Each day, we give the chimpanzees fresh, clean blankets for them to use for building nests (70+ to be more precise). Today, Jamie bypassed the blankets and went straight for the long piece of paper instead.
Archives for December 2016
Photo Secrets Revealed
Go behind the scenes with a photographer at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and find out the secret of the “serious” photos taken of a chimpanzee named Burrito.
Today is in honor of Hope. Love. Home.
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Monica Best who chose to honor three people (ten really, if you count the chimpanzees!) and the hope, love and home they each give and receive. Monica shared this message about today:
“In honor of an Instagram stranger, who needed to feel a little Hope. Love. Home. What better way to show them than through the Cle Elum Seven.
And to Josh and Kathryn, who give Hope. Love. Home. to so many. Thank you for giving your voices to so many causes, that people may otherwise have never heard about. Congratulations on your recent nuptials. May the two of you spend many, many years of love, friendship, fun and lasting memories together. Thanks for all you do!!”
Monica, thanks so much for always holding the chimps in your heart and for all the amazing things you do for our fellow animals, both human and non. You have such a huge heart and the chimps are so lucky to call you their friend.
To the person on Instagram, we hope you enjoy getting to know the chimps. They inspire us every single day with what hope, love and home make possible for us all.
And Josh and Kathryn, congratulations on your special day from all of us here at CSNW! May your lives be filled with all the good you help make possible for others.
Queen Negra, discovering anew each day what hope, love, and home mean to her, thanks to the compassion of so many people:
The Joy of Things to Come
For chimpanzees, true happiness is found most often in moments of anticipation. I love watching them play as they wait in expectation of a good meal or an exciting treat.
A New Day
Maybe it’s because they spent so much of their lives confined indoors, but the Cle Elum Seven have a wonder and an appreciation of the natural world that’s inspiring. This time of year, the humans at the sanctuary can often be heard grumbling about the frigid temperatures and the icy roads and the neverending piles of snow to shovel. We get so bogged down in the inconveniences of the season that we don’t often take time to appreciate what each day has to offer. But each morning when we open the door to Young’s Hill, the chimps line up to see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.
Today is in honor of Carrie Miller!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Sylvia Gandolfo in honor of Carrie Miller! Sylvia and Carrie are long-time friends of the chimpanzees and gift one another with the generous and compassionate support of the chimpanzees. The chimps have so many wonderful friends and we’re so grateful for the love and good they inspire in the world. Sylvia shared this message about today:
“Honoring Carrie to acknowledge her lifelong, passionate understanding of the importance of all living beings and the need to provide rescue and sanctuary for those who have been mistreated. Happy Anniversary!”
Sylvia, thank you so much for choosing to celebrate Carrie and your special day by including the chimps! We greatly appreciate how you both hold the chimps in your hearts and include them in your lives.
Carrie, we’re so happy to celebrate in your honor today! Thank you for all you do to make the world a kind and loving place and for us all. We hope you have a wonderful day of celebration!!
Your pal, Burrito, as his usual adorable self:
Sylvia’s pal, sweet Annie:
This one never gets old: Annie and Burrito hugging on the chimps’ first day on Young’s Hill (Negra foreground):
The things we do.
We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.
One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:
Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:
Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):
After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:
So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:
By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:
When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!
