Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for September 2018

Positive Reinforcement Training with Negra and Anna

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A few years ago, we began a Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) program with the chimpanzees here at the sanctuary. (See this post for an introduction to PRT including how it works, why we feel it’s important, and how it improves the chimps’ lives.)

All seven chimps have made incredible strides since we began the program. Some chimps were enthusiastic participants right from the start while others have chosen to take part at their own pace and in their own time.

Negra has always been a little touchy when it comes to, well, being touched. She’s still working on moving past her decades in research labs where she was poked and prodded against her will. Probably for that reason, she wasn’t always a big fan of PRT. She voluntarily participated, but she would be sure to let her caregivers know when she had reached her limit. At the very beginning of the program, she was even scared of the sound of the clicker.

As you’ll see in this video, she’s certainly come a long way…

Way back Wednesday

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I thought it would be fun to do a little flashback post and revisit some old blog posts in a game I am now calling “On this day in Sanctuary History.”

September 5, 2008:
Apparently Missy was playing a lively game of chase in the greenhouse with the sanctuary’s founder Keith! Check it out here! It’s really fun to see how far the sanctuary has come since this day (including better video cameras).

On September 5, 2009, Diana was getting ready for another auction. This auction featured the famous “Negra in the Sun” painting by good friend of the sanctuary, Margaret Parkinson.

September 5, 2010:
Jamie participated in the cleaning process

September 5, 2011:
Staff caregiver Debbie compared Annie to a famous friend of hers.

September 5, 2012:
We were recovering and full of gratitude after the Taylor Bridge Fire.

September 5, 2013:
The chimps love the nature around them!

September 5, 2014:
Two chimpanzees that share the same mannerism.

September 5, 2015:
A little lesson on chimpanzee behavior.

September 5, 2016:
Burrito celebrated Labor Day!

September 5, 2017:
Missy showed enthusiasm for her favorite food!

September 5, 2018 (Today!):
Jamie has her caregivers walking lots of laps so she can keep her eye on the new construction. The masons are busy laying the cement block walls that will be the future areas for introduction and quarantine space.

Nesting with Annie

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There is a special joy you feel when you catch a chimpanzee happily nesting with a gigantic pile of blankets. No one is a happier nester than Annie Chimpanzee. She does a rhythmic seated shuffle while she builds her nest around her body, then she lays down to check her comfort level. Then she adds additional padding where necessary, all with a little bounce in her feet.

These golden mornings

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These late summer mornings have been glorious for the humans and chimps alike so we thought we’d better take advantage of these beautiful days and have a breakfast forage on Young’s Hill. We harvested more fresh cattails from the wetlands on the property and made a beautiful forage with all manner of treats scattered around their outdoor enclosure.

Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake:

Missy combining foraging with her athletic prowess, naturally:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Burrito:

Burrito and Missy:

Jody seems to continue to show extra relish for her time outside on these sunny mornings. Over hill and dale, she scoured the hill and made several trips back and forth from the greenhouse with her finds, but still found time to sit in the sun and keep a watchful eye on her friends as she enjoyed some chow:

Jody taking a break on the log while Annie forages below:

Negra pulled a fast one this morning and after sitting outside the raceway for sometime observing the foraging scene, she returned to the greenhouse with seemingly zero interest in joining in and began building a nest. We thought the wind might be bothering her, but after receiving some personalized breakfast service in the greenhouse she went back outside with purpose and proceeded to forage in her cabin for some time where she found a cattail and the coveted pineapple top!

Sweet Annie was a particular delight this morning seemingly dancing her way around the hill throughout the forage:

You Better Keep Up

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This morning everyone was on the move and cattails were still very much a theme! Jody seemed to have lot of ground to make up for because this morning we could barely keep up with her. In the afternoon the chimps had a delicious lunch forage and spent the rest of the day grooming, walking (Jamie), and playing with human and non-human friends. Overall, the chimps had a nice relaxing Sunday spent with good food, people, and friends.

Negra on the Hill this morning grabbing a few things:

 

Like I said Jody was on the go all morning. However, I did find a sleepy Jo in the early morning before everyone had access to the Hill, curled up on a pile of hay soaking up some sun:

Once they had access to the Hill I couldn’t keep up. Here is a sequence of her movements this morning.

Jody was the first one on the Hill:

Everything looked good so she headed back to enjoy some chow:

Jody (climbing up) seemed to be on a mission (Annie-left, Missy-right, Foxie-behind log):

Over the bridge:

To find cattails:

Burrito always enjoys some early morning play sessions, he was running around like crazy playing chase:

Burrito didn’t really feel like going on the Hill today, so he patiently waited in the Green House for everyone to come back:

Annie also was soaking in the warm sun in the Green House:

Annie walked out bipedally to eat her chow on the Hill:

And also to get some time to herself:

 

Happy “Belly Button Birthday”, Lynette!

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Kevin Baldwin sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and Lynette Sali! Kevin shared this very touching message about his gift:

“In accordance with Lynette’s Christmas wish, I am making a donation on her behalf celebrating her “belly button” birthday on September 2nd. She is amazing having survived a rare form of blood cancer requiring a kidney transplant, the kidney of which was donated by her sister. Merry Christmas and a very happy belly button birthday Lynette!!”

Kevin, we are so touched by this special gift for the chimps in Lynette’s honor! We couldn’t be happier to be part of such a day of celebrating life and all the incredible gifts it brings.

Lynette, from our hearts, thank you for thinking of the chimpanzees and for sharing your life with them and making a lasting difference in their world. All of us here wish you the happiest of days!

Foxie:

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A Fine Forage

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First things first – the Summer Biddin’ online auction is crazy! As I write this (way later than I intended to be writing a blog post), the total is up to $21,761! Thank you to everyone who has bid on items and donated to Raise the Barn. Bidding ends Monday night!

Now, for the chimp day.

We were planning for a lunch forage on the hill, and I noticed that we had a bounty of corn in the fridge, so we decided to put out whole ears still in the husk as part of the forage.

Negra was pretty much in heaven:

She also picked up some cattails for later:

Volunteer Chad did a really good job of corn distribution and everyone got in on the action.

Missy:

Foxie:

Burrito:

Jamie:

Annie eating corn in her nest:

Jody also got some corn leftovers, but she was more focused on a very novel treat that her friend Stephanie had delivered – banana blossoms!

Burrito found a blossom on the hill on his second trip to the buffet:

Apparently it was a lot of work to eat it, or he was taking a cue from Jody who often eats in a reclined position, because he finished it off lying down:

It’s very satisfying to see the chimpanzees satisfied, isn’t it?