Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for May 2017

Someone a little bit different

by

Living in the middle of the Cascade Mountains has its perks. Today as I arrived for work I spotted this little black bear rummaging through the brush by Young’s Hill. It’s our first ever sighting of a bear on the property!

A photo I snapped with my phone, just to have proof!

As soon as it saw me, it took off up the hill, right along the perimeter of the chimp’s fenced outdoor enclosure.

I excitedly texted my fellow staff members about our visitor and went to check on the chimpanzees to see if they had spotted the newcomer. Most of the chimps were lined up at the top of the greenhouse (they did not yet have access to the hill) and probably had seen the bear jogging away. None of the seven seemed too alarmed by its presence, especially Annie, who immediately asked me to pick her some fresh green grass that was growing just outside her reach.

JB managed to snap a few long distance photos of our retreating guest.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

by

Thanks to Jim Thompson, we have a double day of sanctuary sponsored for the chimps today! Jim is amazingly celebrating his own birthday by contributing to the chimps’ lives and giving them a special day!

When someone chooses to celebrate and honor special moments or loved ones in their lives by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimps it highlights everything that makes the chimps’ lives here possible. So many incredible people have come together to create a home and a community of care, support, commitment and love for these seven chimpanzees and it makes our hearts happy to see them a part of so many lives.

Jim, thank you so much for thinking of the chimps today! We’re so grateful for your long-time support and friendship of Burrito and the ladies and are so happy to be celebrating with you. All of us here at the sanctuary are wishing you a fantastic day and the best birthday yet!

Happy Birthday, Jim! Burrito says, Hoot!

Burrito lookout

Today is for Carrie!

by

We are starting off the day with double Sponsor a Day celebrations and lots of chimp love! Our first day of sanctuary was sponsored by Paul and Jenara Miller in honor of the chimps’ long-time friend, Carrie Miller! They send this note about their gift:

“For Carrie (and Burrito and pals) to celebrate 2017 and all the goodness it may bring! Love, Paul and Jenara”

Paul and Jenara, thank you so much for being part of all the good that comes to the chimps and for honoring Carrie in such a compassionate way.

Carrie, we so appreciate the continued support and love you and your loved ones have provided the chimps these past years and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate a special day in your honor. Visions of food are probably already dancing in your pal, Burrito’s head. Well okay, I suspect they are almost always dancing in Burrito’s head, but still…

Have a wonderful day, Carrie!

Keeping cool

by

Today has been all about enjoying the brilliantly sunny day while doing our best to keep cool. We’ve reached that wonderful time of year when we begin to remove the panels on the greenhouse and the chimps enjoy breakfast in the open air with a view of the hill. Volunteer caregiver Lizz made an extremely popular smoothie this morning (pineapple, banana and lime) and served apples and watermelon so the chimps were beside themselves.

Annie emptying her cup and Jody on the left licking up a drop from the caging:

Everyone was so happy this morning that even Negra couldn’t contain herself and initiated a wrestling game with Missy in the middle of breakfast (you can see a glimpse of Missy’s big play face!):

Foxie and Jody anxious for Lizz to pass out watermelon:

Foxie rubbing her toes in happiness:

After breakfast the chimps all headed out onto the hill with almost everyone heading to the top. Annie chose to go on her own exploration, as she often does:

Annie is her own woman. She has so many endearing habits – walking bipedally around Young’s Hill more often than not, making her Annie-bird noises by whistling through her hands when she’s particularly content, and lying on her back and blowing water out of her mouth to wash her face. With the temperatures hovering around 90, she has taken to doing this as a way cool off as well:

The chimps have been enjoying lots of frozen and watery treats today to stay hydrated and we even broke out the snow cone machine.

My favorite mountain lupines are finally blooming around Young’s Hill and there is an entire field that reaches inside and outside the perimeter of the chimps’ outdoor habitat. Walking through that area is my favorite part of the walks with Jamie this time of year. Sometimes the amazing scent wafts through the greenhouse:

For the first time I noticed several Melissa Blues, a small violet-blue butterfly I have typically only seen at higher elevations around the mountain lakes and rivers. There were so many floating around the lupine today it looked as if the flowers were taking flight:

It’s such a beautiful time at the sanctuary. Be it butterflies, flowers, beautiful days, exciting fresh food, or big-hearted humans, I’m so grateful for all the beauty, in all it’s varied forms, that surrounds the chimps every day.

Happy Birthday, Erin!

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Shelley and Tim Connelly in honor of their daughter, Erin Connelly! They shared this message about today:

“We would like to honor our daughter Erin on her birthday. She is a volunteer at the sanctuary and will be graduating in June with a M.S. in Primate Behavior from Central Washington University.”

Shelley and Tim, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees as you celebrate Erin and her accomplishments today! As one of our amazing chimp house volunteers, we’re so happy to be able to celebrate her special day with you!

Happy Birthday, Erin! We hope it’s the best one yet! Thank you so much for all your hard work for the chimps and your dedication to improving the lives and well being of primates living in captivity. Have an amazing day!

Beautiful Annie: