and her tools:
A super relaxed, post-party Burrito:
Thanks so much to Diane and Syd for the lovely gifts, and for all of you who send such wonderful enrichment for the chimps!
