The sky is blue and all the leaves are, well, on the ground, but the sun is warmish and the wind is certainly not freezing today. In fact, if I didn’t know better I might be convinced that the worst that winter had to offer was on it’s way out and Spring was just around the corner! Sadly, I realize that this is not the case but that’s not going to ruin such a delightfully warm day in the middle of this otherwise frozen wasteland for me. And while it’s just a little too blustery for the chimpanzees’ taste I can tell that the spirit of Spring is affecting them as well since everyone (including the boss) is full of fun and play today!
Archives for December 2013
Veterinary Clinic Progress
I’m happy to say we have more progress to report on the veterinary clinic!
With the help of our supporters and some generous foundations and businesses, we’ve been able to check more items off of our wishlist. Patrick and Carrie Hardie facilitated the donation of a steam autoclave, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and many other supplies. And Project V.E.T.S. has come through for us again. First, they connected us with Willamette Equine Veterinary Services in Oregon, who donated an automatic x-ray processor. Then, they awarded us with a grant that allowed us to shop for new and reconditioned equipment at apexx Veterinary Equipment, and apexx generously donated the first 25% of the cost of every item. This allowed us to purchase a laryngoscope set and an IV fluid pump (pictured below).
We’ve also been busy at the sanctuary making a place for the clinic next to the chimp building. One reason for this is this is that we don’t want to have to travel too far with an anesthetized chimpanzee on a stretcher. But more importantly, it’s best for the clinic to be in a secure environment in the event that a chimpanzee comes out of anesthesia unexpectedly. We could either reinforce the trailer to make it chimp proof, or simply park it within the perimeter fence that already surrounds the building. We chose to do the latter, but that entailed extending the fence 10 feet to the west, relocating the entry gate, and adding 60 feet of gravel driveway. Thankfully, volunteer Mark spent some cold mornings with us setting posts and running wire.
With the fence modifications complete, we were also able to begin the installation of the wildfire sprinkler system, a project made possible by a grant from the ASPCA. A high-pressure pump will send water through PVC pipes around the base of the fence and up to sprinklers mounted on the tops of the fence posts. The pump will be powered by a generator and the sprinklers will soak the chimp house and surrounding area in the event of another wildfire.
It goes without saying that the health and safety of the chimps is our top priority, so we are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters that make improvements like these possible. Thank you!
Jamie and challenges
You may have figured out by now that Jamie is a tough chimp to enrich. Her mind is so active and she requires a lot to keep engaged. Part of our job as caregivers is to come up with new ways to keep the chimpanzees enriched, and in particular, keeping Jamie busy.
Though raisin boards are already a puzzle in themselves (the chimps usually have to use tools to get the raisins out), it’s even more so when they are just out of reach. Jamie prefers the challenges. She will go right past the raisin boards that are hidden under a blanket and aim for the ones that are harder puzzles to solve.
Here you see she even learns from her own mistakes—the first board she dropped too quickly and it went too far for her to reach. At first she looks around for a tool to grab the raisin board but decides to work on the more accessible one and leave the other project for later (don’t worry—she got that one eventually, too).
After seeing this video (and likely even without watching you know already) I think you will agree that Jamie is amazing.
Happy Un-birthday!
Birthdays aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. Do you ever find that sometimes you just need a birthday do-over? In light of that, we thought today would be the perfect Happy Un-birthday celebration. So today is for everyone who needs an very merry un-birthday, and especially for all the chimpanzees in captivity who aren’t given the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays.
The wacky day at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest began with upside down Jamie on a barrel:
Wednesdays here at CSNW are “tumbleweed harvest” days (we remove any that have blown against the electric fencing). So we decided to add to the crazy day by making a tumbleweed nest for the chimpanzees to investigate. Caregiver Debbie even did a comfort test for the chimps. While it looks pretty pokey, Debbie claims it was fairly comfy.
Just to be on the safe side we covered it with blankets. The chimpanzees were not impressed with the tumbleweed nest but ran through it on the way to Young’s Hill, briefly stopping to see if there was any forage in it. And then Jody promptly collected all of the blankets and carried them in a huge armload back to the warm front rooms. Clearly, where they belonged in the first place!
