Celebrating 5 years of sanctuary and a very special birthday

Today has been an incredible day. We’re so moved to see all the love for the Cle Elum Seven as the Give Five donations keep rolling in. As of right now, we’ve raised $10,550 toward our summer goal of $35,000! We’re asking for just $5 as a pledge of support for the chimps and the sanctuary (and as a happy birthday wish for Negra!).

It wouldn’t be a CSNW holiday without a party, of course, and the chimpanzees are expert partiers with five years of practice under their belts. Volunteer caregivers Denice, Seana, and Patti came this morning to help the chimps celebrate. Denice dressed up the morning fruit smoothie and put it in festive plastic shot glasses.

Patti brought several pinatas, including this one to honor Negra’s birthday.

Seana setting up the party in the greenhouse:

Denice:

Patti:

Missy was very interested in the pinata, but she had some nuts to eat first, so she held on to it.

Missy drinking smoothie:

Jamie:

Foxie enjoying some raspberries:

Annie with a pinata:

As for the birthday girl, she has had a pretty great day. Here she is with some fruit smoothie:

And with a tiara pinata (she is the Queen, after all):

After the party Negra explored Young’s Hill, venturing so high up the hill that we lost sight of her for awhile.

And after all that activity, she took a well-deserved nap.

We really can’t say what all of your support means to us. You enable us to do what we do. Here’s to another five years!