Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for December 2015

Closeup Activities!

by

In the last couple of weeks caregivers have been busy trying to come up a few additional enrichment activities to help beat off the inevitable extra boredom that comes with a snow filled late December. Yesterday, in addition to extra shoveling on the hill, Katelyn and I set up a special lunch forage in the front rooms at the end of cleaning. We scattered some of their lunch in front of the caging and set out long plastic tubes so there would be an added challenge of using the tools to gather part of their bounty.

I got a couple closeups of some of them enjoying their lunch.

Negra mid-chew:
web_Negra_eat_closeup_frontrooms_aw_IMG_7621

Burrito with an orange pepper slice:
web_Burrito_eat_frs_aw_IMG_7654

Missy:
web_Missy_portrait_studio_aw_IMG_7642

Today we put out three buckets of soapy water in the front rooms (made with small squeezes of non-toxic dish soap). Jamie went to each bucket and grabbed the paper towels that were accompanying the water. She then proceeded to wipe her face vigorously with them.

I later caught Jody enjoying the enrichment in a slightly different way:
web_Jody_soap_lips_frs_aw_IMG_7679

Snow removal crews

by

After days, weeks really, of endless snow and treacherous commutes for staff and volunteers alike, this morning dawned a new day. Achingly gorgeous clear, blue skies, a pink sunrise with bald eagles flying overhead, glittering snow, and much to the caregivers’ delight, clear (and dare I say almost dry!) roads to drive to work on. The quintessential beautiful winter day:

web_snow_glitter_yh_drift_kd_IMG_7232

The chimpanzees, especially Jamie, have been real troopers waiting out the snow. So first thing this morning, Diana, Anna and I decided to shovel some walkways and around Young’s Hill and line them with straw for the chimpanzees to venture out. All the chimps had been watching us intently from the playroom windows and when we stepped back into the greenhouse, Jamie was more than ready to get a look at what we had done.

When I gave the chimps access to Young’s Hill, Jamie was ready and waiting and literally squeezed through the doorway as it was opening. She immediately headed onto the hill, grabbing the toy shovel we had left on her way and headed out to help finish clearing the pathways.

web_jamie_walk_yh_shovel_kd_IMG_7591

web_jamie_walk_yh_shovel_snow_III_kd_IMG_7593

And it wasn’t long before she had a back-up snow removal crew member with Annie! Annie! Can you believe it?! (The other chimps were watching from the raceway while sitting in the sun):

web_jamie_annie_snow_shovel_yh_I_kd_IMG_7601

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_help_kd_IMG_7602

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_look_camera_kd_IMG_7604

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_watch_kd_IMG_7605

Jamie initially started shoveling with the shovel side down and then tried out the handle. The second I reminded her to turn it back around she did and carried on with her snow removal project.

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_look_yh_kd_IMG_7609

web_jamie_annie_shovel_snow_yh_kd_IMG_7610

That’s their breath clouding around Annie:

web_annie_watch_jamie_shovel_snow_kd_IMG_7611

When Jamie was satisfied (and probably a little cold!) she headed back inside, but Annie decided to enjoy the morning sun for a view minutes on her own.

web_annie_sit_snow_see_breath_kd_IMG_7612

Once she’d had enough of the cold morning she headed back to the warmth of the greenhouse. I don’t know what we humans would do without some help from these amazing chimpanzee people:

web_annie_walk_bipedal_in_snow_yh_kd_IMG_7614

web_annie_bipedal_snow_to_raceway_kd_IMG_7617

The chimpanzees and humans have been so incredibly fortunate this holiday season, our hearts and sanctuary home filled with the kindness and generosity of all of you. I would like to share another very special gift the chimpanzees received! The amazing children of Ms. Horton’s 5th grade class made this Christmas tree and each beautiful, heartfelt ornament on it. We are so touched that they all would take the time and care to make the chimpanzees such an awesome gift for Christmas and send it all the way from Texas! We hung it up right outside the chimpanzees’ front rooms where they can all enjoy looking at it. Thank you so much!!

web_shelley_horton_5th_grade_class_xmas_tree_for_chimps_kd_IMG_7661

 

Take-out or Dine in?

by

Lunch time is usually a pretty peaceful affair for the chimpanzees. The morning cleaning has just finished and the chimps get to enjoy their meal in any part of their enclosure that they wish. Usually, most of the chimpanzees will linger in the area that we serve the meal so they don’t miss any of the lunch action. Some chimpanzees (especially Missy), will take their vegetables and eat them in a different area for privacy or comfort.

Today Missy took her vegetables to her nest upstairs in the playroom. She came back to the lunch service to grab the food she was interested in and chose to take it all “to-go.”
web_missy_catwalk_pr_aw_IMG_7539

The last course of lunch is small paper bags filled with primate chow (2 per chimpanzee). The bags signal that lunch is over and are convenient for each chimp to take their portions off to their own space. This way, the last part of lunch can be spent leisurely snacking.

Burrito took his portion up the stairs in the playroom.
web_burrito_chowbag_stairs_pr_aw_IMG_7545

Negra saved a pepper to go with her chow bags today.
web_Negra_chowbag_pepper_stairs_pr_aw_IMG_7541

Annie made a wadge in her lips with all of her chow.
web_Annie_chow_wadge_pr_aw_IMG_7558

And Foxie savored each piece.
web_Foxie_chow_mouth_hand_pr_aw_IMG_7560
web_Foxie_chowbag_stare_pr_aw_IMG_7568

Thanks to David and to Elizabeth!

by

In case you missed this morning’s blog post, we are incredibly grateful to have THREE people sponsoring today for the chimpanzees, our first of whom is Tracy Headley.

Our second sponsor of the day is David Visneau! David, thank you so  much for your generosity, we truly appreciate you thinking of the chimpanzees and making a difference in their lives!

And our third sponsor for today is Elizabeth Steele, in honor of Lars and Becca Jorgensen! Elizabeth shared this message about today:

“This donation is in honor of Becca and Lars Jorgensen and their love and devotion to the Cle Elum Seven.”

Lars and Becca are dedicated chimp house volunteers who drive all the way from Seattle as often as possible to help care for the chimps. They go above and beyond in countless ways, from Becca picking up our generous produce donations from Darwin’s Natural Pet Foods multiple times a month to bring with her, to being Boss Jamie’s right-hand woman when it comes to walking around the perimeter of Young’s Hill multiple times a day! We are so fortunate to have Lars and Becca as part of our chimp family and are happy to see them honored today.

Elizabeth, thank you for honoring Lars and Becca and for sharing in the love they have for the chimpanzees and the dedication to making their lives better.

Boss Jamie:

web_Jamie_lips_move_portrait_studio_aw_IMG_1167

Becca, Jamie and Missy patrolling the territory:

web_jamie_missy_walk_with_volunteer_becca_YH_jb_IMG_3081

Jamie luxuriating in her nest while wearing the gift of a new pair of boots from her friend, Becca:

web_Jamie_lie_in_blanket_nest_wear_boot_from_volunteer_Becca_look_at_camera_PR_ek_IMG_2776

Happy Birthday, Tracy!

by

Today, incredibly, we have three supporters sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees! We begin the day with a sponsorship by Tracy Headley, a dear friend (to chimps and humans alike) and member of our sanctuary family. Tracy probably wouldn’t tell you this, but she lives her life every day bringing light, support, comfort and love to so many beings – both human and non. She is celebrating her birthday today and shared this touching message:

“Again this year I celebrate my friends at CSNW on my birthday. Every day of the year they are a gift in my life.”

Happy Birthday, Tracy! Thank you so much for all that you do for the chimpanzees. You hold them in your heart and make a difference in their lives at every opportunity. We are thrilled to celebrate your special day with you and can’t say how happy we are that you are part of our chimpanzee family. You are a special soul and you make the world a better place by being here. We hope you have a fabulous day full of all good things! With lots of hooting!

Here are your pals to help start your celebration off right:

Ms. Foxie:

web_Foxie_mouth_open_pr_aw_IMG_7144

Burrito:

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8880

Jody:

web_jody_nest_leg_over_look_camera_kd_IMG_8032

Eating Snow

by

When it’s so cold outside that the chimpanzees don’t want to venture out, we bring winter inside to them. Or the fun part of winter, at least.

More winter treats

by

Winter is in full swing here at the sanctuary. And by full swing, I mean there is easily over a foot of snow on the ground, icicles are hanging from the roof and the snow continues to fall as I sit here writing this blog post. Luckily, winter brings about treats that these chimps sure do seem to enjoy!

Can you guess what Annie is up to in the next photo?

web_Annie_closeup_profile_icicles_in_mouth_enrichment_PR_DM_IIMG_7484

How about now? Hint: take a close look in her mouth…
web_Annie_closeup_profile_icicles_in_mouth_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7481

Did you guess right?
web_Annie_sit_eat_hold_icicles_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7469

web_Annie_sit_eat_hold_icicles_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7476

The next picture is a little blurry, but I think you can see how pilo erect (hair standing on end) that Burrito was when foraging for the snow and icicles.
web_Burrito_pilo_inspect_snow_icicles_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7213

web_Burrito_eat_snow_cup_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7462

Foxie took her cup of snow up to the loft to eat.

web_Foxie_snow_cup_carry_in_mouth_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7479

Jamie sat next to her cup of snow and icicles.
web_Jamie_sit_ground_icicle_snow_enrichment_PR_DM_IMG_7211