Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for December 2016

Cheers to Donors!

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If you’re signed up for our e-news, you should have received an email yesterday from me about our year-end fundraising goal with a match pledged by our amazingly supportive board of directors, who play the vital role of guidance and oversight for the sanctuary.

As usual, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest donors have exceeded all expectations, and we’ve blown past the original goal of raising $10,000 (NOT including the board’s matching donations!) by midnight tonight.

As I said in the email yesterday, supporters are truly the roots of the sanctuary that allow us to remain strong and grow into the future.

family tree

 

In celebration of exceeding this year-end fundraising goal (you can still add to the total before midnight tonight), and in anticipation of the exciting year to come, we felt it was appropriate for the chimpanzees to have a toast!

 

Instead of champagne, we gave them one of their favorite special occasion drinks – sparkling apple cider.

 

Cheers to everyone!!! Bottoms up!

 

Jody

Jody drinking 1

Jody drinking 2

Jody drinking 3

Jody drinking 4

 

Burrito

burrito drinking

 

Negra

Negra drinking 1 Negra drinking 2

 

We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year!

 

A New Tradition

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Our second sponsor-a-day today comes from Thom and Judy Nash in honor of their adult kids.

Here’s how this came about, in the the words of Judy, “This year for Christmas our family decided to start a new tradition of making a donation to a shelter or other worthy animal cause rather than exchanging gifts. I’d like to sponsor a day at the sanctuary because I can’t think of a better cause.”

They chose today r because it was Judy’s father’s birthday and thought it would also be the perfect way to finish 2016!

Judy and Thom have been donors for a few years, and we are so pleased to learn more about their family and happy that the chimpanzees can benefit from their big hearts.

We’ve picked out a photo from past parties for each set of the “kid” honorees in celebration of ringing in the new year.

 

Annie for Chelsey & Aaron:

 

Burrito for Christin & Paul:

 

Missy for Brook & Dan:

 

and Jody, worn out after a party, for Kayla & Rob:

jody yawning

A Day of Love

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We have two sponsor-a-days for this last day of 2016!

The first is a Christmas contribution from Jim and Kim Horton’s family in honor of Vicki Fagerlee, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother (Grams).

Vicki was the winning bidder of the sought-after behind-the-scenes visit and volunteer opportunity that we had in our end of summer online auction. She flew over several states to make the trip, and we had the best day at the end of September telling her stories about the chimpanzees while she prepared their food and enrichment and got to know more about how the sanctuary runs and the personality of the chimpanzees.

Jim and Kim said this, “Her visit there this year was a treasure and she has a special place in her heart for Chimps! We chose New Year’s Eve as day of sponsorship to help the Chimps ring in the New Year! All the best in 2017 and beyond!”

Big thanks to Vicki for sharing her love of the chimpanzees with her family and to them for honoring her with a day of sanctuary.

Vicki, your support has put a smile on all of our faces, and your donations this year have truly helped to ring in the new year with hopeful plans for the future. Thank you!

Negra close-up

 

 

Negra takes play very seriously

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Negra, the grumpy 43-year-old Queen of the Cle Elum Seven, plays differently than the other chimps. Usually, she plays at one quarter speed. You can often see her playing gently with Missy in the loft or greenhouse while they are waiting for breakfast. Missy does her best to play at Negra’s pace, and the look on her face indicates that she is more excited about the very idea that she got the sleepy old lady to play than she is about the game itself. Look everybody, Negra is playing!

Negra and Missy playing

But when Negra is feeling really playful, she is a different animal altogether. There’s no smiling. No laughing, either. And all the hitting and wrestling that chimpanzees usually tone down and smooth over when playing is dished out with full force. She slaps her playmates. She headbutts them. She slams them into the wall. She grabs them by the feet and refuses to let go.

Missy and Foxie are well acquainted with Negra’s style of play, but it often comes as a surprise to the other chimps. At these times, they look more like hostages than playmates. At one point in this video, Jody turns to the camera, seemingly hoping that someone will step in to save her. But alas, there’s nothing we can do. Playtime isn’t over until Negra says so.

Thank you, Erin!

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Erin Delsol gave the chimpanzees the gift of sponsoring a day of sanctuary for them today! Erin is a former volunteer in the chimp house and sends this message:

“I volunteered in the kitchen for a few months, and was so enamored with the chimpanzees! This work is so important.”

Erin, thank you for holding the chimps in your heart and for making their lives here possible with your support. We are looking forward to a new year full of even more possibilities; full of boundless hope, love, home and sanctuary not only for Annie, Missy, Jody, Jamie, Foxie, Burrito and Negra, but for the additional family members we hope will soon be able to call the sanctuary their home as well.

Jody is someone who I think embraces everything life has on offer for her, each day of every season:

Happy Birthday, Tracy!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by the chimpanzees’ dear friend, Tracy Headley! Tracy is celebrating her CSNW family on her birthday and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate HER today! Tracy is one of the kindest, most compassionate souls and seems to bring light and love to all those fortunate enough to know her. The chimps and humans here are thrilled to have her as part of our chimpanzee family.

Tracy, thank you for honoring the chimpanzees in celebration of your life today! You and your family do so much to ensure your chimp family will only know lives of joy, celebration, hope. adventure, and love. We are grateful to you for cherishing the chimps for the amazing individuals they are. Happiest of birthdays from all of us! We are so fortunate to have you in the world. And happy birthday hoots and squeaks from your pals:

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jody: