Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for January 2015

Today at the sanctuary

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We’re all a little stunned by the gorgeous weather we’re having today. The chimpanzees are in great moods and are making the most of their day. Here are our favorite photos from this morning and afternoon. (Don’t let these photos fool you; these all happened to be taken indoors, but the chimps are enjoying a ton of time outside today in the sunshine.)

Foxie inspecting a chow biscuit:

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Negra looking out the window:

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Jamie with a toothbrush:

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Jody with a mouthful of chow at breakfast:

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Missy wading through a box of enrichment:

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Annie:

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Burrito during today’s breakfast forage:

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Happy Birthday, Julie!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Julie Harding, as a way to celebrate her birthday! Julie has been a long-time volunteer with the sanctuary helping out with everything from processing the chimpanzees’ donated produce and prepping their meals, to making sure they have clean blankets to nest in and interesting enrichment to play with. She even helps out at our events!

Julie shared the following message: “In honor of my 57th trip around the sun, I’m sponsoring this day. Happy birthday to me and I hope to continue to support the CE7 for many years!!”

Julie, thank you so much for wanting to share your day with the chimpanzees and for the variety of ways in which you help to ensure that every day is one of sanctuary for them. All of the primates here wish you the best birthday yet!

These photos are from last summer, but if you’re day is filled with half as much joy as Missy’s days are from just being Missy, it will be a good day!

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Annie and Jody Show Off Their Flexibility While Grooming

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Grooming is a important activity in chimpanzee societies. Not only is it useful to help chimpanzees keep themselves and other members of their group clean and free of dirt and debris, grooming also helps to build friendships and solidify bonds. The activity can also be used as a form of reconciliation after a conflict. Sometimes the chimps spend their time attending to themselves, as was the case with Jody and Annie in the following photos and video.

Annie and Jody displayed their flexibility and similar grooming techniques while sitting next to each other on one of the ledges in the Front Rooms.

Annie
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Jody
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Forages and Serving – Variety is the Spice of Life

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Today I have for you a video of the chimpanzees enjoying food. Now, we all know that Burrito is pretty irresistible, especially when he’s excited about food (see exhibits A and B photos below):

Burrito with chow in mouth

Burrito with chow in mouth

 

But I think my favorite part of the video is Jamie’s look when she’s enjoying the last bit of smoothie from a dixie cup. See for yourself:

Running around the hill

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It’s cold and foggy here in Cle Elum, but that didn’t stop Missy, Jamie, and volunteer Becca from going on a few walks this morning.

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Jamie likes to walk slowly and steadily, while Missy tends to run full speed until she catches up. Then she waits for Jamie and Becca to get ahead so she can run and catch up again.

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But there’s something about the last downhill stretch that gets everybody running…even Jamie.

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Missy is smooth and graceful when she’s running, while Jamie lumbers along awkwardly.

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In fact, I sometimes worry that she’ll just run out of control with her head down until she crashes into the fence at the bottom of the hill.

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But she always manages to stop.

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And then it’s time to go around again.

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Happy Birthday Donna and Doreen!

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Donna and Doreen Hughes are long-time friends of all the primates here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, especially their pal, Foxie, with whom they share a special love of trolls. They are twin sisters living the life in their beloved Big Apple and today is their birthday! Being the kind and compassionate souls they are, they chose to celebrate by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and shared this message:

“We’d love to celebrate our birthday by sponsoring today! We love Foxie and all of the chimps. What gift could be more meaningful than to help the Great Apes? We hope the 23rd of January is a wonderful day for the chimps, and every day this year! We hope to visit the sanctuary in 2015! Love from NYC!”

Donna and Doreen, thank you for all you do to support great apes everywhere. We are so lucky to have you as part of our chimpanzee family. We hope you have a beautiful day and that all the love, joy, and kindness you send out into the world comes back to you tenfold! Happy Birthday!! (Maybe try some back-flips in Central Park, Foxie-style! Or at least give your trolls a good toss about!).

Two of Donna and Doreen’s kindred spirits, Foxie and troll:

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