Volunteer caregivers Stephanie and Keri showed up for the festivities and Stephanie brought unicorn, mermaid and cupcake pinatas! Very apropos for an un-birthday party! Here’s Jamie with the mermaid:
And the unicorn:
Burrito checking out the kooky party favors and looking pretty excited with his hair standing on end (pilo-erect):
Jamie dismantling the kooky party favors:
And don’t worry, even Negra got in on the unicorn pinata:
A very Happy Un-birthday to all of you who need it! And to all the amazing beings awaiting their sanctuary and days to celebrate how special they are.
Take Action Tuesday: Chance in Wolf of Wall Street
This action alert went out earlier today. Not on the mailing list? Sign up for Eyes on Apes Take Action list today to get these alerts straight to your inbox!
In the upcoming movie Wolf of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio is seen holding an infant chimpanzee, Chance. It is especially disappointing because Mr. DiCaprio is known for his passion for animal conservation—most recently he supported conservation efforts to save tigers in Nepal.
Animal advocacy groups have contacted Mr. DiCaprio and the movie producers, however our efforts to reach out have not resulted in Chance’s scenes getting removed from the movie. Now it is time for the public to speak up!
Chance was once a pet, and his previous owners discarded him to a pseudo-sanctuary called the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. The animal attraction claims to be a reserve for animals, but they regularly exploit their residents for entertainment purposes. In fact, Chance’s owners (the Rosaire-Zoppe family) are the only remaining trainers that continue to use chimpanzees in circuses. No respectable reserve or animal sanctuary would lease out their animals for media productions such as this movie.
Even if the AHA was present for filming, they have no authority over Chance’s treatment off-set, making the “no animals were harmed” disclaimer misleading.
Portraying chimpanzees as cute and cuddly attractions seriously misinforms the public on the true nature of these beings and perpetuates the pet and entertainment industries. Studies have shown that showing chimpanzees alongside humans in film and TV mask their endangered status, and these scenes hurt conservation efforts.
Despite hearing these facts from advocacy groups, the Wolf of Wall Street producers have not removed Chance’s scenes from the movie, which will be released on December 25. We encourage you to please post on the movie’s poster on their Facebook page and Twitter to let them know that because of the issues with Chance’s scenes you will not be going to see the movie, and you will tell all your friends to boycott it with you.
Sample Facebook Post:
I’m boycotting Wolf of Wall Street because of the chimpanzee scenes! Even Hollywood knows that abuse occurs when animals are used in movies (hollywoodreporter.com/feature). Chimpanzees don’t belong in movies unless they are CGI. Chimpanzees are an endangered species and showing them as cute and cuddly props hurts conservation efforts and perpetuates the pet trade.
Sample Tweets:
Pls RT! Join @EyesOnApes and tell @LeoDiCaprio chimps should not be in movies & you won’t see @TheWolfofWallSt!
RT! @LeoDiCaprio I will boycott @TheWolfofWallSt because of Chance’s scenes. Chimps do not belong in movies! EyesOnApes.org
Don’t support animal abuse. Refuse to see @LeoDiCaprio in @TheWolfofWallSt and tell all your friends. EyesOnApes.org Pls RT!
The final thing you can do to help Chance is to spread the word! Please share this alert on social media and encourage your friends to boycott the movie with you.
Reflecting on Sanctuary
In yesterday’s blog post Elizabeth talked about what sanctuary means to the chimpanzees of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, particularly Negra. As caregivers we try to provide an environment that allows individuals the opportunity to enjoy the life that sanctuary provides in the manner that most appeals to each.
For Negra, that can mean her night bags or her naps on the catwalk.
For Jamie, cowboy boots and daily walks around Young’s Hill seem to be it.
For Missy, maybe it’s a fulfilling friendship with Annie or a satisfying run through the grass.
For Annie there is always Missy, but did you know she also likes bare feet?
For Burrito, good food and good friends are often the pleasures of his day although he also enjoys wooden toys quite a lot!
For Foxie, Doras and Trolls claim her heart.
And for Jody, bamboo forages and warm fluffy blankets for her to nest in are always welcome.
These are just a few of the many different favorite things of the chimpanzees, just a few of the ways they each make sanctuary their own. If I ask Google to define sanctuary here is the result:
sanc·tu·ar·y ?saNG(k)CHo?o?er?/ noun
1. a place of refuge or safety.
2. a nature reserve.
3. a holy place; a temple or church
I don’t know about you, but I think that Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest has got this definition down.
Sanctuary means…
I think sanctuary means something different to each of the chimpanzees. To Negra, it means the joy that a single peanut brings.
