Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for March 2019

Sweet, sweet Jamie

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Sweet Jamie resting on the barrel you may say, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Jamie was so exhausted from her morning activities. You may be wondering what Jamie was up to. That is a great question! Jamie was in a great mood today and though you might be in a great mood, sometimes you still have to pelt poop to keep order. While the front rooms were being cleaned by our amazing volunteers, Jamie also made sure they stayed in line. After 15 minutes of on and off poop throwing at our kind and patient volunteers, Jamie was so tired. She found a comfortable spot on a barrel and stared at the new expansion through the caging. The chimps are so curious of the new area, they can’t get enough of it. Jamie and others often ask for games of chase from the new area to the playroom, meaning the caregiver runs from the Playroom, through the kitchen, down the hallway, into the new area, and than back! Of course not right then because she had already over exerted herself.

Jamie being irresistible on a barrel in the Playroom:

I went around to the other side to get another perspective of Jamie, she looks almost angelic:

Later, once cleaning was done and Jamie had rested we all went on a walk/sprint (A LOT) with Jamie on this beautiful day outside:

Misfits Together

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Jamie and Burrito are undeniably the most human-focused of the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. They seek the attention of humans frequently, as evidenced by the many videos of humans walking around the hill “with” Jamie or playing tug of war with Burrito.

It’s probably no coincidence that both of them grew up in a human environment when they were very young. Burrito was a “pet” and Jamie was owned by a trainer. They may not have had the experience of having other chimpanzees around them until they got older.

All of the chimpanzees at CSNW, when compared to their wild counterparts, could be considered misfits. None of them grew up in a large family group in equatorial Africa, clinging to their mothers and playing with siblings. For Jamie and Burrito, though, they are even greater misfits because they identified with the humans.

And yet, they are still chimpanzees, and they now get to live with others of their species.

Burrito and Jamie don’t have the friendliest of relationships. Every once in a while, however, like today, I’ll find these two misfits just being chimpanzees and grooming each other – showing no interest in the humans in that moment, even when one appears with a camera in hand.

 

It’s a reminder that they are capable of knowing and understanding one another in ways that we humans will never be able to access.

And that is a beautiful thing.

Al fresco

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Missy and a few of the other chimps took their breakfast outside this morning.

Chimps will often eat many of the peels and rinds that we avoid, but only after they’ve finished the best parts. Annie and Burrito are the biggest scavengers of these less desirable bits.

After fueling up, Missy led her gang up to the Twister and then on a walk around the perimeter of Young’s Hill.

Reassurance

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Just like humans, chimpanzees have a complex array of emotions. Some things are so exciting that they elicit strong responses that one might not ordinarily expect.

As breakfast was being brought out to the greenhouse this morning, Foxie was so overwhelmed with excitement, she started to fear grimace.

Luckily for her, her good friend Jody was just within an arm’s length

Waiting to give her every bit of reassurance that she desperately needed.

A spotlight on Jody

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Jody Chimpanzee, AKA Jo
Age: 43
Favorite foods: Jody likes most food and is an extra adventurous eater. She loves to eat edible wild plants, flowers and other particularly fibrous vegetation.
BFF: Foxie
Special talents: “manager” of the sanctuary, master forager
Favorite place to nap: in a giant nest, usually built in the warm greenhouse
Favorite activities: making large nests, grooming in the greenhouse
Favorite food puzzle: PVC tubes with peanut butter!

The Right Tool for the Job

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Grooming is a daily occurrence at the sanctuary. The chimpanzees groom each other, which facilitates social bonding, but they also groom themselves. Most of the chimps will use their fingers or lips for grooming, but Missy has a preferred tool: a splinter of wood that she “harvests” from one of the greenhouse climbing structures especially for the task.

And a photo of Missy’s foot, just because:

Drag Raceeerrr!

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As J.B. showed in his blog post the other day, for Jamie, springtime at the sanctuary also brings drag racing season. And folks, though we know you just saw a fantastic video of Jamie racing the Gator around Young’s Hill, she continues to outdo herself.

Former staff, now volunteer caregiver, Keri, was with us yesterday and as we were headed back to the barn on the Gator after caring for the cattle, we looked up to see Jamie, hair standing on end in excitement (pilo), stomping her foot and clapping her hands. This is Jamie speak for, “Let’s race!!” So we were off! Be sure to watch for the downhill portion of the track. Pure gold.