Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for February 2019

Negra Time

by

Negra isn’t featured on the blog as much as some of the other chimpanzees because she’s often not part of “the action” at the chimp house (unless it’s spring and she’s outside eating grass – we can’t wait for those days!).

Negra seems to prefer solo quiet time. She also spends a lot of her time high up where it’s not as easy to get good photos and video.

And she operates on her own schedule. While the rest of the group might eagerly line up by the raceway in the morning to get the first pick of the snow, Negra instead chooses to go back to bed.

But then, an hour or so later, we’ll see her with some snow of her own – maybe she ventured out and retrieved it herself, or many she convinced one of her friends to hand over some of their haul (she can be very convincing). Either way, she doesn’t miss out on what each day has to offer, she’s just on Negra Time.

Playful Missy and Visitors from Ngamba Island

by

It’s been a busy week at the sanctuary! Contractors are finishing the human areas of the Phase 1 expansion now that a back ordered fixture is finally in and Missy, as you can see in the video above, is keeping us busy playing very competitive games of tug-o-war.

We were also fortunate to host two guests from Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. Ngamba is home to 49 orphaned chimpanzees and through their NGO, the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, they also do incredible work protecting wild chimpanzees through both field conservation and community education. Irene and Joseph have been visiting various primate sanctuaries while in the United States and they were able to spend the past week volunteering with us.

While here, they were also kind enough to share inspiring stories of their work with the students and faculty of the Primate Behavior and Ecology program at Central Washington University.

If you don’t already, I’d encourage you to follow Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Facebook and support their efforts to protect chimpanzees. Many thanks, Irene and Joseph, from all of us at CSNW (especially Jody)!

A mind and body in motion

by

We often talk about how Missy is on always on the move. If she sees her friends out on a walk without her, she doesn’t hesitate to race out and catch up with them.

Even when Missy is moving slower, she is usually on the alert.

And she is always listening for any signs of disturbance on the wind.

And when things are calm and quiet, we still get the sense that Missy’s mind is racing just as fast as her legs can move.

There’s more than one way to remove snow

by

Good thing it keeps snowing because it’s incredible how much snow these chimpanzees eat! Given Annie’s tactic, she must be immune to freeze brain:

Meanwhile outside, in a turn of events, it was Jody who marched out onto the hill while good friend, Foxie, stayed behind and watched after her:

Cold Feet

by

Burr… The chimps could not wait to get outside, or well most of them! Jody and Foxie rushed through the raceway onto Young’s Hill followed by Missy and Annie. Jody quickly decided it was cold and turned around, as did Annie and Missy. However, Foxie explored a little bit longer before turning around. Jody like the kind friend she is waited for everyone including Foxie to make it back safe inside!

All the ladies rushing the door:

Foxie and Dora going for a brisk walk:




Jody waiting for everyone to come inside:

And eating a snow snack:


Jamie also grabbing a quick snow snack:



Jamie warmed herself up by grabbing a great read (the boot magazine from yesterday) while laying on a barrel watching volunteers clean: