Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for November 2012

In Memory of Dar Chimpanzee

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The CSNW staff lost a friend today. This afternoon we received a call from our friends at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) in nearby Ellensburg to let us know that Dar passed away this morning. All of our staff worked with the family of chimpanzees at CHCI during our time there as graduate students studying primate behavior.  Dar was a big, goofy, gentle giant who loved babies, games of chase, and endless somersaults.  He had a sweet freckled face and huge floppy ears that he never quite grew into.  We will miss him terribly.  Learn more about Dar here.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for sponsoring today in memory of Dar.

Thanksgiving 2012, Pt. 2

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A few more photos from Thanksgiving day at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest…

Jody enjoyed the sweet potatoes:

Burrito tried to get every last bite of cranberries out of his cup and ended up coloring his face red:

Negra ate her Field Roast Grain Meat in the comfort of a nest:

Speaking of nests, the chimps made some nice ones after their big meal:

Annie was the big winner of the day. She was the only one who noticed that there were nuts and seeds in the decorations, so she quietly gathered them all before anyone else caught on. She also got the Thanksgiving pinata.

You know how can you tell when Foxie is happy with her food? She rubs her toes together.

It’s not hard to tell when Missy is having fun:

Online Store Discount

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The Thanksgiving discount for our brand new online store is still valid, so go get yourself some stuff and buy holiday gifts right now! Then enter the word Thanks as a discount code when checking out. Our store is the only place you can get:
 

Prints of the beautiful illustration by Philip Herman of the Cle Elum Seven on Young’s Hill:
 
youngs hill print

 

Ornaments / gift tags / wine bottle accessories with photos of the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees:

ornaments

 


2013 Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest calendars (buy 5 for bargain price):

2013 calendar cover

 

Cle Elum Seven long sleeve t-shirts (two styles and three colors – unisex and women’s):
 

Rain

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We’ve had a lot of rain at the sanctuary lately. We certainly need the rain, so I can’t complain, but the chimps are starting to remind me of myself when I was a kid and I couldn’t go out and play.

Today, when Burrito was outside in the rain, he made a face that we often see when the chimpanzees are uncomfortable. It’s close to what we would call a sneer but a sneer is usually seen more in fear or threat contexts. Burrito’s face says something more like “I know it won’t kill me but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Jody makes this face when she’s outside in the cold, and Annie often makes it when she has to walk through tall grass.

Thanksgiving 2012

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It’s been one celebration after another at the chimp house today. After we cleaned the playroom, we decorated and put out little boxes with pecans in the shell. Jamie had a strategy in mind and gathered a bunch.

Jamie with pecan boxes

 

After the forage, Annie enjoyed taking down some of the decorations that Patti brought for the day.

annie with thanksgiving decorations

 

Then she and Missy played with the decorations for a while. I love this photo of Annie lovingly gazing at Missy.

annie lovingly gazing at missy

 

Lunch was the first Thanksgiving feast of the day with baked potatoes, apples and Brussels sprouts (thanks to volunteer Denice for making the baked potatoes in advance). Watch the video below and listen to the food squeaking-Thanksgiving-happiness.

And now they are having yet another feast – Thanksgiving dinner, complete with Field Roast, baked sweet potatoes and cranberries with apples.

For Patti Sims and Anne Roberson

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Mary Ann Baltich has sponsored today in honor of Anne Roberson and Patti Sims.  Anne and Patti are coworkers and friends who are both longtime supporters of the chimpanzees, and this year they started volunteering together at the sanctuary.  Mary Ann said, “Thanksgiving seems like an appropriate time to thank them for all the work they do and support they provide!”

We’re thankful today for Mary Ann’s generosity, and for all the love and support Anne and Patti have shared with us and with the Cle Elum Seven!

Negra loves pumpkin

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Yesterday was volunteer Katelyn’s birthday and she decided to dedicate her day to spending time with the chimps. Being the amazing person that she is, she, instead of throwing a party for herself, threw a party for her seven chimp friends. She decided to pick up some mini pumpkins and fill them with all kinds of delicious fruits and veggies. They looked amazing!

We scattered the pumpkins both in the greenhouse and on Young’s Hill. Negra has learned a funny little trick when we do that – while everyone else is busy foraging on the hill, she collects all that she can in the greenhouse and basically gets her own forage. While she did go out on the hill a few times, she made the best profit with what was in the comfy greenhouse. But even the greenhouse was a little too chilly for Negra. She went around collecting as many as she could and made a stash in the front rooms. She would carry the pumpkin bowls in her mouth into the room, carefully set it down on the bench, and then head out for another. Smart lady!

Here she is in the front rooms with what is left of her stash:

After things settled down a bit, she was spotted sitting next to an empty pumpkin bowl, rubbing her tummy a bit, and then picking it up and diving in for more. She loves her pumpkin! Thanks so much, Katelyn!