Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Jody is the master, or shall we say mistress, of leading a blissful life. She spends the better part of any given day doing exactly what pleases her most in each moment. And today those moments were composed of foraging and lounging in the hot greenhouse. On repeat. Just as it should be.
Missy has a lot of things to do. Whether it be running up and down Young’s Hill, wrestling with her best friend Annie, backing up Jamie’s fierce political rulings, or making sure everyone is well groomed, Missy is a busy chimpanzee.
Every once in a while we catch her enjoying a quiet moment to herself…
Burrito is not the most popular guy on the block. That may shock those of you who are human beings, because humans are completely unable to resist his many charms. But if you were a chimpanzee living with Burrito, he’d probably be a thorn in your side.
Burrito is a unique (and completely endearing, says this human) mix of macho and vulnerable. At times, he is a whirling dervish, composed entirely of testosterone and muscle. In the next moment, he is all confused little boy, cowering in a corner while the ladies put him back in his place. As a male chimpanzee who grew up in an unnatural and impoverished environment, he is a slave to instinct but lacks finesse. He is the teenage boy who does something incredibly misguided, and when asked why, cannot provide an explanation. He is more action than thought.
But most of the time, Burrito is like a puppy. He is affectionate and goofy and a little needy. He just wants love and attention and praise and food and someone to play with. Because he’s slightly intimidated by the other chimpanzees, he usually turns to his human friends to fulfill these needs. It is a burden that we take on because someone must, but it is rough. So rough.
Today’s day of sanctuary, sponsored by Lisa and Rich Stuverud, is in memory of Linda Vizzare and is about the celebration of life in all it’s many forms, along with those we love. Lisa shared this beautiful message about today:
“We, Rich and I, want to celebrate this special day because Linda and I shared it as our birthday. We wanted to celebrate and share it with Jamie, Negra, Jody, Missy, Annie, Foxie, Burrito and everyone involved in supporting CSNW because through our involvement with the sanctuary we have found our own kind of sanctuary and we are forever grateful.”
Lisa and Rich, you and your family do so much to make sure the chimpanzees’ days and lives are filled with joy, love and hope. We are so grateful to you all and touched by your heartfelt gift today. Our hearts are with you as you celebrate Linda and the lives and birthdays you shared together. May you find peace and comfort in your memories of her today.
And Lisa, Happy Birthday! May all of the love and kindness you so generously share with others come back to you tenfold and may this special day continue to bring you much to celebrate!
Happy birthday hoots and hellos from your pals, Burrito and Jamie:
Spring, a season symbolic of renewal, growth and new beginnings. Now that spring has “officially” begun, the chimps’ daily routine revolves more on finding fresh green grass and new plants to eat, watching birds and inspecting any movement in the grass.
Plus, it’s the season when pictures of the chimps out on the hill look so much more vibrant!
Burrito took time to sit and eat the new grass.
Annie (left) took in her surroundings, while Burrito (right) continued eating grass.
Annie
Missy (left) stopped by her friend Annie (right) before sprinting off again.
Here’s a couple of photos of Missy dismounting from one of the structures on the hill, with the help of the fire hose.
Jody
Jamie (in front) led the way around Young’s Hill, as she usually does. Burrito (middle) and Foxie (last) backed her up.
Plus, Foxie brought a friend for support.
Unfortunately, I did not have the camera when Negra was out this morning. But, you can see plenty of pictures of her enjoying her time on the hill these past few days by clicking here.
And, have you heard the great news?? There is so much excitement in the air!
Did you know that Dora the Explorer has friends? Foxie knows, and she seems particularly fond of Kate, a red-haired friend who has a “flair for the dramatic and the heart of an artist” according to Fisher Price…
This must be that flair for the dramatic:
Speaking of dramatic, did you hear about the sanctuary’s seriously good news? If you are on the e-news list, you should have received this email last night, which linked to this story in the Ellensburg Daily Record.
We have a lot of work and fundraising yet to do, but the $50,000 matching grant from the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Fund is the first big step in bringing new friends for Foxie and the rest of the Cle Elum Seven – actual chimpanzee friends! Read more in the announcement if you didn’t get a copy in your inbox.
Thanks to donors in the last several hours, we are now over halfway to a $5,000 match from an anonymous couple and Karen and Don Young to be raised prior to HOOT! – if you haven’t donated, there’s still time to have your donation matched!
In other news, I promised to update everyone on the bumper ball. It exceeded almost everyone’s expectations by surviving a few months, but, sadly, it is no longer. Sherry Rogers certainly won the bet on its longevity! Part of the fun for the chimpanzees was trying to destroy it, for sure. We have one more waiting in the wings that we hope to introduce if we can inflate it to its fullest.
You have to read this. It warmed my heart when Arlene made a sponsor-a-donation yesterday to honor the memory of “Gram Mitzi.” Here is the message she included for the day:
Last Monday, my husband’s Grandmother passed away. She had just turned 100 at the end of January. Mitzi was a beautiful woman who had an amazing life. She traveled the world with her husband, assisted him with several businesses, took flying lessons and even rode a dirt bike. Their life was not without hardships however, but she continued to persevere. She had a big heart and a great love for animals. She supported many animal causes. That is why I would like to sponsor today in her memory. She was the matriarch of the family. In many ways, Queen Negra reminds me of Mitzi. She was a strong woman who had no problem letting you know where she stood, but she had a softer side as well, under that tough exterior. Gram Mitzi – you are missed!
Here are a few photos of Negra to honor Mitzi and to thank Arlene for sharing a bit about her larger than life personality with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters by sponsoring today in Mitzi’s memory.
