One of the things that brings the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees the most joy is food. In order to keep the chimps as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible, we focus on nutrition and variety (and taste, of course!). Here’s what the chimps ate today.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is usually the most exciting meal of the day, eliciting lots of food grunts. This morning the chimps had a fruit smoothie made of persimmons, bananas, and protein powder. We also served apples, oranges, and kiwi berries. In the green bowl are some banana slices. Burrito gets his heart pills in banana (those are the two slices in the small white bowl on top), and of course, you can’t give something to one chimp without also offering it to the others, so the rest of the chimps get a couple of banana slices too. We always include a small bowl of peanuts with breakfast – Negra often won’t leave her nest in the morning until she spots the peanuts on the breakfast tray. In the small pink bowl are the chimps’ gummy vitamins, fiber pills, and probiotics. And the silver bowl on the right holds protein biscuits we call chow.
Lunch:
Lunch is usually a pretty simple affair consisting of fresh veggies and more chow. Today the chimps had corn on the cob, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, and beets.
Dinner:
For dinner, the chimps had celery, carrots, and spaghetti squash. Everyone had a couple of banana slices so Burrito could get his second dose of heart meds, and of course, a night bag for dessert (these are small paper bags with a handful of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, and they are Negra’s favorite part of the day).
The vast majority of the chimps’ food is donated by local stores, volunteers, and supporters. We’re so grateful to be able to offer the chimpanzees the bounty of delicious food that they deserve.
A Bigger Chimp says
I just wanted to say thank you to each of you for what you do. It literally brings tears of gratitude to my eyes, that people like you all still exist. In a time when citis like Ft. Lauderdale FL are making it illegal to feed humans who are hungry, I’m glad there are those on the planet who understand we are ALL in this together. Every sentient being deserves the maximum benefit of our ability to be good stewards of this planet and ALL her inhabitants. Thank you, bless you, and please know that your work is appreciated by others as being deeply necessary– and it helps heal hearts to see your dedication and resolve. THANK YOU.
Elizabeth says
Thank you so much! The fact that there are so many folks out there who love these chimps like we do makes us so happy.
Meg says
Can you give guidelines for fresh veggie donations? Especially home grown veggies? When will the 2015 calendar be available? Thanks.
Meg
Elizabeth says
Hi Meg,
Thanks for asking! Fruit or veggie donations are always much appreciated – home-grown or store-bought. Mushrooms and zucchini aren’t favorites of the chimps, and Annie’s allergic to mangoes, but just about anything else is great. Because most of our produce is donated, we’re never really sure what we’re going to have on hand from day to day, so if you’d like to donate some produce, I’d recommend getting in touch with us and seeing what we might need.
The 2015 calendar should be available through our Zazzle store (http://www.zazzle.com/chimpsnw) sometime this week.
Cody Marie Phoenix says
Just curious if someone watches Burrito to make sure he actually gets his meds. My Lab has to take pills for fluid around the heart and if I don’t watch her with an eagle eye she tries to hide the pills if she finds them within the food.
Hopefully with Burrito’s love of food he doesn’t even know they meds are there. lol
Elizabeth says
The caregiver who’s serving the meal keeps an eye on Burrito to make sure he gets his pill. The vast majority of the time, Burrito inhales the banana (peel and all) so quickly that there’s no question. 😉 On a few occasions, he’s spit the pill out, but usually when we ask him to take it, he’ll pop it back in his mouth.
nicki says
Awesome spreaD
Nancy Lewis says
Do you put it all out at once. Do they share easily?
Elizabeth says
Hi Nancy,
For most of the chimps’ meals, a caregiver serves each of the chimps’ food portions directly to their mouths. For the most part, they’re remarkably patient and great about waiting for their turn, though on occasion some of the more dominant chimps might swipe food from the less dominant ones.
For other meals, we’ll set up a forage – we’ll scatter food around the chimps’ enclosure and they’ll collect their own food. I’d say that everyone tends to get a more or less equal amount of food during forages, though again, those chimps at the top of the hierarchy might end up with a little more.
Kathleen says
Looks oh so healthy, what lucky chimps! I have always been curious about meals. In videos I see the chimps forage, inside and out, for their food. Do you ever worry about everyone getting a fair and balanced amount each time? Clearly each chimp looks healthy so I know they are eating well, but it seems as if someone would be shorted! : )
Is Negra still venturing out now and then to forage for her meals or is she playing it safe and staying inside?
Elizabeth says
Hi Kathleen – We do tend to film forages more, but most meals are actually served directly to the chimps through the fencing, so we can have some control over everyone’s portions (though, as I said in response to Nancy’s comment above, sometimes the more dominant chimps end up with a bit more).
Since the weather’s gotten chillier, we’ve done fewer forages outside on Young’s Hill. This summer, Negra would venture out pretty consistently if lettuce was included in the forage – she’s got her standards. 🙂
Alice Blanton says
Could you please give us an update on Burrito’s heart condition as compared to the post from June 2012? Is he the same, or has his condition changed? God bless all of you for your devotion to these incredible cherished souls. If you ever doubt that you are making a difference, I promise you, you have made these souls better in every way. I have grown to love each and everyone one of them because of the beauty you see in them. I love reading the post and seeing the pictures each day. I also love going back to the older posts. To the whole staff, you are my heroes.
Elizabeth says
Thank you for your kind words, Alice! Burrito’s condition seems to be about the same as when he was diagnosed. He’s still active, playful, and happy.