Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Free-living chimpanzees inhabit countries spanning equatorial Africa, but the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest are becoming more and more acclimated to central Washington weather. Perhaps these photos of Jamie will inspire you to embrace winter too.
Missy and Annie may get all the attention, but there’s another friendship amongst the Cle Elum Seven that’s just as important.
As you may know, Burrito could use a little help navigating the politics of chimpanzee society. Consider his life before to coming to the sanctuary: He was born in a lab, raised as a pet, forced to perform in a circus, and then locked away for twenty years for use in hepatitis research. Can you imagine living the majority of your first 25 years on earth either alone or with a different species? Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to suddenly be thrust into a group of your own kind, only to realize that they are playing by a rule book that no one ever bothered to show you?
Thankfully, Burrito has found a good friend in Foxie. In quiet times, she’s a playful companion. When the going gets tough, she reassures him and plays peacemaker with the rest of the group. And when he is scared, she comforts him.
Burrito has all the instincts of a tough guy, but none of experience to back it up. Lucky for him he has a 97-pound girl and her troll dolls on his side.
Good friend and all around wonderful person Adrienne Armstrong is raising money for the chimpanzees this holiday season and providing beautiful gifts in return for donations to the chimpanzees through her business Atomic Garden.
Please check out the gift levels and the benefit gifts that you will receive in return for helping the chimpanzees (sneak peak photos below). These are wonderful holiday Gifts of Giving for loved ones so consider them in your holiday gift shopping today. You will probably find a few other great gifts in the Atomic Garden shop while you’re browsing.
Visit Atomic Garden online to donate, or if you’re in Oakland, California, visit the shop in person. Thank you for your support of the sanctuary of of businesses who help the chimpanzees!
Last week you may have seen on Jamie’s Facebook page, that she walked around the hill with me during a complete downpour! We’ve been wondering if she will still want to walk when it begins to snow and today she took it a step further. While much of the light snow we had is gone in this photo, it was only around 20 degrees. You can just see Jamie in the upper right corner of the photo. She kept stopping and looking back at me impatiently, un-interested in my plight of trying to trek up a slippery hill in a cowgirl boot (I even had to outfit the boot with Yaktrax!) Jamie said we were still walking! Two laps! I so admire Jamie, and each of the chimpanzees, for the courage they exhibit every day in pushing past their comfort zones. Last summer I recall Jamie running inside at the slightest ruffle of her hair from the wind. And just look at her now.
Once in from the bitter cold, Jamie was especially excited to see her boot and inspected it closely after it’s tromp through the elements. Then she ran into the next room and started wrapping herself in cozy blankets while motioning for me to give her the boot. I found her in the greenhouse with the boot a little while later, perhaps also in admiration for its snow and ice trekking abilities.
Much to my surprise all the chimpanzees spent time walking around the hill, enjoying the cold, sunny day. Well, everyone except for Negra that is…
And I don’t blame her one bit.
Hopefully you are subscribed to our e-news (if not, subscribe here), which means that you received the Giving Tuesday message today with the Foxie Inspires Us video in your inbox early this morning.
The video is below, along with some more great photos of Foxie. We would really appreciate your help in spreading Foxie’s story by sharing the video via Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest pages on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Linked In, and by emailing it to your friends. Foxie appreciates your love!
More Foxie photos:
On my drive to the sanctuary this morning I heard the holiday song, “These are a few of my favorite things.” With the help of a little holiday cheer and some inspiration from Annie, Missy, Foxie, Burrito, Jody, Negra, and Jamie, I decided to make a list of my own (the videos are oldies, but goodies).
These are a few of MY favorite things…
Food squeaks – The chimpanzees (especially Burrito) are blissful during mealtime.
Brachiating – It takes my breath away to witness the chimps brachiate. I’m grateful that the sanctuary provides them with the space to roam and climb.
Pant hoots – How can I not get excited when I hear a pant hoot?!
Like the Seven, I hope you too can find some holiday cheer amidst this busy and hectic season! Thank you for loving them and helping us care for them!
It’s days like today, when it’s pouring down rain relentlessly upon our heads, that being a chimpanzee caregiver can become even more challenging than it already is. Just imagine trying to keep otherwise generally active chimpanzees entertained when the weather isn’t cooperating!
As you can see here, the weather definitely didn’t feel like cooperating today. This is what Young’s Hill looks like this afternoon:
While many of the chimpanzees have taken advantage of the weather to engage in some indoor shenanigans others, like Jamie, are not having any of it. Here you can see Foxie & Negra playing while Jamie looks on:
Some days weather is just too much to overcome. I think, perhaps, Jamie’s having one of those days.
