Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for February 2015

In memory of Tory Dinkins

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored in memory of Tory Dinkins by Ammie Haggard, one of our new volunteers. Ammie shared this lovely message: “I would like to honor the memory of my loving friend, Tory Dinkins. Tory was an extremely compassionate person who exhibited unconditional love and kindness to all animals.”

Ammie, thank you so much for honoring Tory’s memory and ensuring the spirit of such a compassionate life goes on by sponsoring this day for the chimpanzees. It’s wonderful to think that Tory’s life continues to make a difference in the world and we are touched you would share your special memories of a dear friend to make the chimpanzees’ lives better.

Negra:

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Another Sunny Day and Time Spent on Young’s Hill

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Sometimes looks can be deceiving. The sun was shining bright this morning, but there was still frost on the ground and a chill in the air. I figured the chimpanzees would wait for the temperature to rise a little before they would spend a good chunk of time on Young’s Hill, but that wasn’t the case this morning.

Volunteer caregiver Patti served breakfast in the Greenhouse and had just finished serving chow bags as I opened the door between the Greenhouse and Young’s Hill. Jody was actually waiting right by the door and walked out onto the hill, positioned herself in the sun and ate the contents of her first chow bag. Her breath was visible as the temperature was still in the 20’s.

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Annie soon followed Jody outside and sat on the logs to eat her chow.
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Missy followed Annie outside and took a few moments to sit on the logs and check out the scene.

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After finishing her first bag of chow, Jody made her way further up Young’s Hill before returning to her previous spot. On the way back down the hill, Jody greeted Missy who was on her way up the hill.

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Next to venture out onto Young’s Hill was Foxie, accompanied by her dear troll friend. She chose to enjoy her chow bags from the top of the platform in the sunshine.
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Jamie chose to finish her chow bags inside the Greenhouse before venturing out onto the hill. She walked around, stopping to listen to the ducks who were making noise nearby.

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Negra chose to enjoy her morning chow bags in the sun as well, just inside of the Greenhouse where it was warmer.

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Burrito on the other hand, spent most of his morning on top of the platform in the Greenhouse (possibly enjoying the quiet as most of the ladies were on the Hill).

I’ll never get tired of seeing these chimpanzees on Young’s Hill, where they can actually feel the grass below them and the warmth of the sunshine on their faces.

Today is in memory of Orfeo Tanzi

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Rita Stevenson in memory of her father, Orfeo Tanzi. Rita is a long-time supporter of chimpanzees and she shared this lovely message about today: “A year after my father passed away I saw the video of Jody munching away on a huge sunflower. It warmed my heart because my dad and I used to grow sunflowers in his huge garden. He loved chimps and all animals. He was kind to all animals. Thus, in memory of my father, I’ve been supporting Jody, Negra, Burrito, Missy, Annie, Foxie and Jamie with Nuts.com deliveries and blankets and toys care packages. Today, on my 60th birthday, I wish to honor my dear father who I miss and love dearly.”

Rita, thank you for not only honoring your father in this way and including the chimpanzees in your special memories of him, but also for sharing your own special day in order to make theirs better. We hope you have a wonderful birthday and may your day be filled with all the things you love.

Our resident Master Gardener/Forager/Harvester, Jody:

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Jody Harvesting in the Greenhouse

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As Katelyn mentioned in her post the other day, Jody is known as Jody the Harvester.

Though we have been having a very mild winter, there isn’t much new to harvest on Young’s Hill yet. Today, instead, Jody turned her harvesting attentions to the Christmas tree.

We’ve been getting a lot of use out of that Christmas tree – using it to hide goodies during various foraging parties. It’s in a big pot right now in the Greenhouse, and we are hoping to plant it on the hill in the spring, but we weren’t sure if the chimps would allow it to survive until we can plant it.

For the most part, they’ve ignored it, aside from getting treats out of it during parties. Every once in a while, however, Jody decides to take a few samples:

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Jody eating tree bit

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Lazy forage

Today is for Crystal Codina

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Pam Miller in honor of her friend, Crystal Codina, with the following message: “I am sponsoring this day on behalf of Crystal Codina, a friend to all animals and someone who I am proud to call my friend.”

I love this story: Pam shared that when she recently attempted to make a payment at her veterinarian’s office she learned that Crystal had called the office earlier and made a significant payment to her account to help her with expenses. Pam was so touched by Crystal’s selflessness and did not want the gift to place an undue hardship on Crystal so Pam insisted on returning the gift. But Crystal refused to allow Pam to pay her back. So Pam felt sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in Crystal’s honor was the next best thing.

Crystal, what a truly kind thing to do for your friend and we hope you know that your compassion has made an even bigger difference than you may have imagined. Pam, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story. You and Crystal both sound like amazing friends to have.  We are touched by your thought to expand such generosity and “pay it forward” to the chimpanzees.

Always looking out for one another, best friends, Annie and Missy:

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Missy and Annie on the hill

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At the center of everything

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If you were to diagram the relationships between the chimps at CSNW, Foxie would be the one point at the center that connects everyone together.

She is by far the best friend that Jody has. The two like to take morning walks around Young’s Hill together and play gentle tickling and wrestling games while lying on their backs. When Jody is upset, Foxie is there to comfort her.

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She is one of Missy’s favorite play partners, and one of the few that can keep up with Missy’s breakneck pace.

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And while she got off to a rocky start with Annie, the two have come to understand each other better in the last couple of years and these days it’s not uncommon for them to play together or spend time with each other surveying the valley below Young’s Hill.

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Foxie is one of the only chimps that can get Jamie to let down her guard and play. If it weren’t for Foxie, Jamie would never get a break from being bossy. And that, frankly, wouldn’t be good for anyone.

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To be Negra’s friend, you have to learn to go at her speed. Foxie can groom quietly with Negra, but she also gets Negra to let loose once and a while. She does this by inviting her to play with big, exaggerated play gestures, knowing that she has to be clear with Negra and ensure that Negra still wants to play along at every step of the way. This gentle and understanding approach has really helped Negra come out of her shell.

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And I don’t know where Burrito would be without his 90-lb bodyguard. Whenever Burrito gets himself into trouble, she is there, trolls in hand, and ready to place herself in harm’s way to defend him.

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Primatologists often refer to a primate’s political skills as “Machiavellian intelligence.” Chimps with a high level of Machiavellian intelligence are able to work social relationships to their advantage. They form alliances and exchange favors in an effort to climb the social ladder. If I didn’t know her better, I might think that Foxie is a Machiavellian genius, the way that she has won everyone over. But I don’t think she has a cynical or manipulative bone in her body. She just likes everyone and wants everybody to get along. And they, in turn, like her. How could you not?

Nature documentaries tend to focus on the alpha males, and in many human societies, we deify the powerful. But behind all the brash, dominant types hogging the spotlight, there’s usually someone like Foxie holding everything together.

If anyone deserves our admiration, it’s her.

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