Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for October 2016

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated, with Jamie Chimpanzee

by

Jamie chimpanzee is a domineering individual and her good friend Foxie is well aware of it. During forages, Jamie pulls rank and controls a great deal of the space around her. She will gather her forage bounty together, sometimes in handfuls, often using a container to keep a hand free for foraging. The other chimpanzees know not to mess with the boss’s collection, but it’s not always so clear what she has staked a claim to.

Last Friday we put out a lettuce forage to entice the chimps into the playroom so we could close off the front rooms for cleaning. We also put out a brand new France Dora the Explorer Doll for Foxie. This particular doll is one of Foxie’s all time favorites. Watch the video to see Foxie test the boundaries of her and Jamie’s complicated relationship.

The Chimps and Young’s Hill

by

When I think of the chimp that spends the most time in the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure, I think of Jamie. On any given day, she’s busy walking, watching, inspecting, patrolling and sometimes even just taking in the views, all from Young’s Hill. And when the weather is right, she stays out late until the last bit of sunlight fades into darkness. So, it seems appropriate that I associate her with Young’s Hill.

Here’s a picture taken of Jamie last week on her solo trip around the hill.
web_jamie_solo_perimeter_walk_yh_ek_img_7844

But, as I walked out to meet Jamie for her first perimeter walk around Young’s Hill this morning (I, safely on the outside of the electric fences and her on the inside) almost all of the other chimps were already on the hill. Annie, Foxie and Burrito were already climbing to the top of Jamie’s Lookout at the uppermost part of the hill. Missy was busy running around and Jody was on the lookout for plants to forage.

When I saw the other chimps already on the hill this morning, it really dawned on me how much each of the chimpanzees at CSNW have changed throughout the past eight years. Each and every one of the chimps is growing more confident and adventurous as they choose to spend more and more time exploring their open air, outdoor enclosure.

And now, when I think about Young’s Hill, I think about Negra staying out late to forage on the wild plants on top of Young’s Hill. I think about Burrito climbing to the top of the highest structures and Annie and Foxie spending more and more time exploring on their own. I think of Missy’s acrobatic moves off of any and everything she can find and Jody’s never-ending search for wild plants to forage upon. Of course, I’ll continue to think about Jamie and her perimeter patrols, but I’m so glad to think of Young’s Hill and every one of the chimps now.

Annie on top of Jamie’s Lookout.
web_annie_sit_top_railing_lookout_yh_img_8090-copy

Foxie joined Annie on top of the tower.
web_annie_foxie_sit_top_lookout_yh_img_8088-copy

And so did Burrito.
web_annie_burrito_sit_top_lookout_yh_img_8069-copy

After looking around, the chimps started making their way back down the structure and back toward the building.

web_foxie_annie_climb_down_ladder_together_lookout_yh_img_8098-copy

web_foxie_annie_climb_down_ladder_together_lookout_yh_img_8099-copy

web_foxie_annie_climb_down_ladder_together_lookout_yh_img_8100-copy-2

Once the girls made their way down the ladder, Burrito quickly followed.
web_foxie_annie_walk_ground_away_from_burrito_climb_down_ladder_lookout_yh_img_8105-copy

web_foxie_annie_walk_ground_away_from_burrito_foxie_look_back_burrito_climb_down_ladder_lookout_yh_img_8106-copy

web_burrito_follow_annie_follow_foxie_back_down_yh_img_8107-copy

web_burrito_follow_annie_follow_foxie_back_down_yh_img_8108-copy

web_burrito_follow_annie_back_down_yh_img_8113-copy

Missy was a blur most of the time she was on the hill this morning, but I was able to catch her as she sat for a minute (more like a couple of seconds) on top of one of the structures.
web_missy_sit_structure_look_camera_white_rainy_sky_yh_kh_img_8086-copy

web_missy_silouette_back_to_camera_sit_structure_yh_img_8083-copy

Jody grabbed a bite from the spruce tree that JB planted on the hill (it was used as a Christmas tree a few years ago.)
web_jody_walk_spruce_tree_forage_in_mouth_yh_img_8127-copy

web_jody_walk_spruce_tree_forage_in_mouth_yh_img_8128-copy

web_jody_walk_spruce_tree_forage_in_mouth_yh_img_8129-copy

Rainy Memories

by

You have probably heard about, or maybe you are experiencing, the dramatic storm that is hitting the Pacific Northwest today.

The majestic Cascade Mountain Range protects Cle Elum from a lot of the wetter weather that our friends to the west in the Seattle area receive, and we are certainly not getting the extreme rain and wind that is expected closer to the coast. Nevertheless, it rained ALL day today, and it’s still coming down.

This is what the chimpanzees were up to today (similar to many of you, I suspect):

 

Jamie watching the rain from the greenhouse:

Jamie looking out of greenhouse

Don’t worry – Jamie managed to get a walk in before it really started to come down.

 

Annie nesting in the front rooms:

Annie in nest

 

Yesterday, Margaret, a friend and supporter who has known the chimpanzees since their arrival, reminded me of the first time the chimpanzees experienced a real rainstorm at the sanctuary. Margaret was volunteering that day. It was almost exactly eight years ago.

I wrote about the chimpanzees’ experience and posted photos in the blog post Rainstorm Bravery. This was three years before Young’s Hill was complete and before the greenhouse panels were on, so the rain came down right into what is now the greenhouse.

Imagine your very first experience being able to go out into a rainstorm (or just watch from the safety and comfort of your bed). Though they were in their 20s and 30s, everything in their sanctuary life was just so new to the chimpanzees.

Today, the rain doesn’t faze them too much, but when we get thunderstorms or other out-of-the-ordinary weather, they do still react. One of my favorite experiences at the chimp house was watching Burrito do a “rain dance” in 2013.

In honor of the power of weather, the connection that we have to our environment, and the inner chimpanzee in all of  us, I’ve reposted the video below.

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm as you wait out the storm.


Save

The Lost Photos

by

Many of the photos we take of the chimpanzees each day never make it onto the blog. Here are a few that I’ve taken in the last couple of weeks that I just found hiding on the hard drive.

Jamie:

web_jamie_wear_troll_scarf_enrichment_look_at_camera_gh_ek_img_7819

Burrito:

web_burrito_pilo_gh_ek_img_7825

Annie:

web_annie_lie_in_blanket_nest_platform_gh_ek_img_7842

Jody:

web_jody_sit_on_stairs_look_up_pr_ek_img_7633

Negra:

web_negra_sleep_blankets_nest_catwalk_pr_ek_img_7627-copy

Speaking of photos you may have missed, the 2017 CSNW Calendar is now available in our online store! Here’s a sneak peak:

burrito-from-calendar

If you’re as smitten with these chimps as we are, don’t pass up the opportunity to look at their amazing faces every day of the year!

Foliage with Foxie and a friend

by

Each day this month, Autumn seems to get just a bit more vivid at the sanctuary. This morning dawned with a new icy snap in the air and thick frost on caregivers’ car windshields. After the chimpanzees ate breakfast, the inviting sun took the edge off the chilly air and Young’s Hill became a warm golden playground.

Foxie carried her “Kate” doll with her this morning as she explored. Kate’s red hair fits right in with the views of the fall foliage.

web_foxie_kate_sun_lookout_yh_aw_img_7982

web_foxie_kate_doll_lookout_yh_aw_img_7977

web_foxie_autumn_kate_doll_yh_aw_img_7976