Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Jamie can be a little high-strung. As the boss of the group, it’s her job to make sure everything runs the way (she believes) it should, and to make sure everyone’s behaving themselves.
But Jamie also knows the importance of rest. During quiet moments, she often takes the opportunity for a quick siesta before she’s called to attend to the next dispute.
In any given day I may take one hundred or more pictures of the chimpanzees and secretly hope that at least half do not turn out. It’s not that I do not want one hundred pictures of the chimps, it’s just that it is so much harder to go through them and select the ones to use for the blog. There can be twenty of the same chimp doing almost the same exact thing, just at a slightly different angle or at varying degrees of zoom. Today was one of those days when so many of the pictures of Burrito turned out that it made choosing the best photos seem almost impossible. So, I figured I would post the photos of him and let all of you decide which ones are the best (don’t worry, I narrowed the number down from the thirty original photos).
Burrito was being so patient, seemingly turning on the charm while he was being photographed.
Do you have a favorite?
I took this photo of Missy a few nights ago when she had joined Jamie for some “after hours” walking around the hill. I was trying to figure out why I love the photo so much (aside from the obvious cuteness of Missy from behind).
Today, while on another walk, I think I figured it out – it reminds me of a photo we took a few months after the chimpanzees arrived during a big rainstorm. It was before there was a Young’s Hill and before there were greenhouse panels covering their original “outdoor area” that we now call the greenhouse. The outdoors and the elements were a whole new experience for all of the chimps, and, without the greenhouse roof that exists now, the rain was pouring into this area.
Chimpanzees don’t tend to appreciate getting wet, and all of the chimps stayed indoors for most of the storm, but curiosity soon got the best of Missy, Annie, and Jamie. Missy was first to look out the door into the still dripping outside world:
At the time, I remember how thrilled J.B. and I were that the chimpanzees were experiencing something brand new. We were thrilled that they were able to gather the courage to follow their curiosity. And we knew that this was just one new experience in a whole line of new experiences they would be facing.
Still, I had no idea exactly what was to come into their lives, thanks to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters. I had no idea that Missy would embrace the two-acre outdoor habitat that was just beginning to be a kernel of an idea for the future.
I had no idea that six and half years later, Missy would run with glee across the 2-acres everyday:
Exploring her territory:
Satisfying her curiosity:
I can’t wait to see what Missy and her six friends get to experience next, and what the next six and a half years will bring to the sanctuary.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is not open to the public like a zoo. In general, we like to give the chimps their privacy. When we do allow visitors, we limit the frequency of the visits and the size of the groups, and we always ensure that the group is guided by a staff member that the chimps know and trust.
But we have one visitor that doesn’t abide by our rules.
Most mornings throughout the spring and summer, Ellie the wild elk can be found laying beneath the visitor shelter, waiting for the chimps to finish their breakfast and head out onto the hill. She seems to enjoy watching them, and they in turn have at least grown accustomed to her. In fact, we have even seen Jamie and Ellie taking a walk together around the hill without us.
Jamie and Ellie:
Burrito and Ellie:
Ellie and Jody:
Ellie, Jamie, and Missy:
So I guess – just this once! – we’ll make an exception to our visitor policy. It’s not like we could do anything about it anyway…
It’s hard to imagine the chimpanzees once being so different from who we know them to be today. I think this on most days, and yet every day they each show us another dimension of themselves. These seven individuals, so full of life, personality, courage and intelligence spent decades forced to live on the periphery of their lives. But with each passing season they become more fully themselves.
A year or so ago, and for some of the chimpanzees even less, we would not have had to “squint” to see who was out on Young’s Hill, so far away they appear a mere speck among the greenery. This season in particular, the chimpanzees seem to be embodying a spring of their own, literally changing and growing by the day.
Annie:
Burrito:
All the chimpanzees (with the exception of Negra for whom the outdoor temperatures are still not quite warm enough) enjoyed wandering far and wide on Young’s Hill after breakfast this morning. They often head out as a troop at this time, but where they used to stick together, they much more frequently spread out to take in their own adventure while just keeping an eye on one another. But that said, once someone starts to head back to the greenhouse the others often follow.
Missy (L) and Jamie (R):
From left to right: Annie, Missy, and Jamie
Jamie:
When they all headed back inside this morning I greeted each of them as they passed by and quickly realized Foxie was missing from the group. I stood up, my eyes scanning the hill for a sign of her, and I finally spotted her at the very top of the furthest climbing structure, perfectly content and enjoying her solitude with Dora and Troll.
When she saw that I had spotted her, she gave me a head nod and play slapped the platform as she shook Dora in my direction. I nodded back to her in acknowledgement and waited for her to eventually make her way back to the chimp house. In such moments I don’t think I could fully express all that is in my heart in seeing each of their hearts and souls blooming. Knowing what an immense journey it has been, and continues to be for each of them. The chimpanzees help remind me to accept things as they are each day. But to always hold the space, the expectation, and the hope for the ever changing gifts of each passing season.
Today’s day of sanctuary was also sponsored by Denice Mikkelson! Denice is one of our beloved volunteer caregivers and shares her heart with all of the primates here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in countless ways. She does so much to make the chimpanzees’ lives better and is also the driving force behind their garden. Today is Denice’s birthday and in true “Denice fashion” she chose to celebrate by making a difference for the chimpanzees. Denice shared this special message:
“It’s my 60th birthday. The Cle Elum 7 and all the other primates associated with the Sanctuary are so near and dear to me. There is not a day that I don’t think of the “7”, of what they have been through, how their lives have changed and what the future holds for them. They have made huge changes in the way I view the world. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this organization.”
Denice, thank you so much for including the chimpanzees in your life, always. We hope your day is filled with all the things you most love and may all the good you share with others return to you tenfold. We think that should include lots of treats with Queen Negra-style food (or cake) squeaking and clapping at your husband, Ken, when you need more! Happy Birthday!!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Karen and Don Young, in memory of Karen’s brother, Don Pfeiffer. Don’s birthday is today and Karen shared this message about him: “Today is in memory of my beloved brother who was an animal activist, a meso-American archeologist, a construction contractor much like JB (could build anything and was very creative because he had to take native materials while in the jungle and construct houses for everyone on the digs), devoted uncle and brother-in-law and a Patriot who lost his life serving his country.”
Karen and Don, thank you so much for sponsoring this day for the chimpanzees in memory of Don. He sounds like a special person and we are touched you would choose to honor him by making a difference for the chimpanzees. We hope this day is filled with love and good memories as you celebrate his life.
The chimpanzees, surrounded by so much love, had someone else special sponsor this day for them as well, which we will be sharing shortly.
