It was almost a year without Christmas.
OK, that’s not true – but Christmas was nearly delayed by a few days. The Cascade Mountains here in Washington received more snow in the last week than in all of last winter. Interstate 90, the only direct route between the sanctuary and Seattle, was closed for days due to avalanches in the mountain pass, and many of our volunteers were stuck on the other side. Thankfully, the highway was reopened last night and volunteer Patti was able to make it over this morning with the chimps’ Christmas dinner.
I don’t know if that qualifies as a Christmas miracle, but the support we’ve been receiving over the last month has certainly been miraculous. Packages have been arriving for weeks from generous donors, some long time supporters of the Cle Elum Seven and some who just discovered the sanctuary through stories about Foxie and her dolls in the UK, Germany, and Australia. You can guess what our newest supporters sent for Foxie! And our dedicated volunteers have been braving some treacherous conditions on the pass to reach the sanctuary. We are so grateful to everyone that helped make this a special holiday season for the chimps.
This Christmas was filled with great food, lots of boots and dolls, and a few surprises as well. Check out the video to see for yourself!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
This is the best video! Shows so much interaction and portrays their unique personalities. That must have been so much fun to watch. And makes all the preparations worth every minute!
Love it! I started crying when I saw Jamie enjoying the book I got them…then, I felt bad that something in it caused the chimps to be alarmed…then, I laughed uncontrollably when Jamie ripped out the page with the bad snake. Each day, I am more impressed with The Seven and each day I love them even more. Thank you for giving them a wonderful Christmas. Please tell Jamie I’m sorry about the snake, but she was so smart to vanquish the enemy.
It was the best book ever, Monica!
OMG WHAT YOU DO FOR THESE DESERVING CHIMPS IS AMAZING AND SOOO AWESOME ON SOOO MANY LEVELS,THIS IS THE BEST FILM YET.ITHOWS THEIR PERSONALITIES AND REALLY THE EXCITEMENT OF THE PARTY.
I love watching Annie gaze at the tree.
A beautiful video!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! I am happy everyone has traveled safely in these harsh winter conditions you are having.
This may now be my very favorite video of all. Jamie and her horrific discovery in her new picture book is too amazing!! SNAKE! Absolutely fascinating. Jody comes to inspect closely, then Jody and Foxie, reassurances, then brave Jamie thumps that bad snake and shows it who is The Boss (but then does she try to “kiss” it?!). Tearing out the image is nothing short of brilliant. And I am happy that the scary snake did not ruin the rest of the wonderful festivities as the party continued in the green house. WOW, what a party!
I send you my best New Year wishes for good health, endless happiness, and sanctuary expansion in 2016! Hoots to all! XXOXOXX
Thanks, Kathleen! Because their lips are much larger and more dexterous than ours, and because their tiny little thumbs aren’t very useful for grasping, chimps tend to use their lips to feel and manipulate objects. So where it looks like she’s kissing the snake, she is probably just inspecting it.
I’ve never seen her so interested in a book before – it was amazing to watch! Especially once she found the snake.
Oh What Fun it is … to watch this Christmas Celebration. Thank you to everyone who helped to put this wonderful party together for the Chimps. Merry Christmas to all.
Thank you for sharing the festivities. It was so interesting to watch the interactions, reactions and sheer joy in each one of them.
What an amazing party! (Of course, I am just quoting what I heard the Seven say in that video 🙂 It always amazes me what a wonderful experience they are having.. and what incredible personalities and intellect they share with all of us by way of the extraordinary caregivers’ video sharing. What has touched their lives has touched so so many of our lives. I am honored to be a “fly on the wall”…. and now, I am going to go rip that page out of my grandchildren’s book, cuz I feel the same way about those darned snakes!!!!
I love the video, I love how Jody sought reassurance from the Queen ~
as for the snake Jamie took care of after she pointed out to Jody what the problem was !
I think these chimps are most caring chimps around, They totally look out for one another
its obvious they genuinely love one another ~ and seek protection from one another adn not from staff,
that is terrific, Well Done to all staff members, ,
Thank you for this wonderful video and sharing with us the festivities of the chimpanzees’ holidays! What a privilege it is to see how they have enjoyed and spent their holiday.
Merry Christmas to all the beautiful chimpanzees at Save The Chimps and to all the wonderful employees and workers there who provide a good life for these precious chimpanzees. Each chimpanzee is such a unique individual. I love every one of them!
Jamie rocks!!
Thanks, Lila – we’re so glad you’ve chosen to follow along with Jamie and the gang 🙂
By the way, Save the Chimps is actually a separate sanctuary in Florida, but they are one of our favorite sanctuaries so they deserve to be wished a Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much for this wonderful video! Oliver liked how Jamie took care of her problem by ripping out the page (he feels the same about spiders) and I liked how they come together as a community to support each other in joy and in fear.
Oliver adds that he is impressed by the troll doll collection!
Happy New Year to you all!
I just saw your 6 minute video and I will be sending some board books your way too! i’m sorry if I never sent your chimps any books as I do send them to various chimp homes around the country. I liked the way they react to the pix in the book! they are amazing creatures!
I just saw your 6 minute video and I will be sending some board books your way too! i’m sorry if I never sent your chimps any books as I do send them to various chimp homes around the country. I liked the way they react to the pix in the book! they are amazing creatures!