Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for June 2015

Today is in memory of Jean Davidson

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored in memory of Jean Davidson. Today’s sponsor shared this lovely message about her gift for the chimpanzees:

“Jean was a wonderful friend who lived to celebrate her 100th birthday. She loved animals, and would have celebrated the seven chimpanzees I’ve fallen in love with!”

To our sponsor, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees in honoring Jean’s memory. I think we would all hope to be remembered by our friends and loved ones in such a thoughtful and meaningful way. It’s incredible to think about the difference each life makes. The people one person can bring together in the most unexpected ways and whose life continues to make a difference to so many, even after they’ve gone.

In celebration of our sponsor, her dear friend, Jean, and of course, the chimpanzees, it seems fitting to revisit the joy that can only ensue with Burrito’s patented “Blanket Fling”:

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There’s nothing to see here

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Burrito and Foxie are great friends and spend much of their time together, usually grooming, playing, and engaging in general chimpanzee shenanigans. Although Burrito is the big, blustery male of the group, he relies heavily on his tiny cohort for comfort, reassurance, and even protection when the going gets tough with the other ladies (i.e., Burrito’s blustery drive-bys and outbursts get them riled up). But that’s what good friends do.

We spotted the two of them in the front rooms this morning just as Burrito was play-biting Foxie’s toes and naturally, had to try for some photos. In typical Burrito and Foxie (and well, chimp) fashion, they immediately stopped what they were doing, and merely offered the paparazzi blank expressions, as if to say “Keep moving, there’s nothing to see here.” I have to say I like the synchronized avoidance of the camera though.

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Take Action Tuesday: Help Chimpanzees in Liberia

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Take Action Tuesday banner

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is part of a coalition of organizations working to help 66 chimpanzees who had been left to starve on a small group of islands in Liberia. Many of them were used for decades in biomedical testing by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), who suddenly pulled their financial support for their care this spring.

Some of the chimpanzees were captured from the wild and many were used for hepatitis testing just like the Cle Elum Seven went through. The NYBC financially benefited from the research they conducted using these chimps. After determining that the chimpanzees would no longer be used in research, they released them onto islands near the laboratory where they rely on a water supply maintained by humans and require food to be brought to them.

Our role is to help spread the word about this issue in order to ensure that the NYBC restores funding. Their actions have been unconscionable, and they have not communicated a plan to save these chimpanzees who are dependent upon humans for their survival. One of the few public statements they have made, via PR representative Victoria O’Neill in this New York Times article is, “We never had any obligation for the care of the chimps, contractual or otherwise.”

In addition to the hardheartedness of this statement, it contradicts previously made public statements by NYBC representatives that acknowledged their responsibility to these chimpanzees and their commitment to their lifetime care.

We, along with coalitions members headed by the Humane Society of the United States, are urging the NYBC to reinstate funding immediately and discuss a long-term solution with animal protection groups and chimpanzee experts.

The New York Blood Center is a nonprofit organization, however they are not hurting for funding. Their CEO makes $1.2 million per year, and they have $450 million in assets with a total income of $407 million last year alone.

 

There are three ways that you can help TODAY:

 

1. Sign this petition asking the NYBC to reinstate funding.

 

2. Donate toward the immediate care of the chimpanzees. These emergency funds will be distributed for food, water, and other supplies as well as to those on the ground working to ensure that these chimpanzees receive the care they deserve.

 

3. Spread the word far and wide! Social media is a powerful tool – please share this information with all of your networks.

 

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Photo from May of chimpanzees eating fruit delivered to them by a human caregiver. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal
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Caregivers loading a boat with food to deliver to the chimpanzee islands. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal

 

Happy Birthday, Julie!

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Karen Olson, in honor of her sister, Julie, on her birthday! As you may recall, Julie just sponsored a day for Karen’s birthday! Karen shared this lovely message about today:

“My sister Julie is one of the most caring people I have ever met. As soon as I shared the story of the Chimp Sanctuary with her she immediately became a fan and supporter. She has very much enjoyed our two trips to visit the sanctuary and follows the blog daily.”

Happy Birthday, Julie! We hope you have a day of celebration filled with all the love and joy you and Karen help provide for others. Thanks so much to both of you for including the chimpanzees in your lives while making a difference in theirs. The love and respect you two share for one another is touching and inspiring. It can’t help but bring to mind two other very special ladies, best friends, Missy and Annie:

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Important Rituals

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Jamie has trained her caregivers well. She has created an entire routine centered on her many-times-a-day perimeter walks around Young’s Hill, and her human friends are required to participate in this routine fully. (For a video of the entire process from start to finish, see this post.)

After a perimeter walk, she usually meets her walking partner in the greenhouse, where she gives him or her a thorough grooming. Jamie leaves no stone unturned.

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When she’s satisfied with her work, she asks us to put the boot we wore on our walk up against the caging so she can groom that.

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After this, Jamie’s done with us for the time being, and we get a short reprieve before we’re summoned to repeat the process from the beginning.

Carlene’s Tower

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Back in February, the sanctuary received an enormous amount of love as part of our Share the Chimp Love fundraising campaign. The original goal of $12,000 was surpassed and the extra money was used to help build a new climbing structure for the chimpanzees on Young’s Hill. Construction began at the end of May and was completed a few days later, thanks to the hard work of the sanctuary’s founder Keith LaChappelle, JB and long time friends of the chimps Nick, Josh, John, Bill and Marc. The structure is located at the top of Young’s Hill and is the highest of any of the structures on Young’s Hill; consisting of two separate towers with a swinging bridge that connects them.

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As part of February’s fundraising campaign, two generous families won the naming rights of each of the towers. The Garza family named the tower with the roof “Carlene’s Tower” in honor of Carlene Garza. And the other tower, which does not have a roof, was named “Jamie’s Lookout” by Joan and Pat Borders.

Today the Garza family visited the sanctuary to meet the chimpanzees that Carlene had grown to love and to see the new structure with their own eyes. Because it was such a beautiful day, we ended up spreading the chimps’ lunch all over Young’s Hill for them to forage. On the menu was bell peppers, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, red cabbage and primate chow. All of the chimps went out at various times throughout the afternoon to gather food and some of them enjoyed their food from the new towers.

Here is a photo of Carlene’s Tower.
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Missy enjoyed some of the food she found while foraging on Young’s Hill under the shade of the roof of Carlene’s Tower.
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Burrito also spent some time on Carlene’s Tower…
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…and below the tower. (Annie is in the background, also foraging for food).
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Jamie gathered some of the onions and peppers that were spread out around the hill as part of the lunch forage…
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…and made her way to Carlene’s tower to take in the views, while Annie stayed below Jamie’s Lookout.
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Annie (sitting on right) and Foxie (climbing the ladder) also spent some time in the shade below Jamie’s Lookout.
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Then, Foxie climbed the ladder for a higher view.
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To the Garza family, everyone here at CSNW thanks you for your generous support and continued love of this very special family. I have a feeling that Carlene has a huge smile on her face, knowing she and all of you are helping her dear friends here. Her love will continue to live on in the lives of everyone here. Thank you!

Today is for Shaun Brinsfield

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Tracy and Bruce sponsored today for the chimpanzees in honor of their friend Shaun Brinsfield, who introduced them to the chimps and the sanctuary years ago. Shaun, we can’t thank you enough for spreading the word about the Cle Elum Seven – you never know who’s going to connect with these amazing individuals and change their lives for the better. Though the chimps can’t possibly know how many thousands of friends they have across the world, we do our best every day to make them feel it as much as possible. They’re so lucky to have you – Shaun, Tracy, and Bruce – in their corner!

Jamie is feeling the love:

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