If you follow our blog regularly, you might get the impression that the chimpanzees are always up to something. And they do spend a lot of time playing, eating, grooming, and exploring. But they also enjoy downtime.
Archives for June 2016
Summer mornings
Our recent heatwave is on the down-slide, but it’s still quite warm and the chimps and humans are each enjoying the summer days in their own way. After breakfast, most of the chimpanzees headed for the still cool grass of Young’s Hill (with the exception of Negra who took a break from her adventures for the day and made a nest at the top of the greenhouse where she could enjoy the morning breeze). Annie chose to take a walk up the hill bipedally to join Foxie and her troll. If you look closely you can spot the troll’s red hair on Foxie’s back.
Missy took her breakfast chow and literally ran out to climb up a structure where she could enjoy it with a view:
Jody was the first to head out onto Young’s Hill this morning and quickly disappeared into the tall grass to forage for wild greens before her buddy, Burrito, could catch up with her. So he opted to sit in the raceway which leads from the greenhouse to the hill and enjoy the morning sun with me, remaining on the lookout for Jody’s return.
After a busy morning on the hill, by late morning things got pretty warm and Jamie sprawled out in a comfy nest to cool off and doze in the summer breeze.
How profoundly grateful we are that the chimpanzees’ days are filled with such serenity, comfort and peace. Thanks to all of you who make the hours, days and seasons of their lives so beautiful.
Three tips for beating the heat- Chimpanzee style.
Tip #1: Exercise first thing in the morning (or late at night if you ask Jamie)…
Boss Jamie (front) and her posse explore Young’s Hill first thing this morning :
Tip #2: Nap in the coolest area of your home, keeping your limbs elevated… If done properly you may even require a light blanket…
Jamie relaxes on the floor in the shady playroom :
Tip #3: Make sure you eat lots of refreshing snacks…
Burrito stays cool as a cucumber:
In memory of Bryan
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Judy Riner in memory of her husband, Bryan Riner, and she shared this beautiful message about her special gift in his honor:
“Bryan Riner loved and respected chimps. He especially enjoyed following the lives of the Cle Elum Seven, and he would be proud to know that his family honors his memory in this way. He was a loving husband and father, and that love and compassion extended to all species.”
Judy, thank you so very much for this special gift in Bryan’s memory. You and your family have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we are honored to celebrate Bryan here today. All of us here at the sanctuary will be holding you all in our hearts and minds. We hope that the love you extend to the chimpanzees, enabling them to live their lives full of joy and comfort, is felt all around you as you celebrate Bryan and his wonderful legacy of compassion and respect for all our fellow beings.
Annie and Missy:
Burrito and Jody:
Foxie and Negra:
Jamie and Negra:
Bubbles
Once in awhile we make bubbles for the chimps with a small drop of non-toxic dish soap. They seem to like how the bubbles feel in their mouths.
Today is in memory of Susan
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Jennifer and James Douglas to honor the memory of their dear friend, Susan von Beck Turner, and her legacy of care and compassion. Jen and James shared that “Susan touched the lives of many dogs and humans and made them better.”
Susan made a difference in the lives of so many dogs. It was her lifelong passion to rescue them and she saved hundreds, healing their health and spirits and finding them forever homes. When Susan’s own dog, Cardiff, began failing in health and she was unable to find the kind of boarding care she wanted for him, she decided to leave her job and went on to build a well-respected and successful dog boarding facility, Cardiff’s Lodge, here in Washington.
Jen and James, thank you so much for celebrating Susan’s life with such a compassionate and generous gift for the chimpanzees. We are profoundly grateful for all that you do for them and we are honored to celebrate such a special soul today. To you, and Susan’s family and friends, our thoughts are with you all and we hope that your memories of Susan bring you the joy, love and comfort that she provided to so many others.
Playing with a caregiver, Foxie style
Foxie gets pretty excited when she sees a new troll or Dora the Explorer doll. Today, thanks to our generous supporters, Foxie had a plethora of troll dolls to choose from. Instead of giving them to her one troll at a time, this morning we thought it would be fun to put them all into one container and wait to see which one(s) she would choose.
Turns out, she grabbed one with bright red hair first (you can just see a little tuft of the red-haired doll’s hair sticking up on the left hand side in the the above photo) but quickly went back for another when Jamie took it away.
Jody showed some interest in the dolls as well.
When I walked out to the Greenhouse a little while later, I saw Foxie and staff caregiver Katelyn playing….
She had chosen a new doll (with yellow hair) to pass back and forth to Katelyn.
