We can’t get over how perfect Burrito’s face is.
Archives for January 2016
The ordinary is extraordinary
Throughout the course of any given day here at CSNW, the chimpanzees are either eating, resting, playing, displaying, grooming, exploring, climbing, running, foraging, napping, inspecting enrichment, interacting with one another and/or human caregivers and a host of other activities. So, it’s always great when we are able to capture clear photos and video clips of them engaged in the myriad of activities listed above to share with blog followers. And it’s pretty special when we are able to capture any of the chimps doing something unexpected.
But sometimes it’s the ordinary things in the day that are extraordinary. The fact that these chimps are able to run, laugh, play, rest, explore and simply just be is what I consider to be pretty extraordinary (given their prior lives in biomedical research and in the entertainment industry). So, here are a few “ordinary” moments from today that I wanted to share with you.
Annie just being beautiful as she rested on the catwalk this morning.
I love this photo of Jamie running out of the Playroom on her way to Young’s Hill.
Missy often grooms herself with some sort of “tool” and today she brought it with her (in her mouth) when she went out onto Young’s Hill.
Bold Adventurers
Jody, ever the forager, harvested some big handfuls of snow this morning:
This is determination:
Meanwhile, Jamie was passing Missy on a structure:
It looks like they are hatching some sort of secret plan:
Or maybe Jamie always looks like she’s cooking up something:
Encouraged by these bold adventurers, the humans (me + Anna, J.B., and interns Courtney and Anthony) headed onto the hill (with the chimps safely indoors) and plowed and shoveled some more pathways.
Missy chose a high vantage point:
While Jamie immediately checked out the new trail:
Annie chose to collect some more snow and call it a day:
Negra was likely keeping herself cozy indoors:
And Burrito and Foxie (sorry, no photos of them today), took quick forays to get snow snacks. All in all, a very nice day at the sanctuary.
P.S. The buoy / boat bumper ball lives on! Kathleen and Sherry’s predictions were better than some of us who thought it would be deflated by now.
Introductions
Introductions. In the chimp sanctuary world, no word is as simultaneously exciting and terrifying.
Introductions occur anytime you form a social group from unfamiliar individuals. They are exciting because chimps are social creatures, and they benefit greatly from living in groups, especially groups that are large and diverse. And they are terrifying because chimpanzees can be incredibly aggressive and they don’t always welcome new members with open arms.
As many of you know, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is in the process of expanding. Our plan is to add a new wing to the facility to accommodate an additional group, but we also hope to add new members to the Cle Elum Seven family. So what can we expect when we introduce new chimps to this group that has been together for nearly a decade?
Let’s start with the good news. According to the literature, over 85% of documented introductions have been successful. In studies like these, an introduction is considered a success when a chimp is integrated into the group and remains there for at least one to two months.
Now, the bad news. Even when introductions are successful, the process can be ugly. How ugly? Let me explain it this way: the introduction protocol from a progressive and reputable zoo recommends that introductions be stopped immediately only in cases of “severe injuries that impede locomotion, loss of limb function, severe gaping wounds with bone(s) exposed, severe blood loss, [or] compromised state of consciousness.” According to the same document, a discussion about stopping the introduction may be warranted in situations of “extreme fatigue or severe loss of appetite, relentless pursuit of an individual such that the individual can’t eat, sleep, etc…[or] mental shutdown.”
Imagine if we applied these criteria to humans…
How was Billy’s first day of school?
Well, Ricky bit half of his ear off, the other kids chased him up and down the hallway all morning, and he got trapped at the top of the jungle gym for an hour during recess by a raging hoard of 6-year-olds, but by lunchtime they allowed him come down and eat a few tater tots off the floor. So, all in all, things are going pretty well!
The thing is, chimps are not humans, and we need to judge their interactions by a different standard. It’s not as cold and heartless as it may seem because if we separated them at the first sign of aggression, there would be very few chimps living in groups. The Cle Elum Seven are a good example of this. They’re all missing bits and pieces of ears, fingers, and toes from fights during their time in the lab and here at the sanctuary. But by and large, they’ve learned to get along, and they’ll do the same when it comes time to add someone new to the mix.
