We have a lot of people to thank for helping us work on this important stage. As you may already know, staff caregivers operate the chimpanzees’ current doors using a remote controlled pneumatic lever system. In our new Phase 1 chimpanzee area, we will be using a hydraulic door operating system. As you can watch in the above video, we got to see the first door in motion this morning!
To get this first door up and moving, Ozzie from Spencer Fluid Power donated a hydraulic power unit to the sanctuary. Gary and his team from Sage Mechanical donated and installed all of our hydraulic pipe, fittings and covers. The actual doors were given to us last winter by Central Washington University before the former Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute building was demolished. Here’s JB’s post about it from February 2018. We are so grateful to all the members of our community who have been so willing to donate their time and money to helping with this exciting expansion project. We can’t wait to Bring them Home!
I think Jody’s breathy pants are the loudest in the world!
Was Annie rocking out of excitement, or is she a little bit nervous about the changes?
I would say a little of both? She, more than anyone I think, has been a little obsessed about what’s on the other side of that door!
She has indeed been right next to Jamie every time you’ve shared these new area videos with us……poor little Mr. B. had to get his view at the end, when everyone else was was done.
Such rapt fascination! such excitement…LOVE the panting!
Ah…so that was the faint echo of breathy panting which I heard today as I braved the icy air enveloping
downtown Minneapolis. It is always a pleasure to hear from any of the chimpanzees; surely, it is worth
planting a kiss on Burrito!
Ah, the Twin Cities….I’m Midwestern; my friends and family back home are getting whomped again. We’ve had little snow, but I just spent a week in a hotel because they had a problem with gas delivery to the island, and they had to shut many of us down. About 7000. The first night, when I was still home, we had temps of -15, with the wind chill. Not pleasant. I remember one of my last years in Madison (about 20-23 yrs ago), it was 23 below in the daytime. We’re getting a bit of it tomorrow, but only for one day. My sympathies!
It’s been a rough couple of days. Still, given the state of our planet, I am
always grateful when the weather and temperatures are seasonal. I hope that
the Cle Elum Seven can have more snow to eat this winter.
What excitement! Just like men watching construction sites. You’ve got literally built-in enrichment happening.
I notice the chimps have patchy. Are they especially stressed these days or do they still exhibit the psychological scars of their previous lives, which would certainly be expected.
Hi Francoise, We haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary behavior wise. Some of the chimps still over groom certain patches of their skin (which is seen in a lot of captive chimps). I think you might just be seeing them in a different light and more of their backs than usual. Plus when their hair is pilo, you can see more of their skin.
Jamie looks quite pilo when she’s stomping her foot.
I can’t stand how much I love them and all of you for making them your life’s priority.
Ahhhh, I see the new hydraulic door is THE famous door that Jamie (with her stolen broom contraband) was trying to get to. Wow. What must they thinking?! Sort of exciting and sort of scary at the same time. Congrats on this big improvement!
Sending my thanks to all the generous people who made this happen. CSNW has so many wonderful supporters proving the power of the Cle Elum Seven’s magnificent power over all of us.
I am amazed at how inquisitive the chimps are and seem like they
would like to help themselves. Wonderful animals.
Who will get to claim the shiny new space? The current gang or the newcomers?
The newest space that has been built will be introduction space for the new group, but I’m sure the 7 will get to check it out at some point 🙂