Despite all the fighting and potential for injury, chimps will usually work things out if we allow them to. And when they do, they get to take back a little piece of the life they should have known in the wild.
Personality
20 snapshots of the day
I probably could never quite explain how ecstatic we all were to wake up to sunshine and beautiful clear blue skies this morning. We couldn’t wait to start shoveling the chimps’ walkway on Young’s Hill and fluff it up with fresh, dry straw so that they could enjoy their morning outside.
As we prepped the walkway the chimpanzees were so excited, intermittently watching us and playing and laughing with one another inside.
Once I opened the door to the hill I couldn’t believe my eyes when who but Negra was leading the group outside! You can just see her head peeking out from in front of Missy at the head of the line. Then we have Annie, Foxie and Jamie bringing up the rear with one of her new snow shovels (Burrito was the one person who opted to stay inside and eat snow from the raceway door, but he’s been enjoying a day of Burrito-style antics with his caregivers):
I put a straw path up to one of the swinging tires, always a favorite spot to check for ice treats. Jody headed straight for it and quickly made her way back to the greenhouse with her prize. The trick was getting around boss lady, Jamie, with her treat undetected.
But the boss had work to do so Jody was able to sneak by.
Missy:
Annie enjoying her solitude:
But she was so happy when her best friend, Missy, arrived and greeted her with a kiss and a hug:
Foxie rubs her toes together when she’s happy and content and if you look close you can see she seemed to be pretty pleased to be enjoying the morning outside with her troll:
Jamie was in her element this morning as she proudly surveyed her snow covered kingdom:
Foxie and troll headed back inside after stopping to collect snow on the way:
Annie was the last to head inside, but had to stop briefly to readjust her huge mouthful of snow:
Jamie still had a little work to do:
Negra didn’t stay out long, but she made it quite away out to collect snow and then returned to her favorite sunny spot inside the greenhouse to enjoy it, along with Jody.
It’s been a good day at the sanctuary! The chimpanzees have spent a lot of time outside enjoying some warmer temperatures and even more time at the top of the toasty greenhouse grooming and napping. Blue skies and sunshine have worked wonders and been a welcome respite from our crazy winter for all the primates here today.
Happy Birthday, Shelly!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Michael Horton in honor of his sister, Shelly Horton, on her birthday! Michael shared this wonderful message about today:
“My sister is the biggest chimpanzee fan in the world. In lieu of pursuing a career in Primatology, which is something she always wanted and still wants, she chose to become a teacher so 10-year-olds across our community will always be aware of the plight of the chimpanzee.”
In having the good fortune of getting to know Shelly as one of our incredible supporters, it’s been so wonderful to learn of her long-time love and respect for chimpanzees. Through her dedication and passion to help bring awareness to the issues chimpanzees face, she helps inspire her daughter and students so that they might feel empowered to make a difference in the world around them. What an incredible gift to give, not only for the chimpanzees, but for a young generation that the future of chimpanzees will depend upon.
Michael, thank you so much for celebrating Shelly by making the chimps’ lives better! We appreciate all that you and your family do for them and are thrilled to honor Shelly here today!
Shelly, thank you for all the support you, Lainey, and your students have shown the chimpanzees, we so appreciate all that you do! Never underestimate the ripple effect your compassion will have in the world. All of the primates here at CSNW wish you the best birthday yet surrounded by all that makes your heart happy!! And to start your day off, we’re sharing photos of people in your life who I know do just that:
Shelly’s adorable daughter, Lainey, with her impressive stuffed primate collection, begun by her mom:
We recently shared copies of “A Chimpanzee Tale” by Karen Young with Shelly’s amazing 5th grade students in Texas. They made the chimpanzees a beautifully detailed Christmas tree and birthday cards for Burrito in celebration of his recent 33rd birthday! We so appreciate the care and interest these children show for the chimpanzees and are thrilled to see them making a difference in the chimps’ lives as they learn about the amazing beings we share the earth with.
And of course, Shelly’s handsome pal, Burrito: