Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for December 2019

New Year’s Eve Reflection

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Reflecting on 2019, this year has been a huge year and also a bit wild and crazy. We had so many highs and some lows too. I have been reflecting on this year a lot. The most amazing things have happened, like, the arrival of three new chimpanzees Mave, Willy B, and Honey B, we have a new building, we started introductions for the chimps, there was the most epic hug between Burrito and Mave, the potential for new relationships, and still so much more growth here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. CSNW has been waiting so long to bring more chimps home and we did it! I get emotional thinking about it. This alone is a massive accomplishment. So much good change has happened around here, even if it means it’s a tad bit more chaotic. 🙂

With those highs, sadly, came lows. I will say the big fight was one of the scariest moments in my career so far. I think back and I am so grateful for the staff I work with and the people I work for. Without this team of selfless and caring people this would have been an even more difficult process to go through. As you have read in previous blogs, any one of us would drop everything and run out the door for anyone for these chimps. Burrito’s recovery process has been long and incredibly exhausting. But Burrito is alive, he is getting back to his normal self, and that is all we care about! I so badly wanted new relationships for Burrito. And to see him almost have it was so amazing and devastating when it was all over. But, what I want most for Burrito is for his health and wellness. He may not get to make new friends, but we can all remember that hug. He has some very fierce lady friends to help keep him company.

So, I am excited for this new year. I think 2020 will have a lot in store for us! There will be growth, there will be fun, and mischief to be had. We are still getting to know the three and I hope with another year they will allow us to get to know them more and further our relationships with them. We hope to continue finding ways to make their lives better and find more choices for the ten chimpanzees’ future.

Cheers to the New Year!

Lounge into the New Year with Mave:

Honoring the past, present and future

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Long-time friends of the sanctuary, Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor, sponsored this New Year’s Eve day of sanctuary and shared this special message about their gift:

“As I write this, my partner and I pass by a transportation vehicle filled with cows. It’s hard to imagine living in a world where animals still endure so much suffering. I’m grateful for CSNW, a place that provides sanctuary for all beings, not just Chimpanzees and Bovines. I’m grateful for such an incredible organization that fights hard to advocate for animals. Here’s to the past, may we never forget where they came from. To the present, for the chimps, bovine and staff/care givers. To the future, the supporters/donors/ & animal lovers, let’s continue to working hard on making animal cruelty history!!! THANK YOU to all of you for your hard work, generosity & compassion.”

Kery and Terran, thank you so much for always holding the chimps, and all of us, in your hearts and for all you do to bring light to, and relieve the suffering of, all our fellow animals.

Burrito:

Nutmeg and his mama, Betsy:

Honey B:

Snippets and tidbits

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This guy greeted us bright and early this morning as his playful, ol’ Burrito self and we could not have been happier. He’s been taking it pretty easy the past couple of days dealing with an angry belly, most likely the result of his long stint on antibiotics which are, if that pesky foot injury continues to go in the same direction, finally complete! With a couple of days of special diet and rest, he’s feeling immensely better so far. After breakfast he climbed up to take a nap, but even with a full belly and sleepy head it took him a few minutes to stop playing:

Flailing about and laughing in one big Burrito blur:

Later in the afternoon I caught him flailing about again, this time in a Burrito-stuffed-monkey pretzel:

After a spin on Young’s Hill with Jamie and Jody, Burrito entertained Jody (and at varying times, Jamie, Foxie and Annie!) in his recovery pad today and seemed particularly delighted to spend some quality grooming time with sweet Jody:

We can’t figure out what it is about today, but although the temperature is much the same as it has been, it’s been freezing all day! The chimps opted to come inside early today and everyone has been building the coziest, plumpest of nests and taking turns in front of the space heater we have set up in front of one of Burrito’s rooms. Of course the chimp house is kept at about 70 degrees and the floors are heated, but on days like today I suspect the space heater feels rather like a fireplace. They’re getting ready for a dinner of roasted apples, squash and potatoes served in paper boats (trust me, anything served in paper boats takes it to the next level and is EXCITING!). I suspect they will be turning in early in preparation for New Year’s Eve tomorrow. 🙂

In other random, but nevertheless noteworthy news bits, I made tiny baked potatoes for everyone at lunch and after intently watching me blow on hers to cool it off more, Honey B moaned with delight and nearly hugged the potatoes to her once I handed them over. That was pretty cute. Also, Willy B was watching documentaries this morning and stopped dead in the middle of a game of chase to stare, mesmerized, at baby pandas who were on the screen. That was also pretty cute.

What’s Your Favorite (Nonhuman) Animal?

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Texas, of course, is a long way away from Washington state. Heck, West Texas is a long way away from East Texas. (In case you were wondering, Cuba, Guatemala, Idaho and Michigan are all closer to the nearest point in Texas than that location is from the farthest point in Texas. Let that simmer, folks.)

That piece of geographic knowledge is one of the reasons why we caregivers were both impressed and thrilled to receive holiday cards from some very thoughtful elementary students who live, of all places, on the plains of Odessa, Texas.

None of these amazing young people in Mrs. Bille’s fifth grade class at Travis Magnet Elementary have ever been to the sanctuary. I’m not sure if any of them have ever seen a chimpanzee. Still, they have enabled us to decorate our veterinary whiteboard with colorful cards filled with holiday cheer, encouragement, and kindness. Their messages really warm up the foyer. For example, students wished that Missy enjoys lots of tomatoes this year, that Honey B. stays brave about all the new things in her new home, and that Burrito has lots of fun playing tug-of-war with J.B. With their help, we will do our best to make these things happen.

In my opinion, Mrs. Bille deserves some sort of award for organizing such an exceptional gift to the sanctuary (and for being one of our biggest supporters and fans, year after year).

All of the messages are directed towards individual chimpanzees and demonstrate how each student is familiar with the personalities and backgrounds of their respective favorites. It’s comforting to see young people from far away expressing empathy for and interest in the chimps, and it amazes me how much individual students seem to identify with individual chimps. It seems that they are well on their way to becoming bright and responsible adults, and I’m sure they would all make amazing chimpanzee caregivers someday.

When I was their age, I used to pester my parents constantly because I was so interested in animals, nature and science. Luckily, my family was supportive. They bought me used zoology textbooks and atlases, took me to educational programs at the local zoo, purchased a subscription to National Geographic and even sponsored sanctuary animals for my annual Christmas gift. My parents still love to joke about the night almost three decades ago when I tiptoed into their bedroom, opened my father’s eyelids with my stubby toddler fingers, and barked “Dad, what’s your favorite jungle animal?!” When he responded that he liked lions and instructed me to go back to bed, I informed him that lions inhabit open savannas and aren’t adapted to live in jungles. I didn’t go back to my room until he changed his answer to tigers.

Perhaps this is why one holiday card in particular made me smile. The bright red, glittery card reads:

To: Betsy
From: Isabelle
Have a happy mooadays.

Dear Betsy, I love your name. And I love cows. They’re my 6th favorite animal. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Well, Isabelle, you should know that Betsy had an outstanding Christmas. She and the other cattle got alfalfa and minerals, two of their favorite winter treats. She held still while I brushed her fuzzy winter coat, and then licked all of the salty minerals off of my sleeves. We’re excited for the new year because Betsy and the others will get a huge new pasture with lots of green grass after the snow melts. It’s because of people like you and your classmates that cows, chimpanzees, and all the other nonhuman animals out there have a chance at a good life after being wrongfully used by humans. Keep up the good work, Isabelle.

Betsy.

Also, Isabelle, I am shocked that cows are only your 6th favorite animal. Why are they so low on the list? Which animals are ranked 1-5? Feel free to send us another card with your faves.

Here are my zoological power rankings:

  1. Spider monkeys. They’re a lot like chimpanzees AND they have amazing tails.
  2. Cows, obviously. This includes all cattle because Nutmeg is a steer, not a cow.
  3. Chimpanzees. They would be higher on my list if I didn’t have to clean up their messy playroom every morning.
  4. Trash pandas (also known as raccoons).
  5. Goats.
  6. Quahogs (a type of clam). They live longer than any other animal and they remind me of the place where I grew up, by the ocean.
  7. Wolverines. Their scientific name means “the gluttonous glutton” and I identify with that. They’re also stocky, athletic and fierce, like Missy.
  8. Spotted hyenas. They got a bad reputation from the Lion King, but they’re very smart and have an interesting society. The female hyenas are in charge of the whole group.
  9. Red pandas. They’re super chill. If taking care of primates ever becomes too stressful, a friend and I plan to start Red Panda Sanctuary Northwest (RPSNW). Stay tuned.
  10. Leaf-cutter ants.

Thank you all for your support and for loving the chimps (and cows).

Happy Mooadays to all of you and a Happy Moo Year to everyone! Feel free to comment with your favorite nonhuman animal species.

Happy Birthday, Tracy!

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Tracy Headley sponsored today to celebrate her friends on her birthday! Tracy is a dear friend to the chimpanzees and humans alike and we’re so thrilled to celebrate her and her gracious, kind heart today.

Tracy, thank you for all that you bring to the world and to the lives’ of others, including these ten amazing chimps and four amazing bovines. I suspect you make more of a difference than you’ll ever know. May you have the most joyful of days! Happy Birthday from all of us here!

Foxie, of course:

What’s in the bag?

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Yesterday, we found Mave playing with the bag that had wrapped Honey B’s car up, which she still loves. I found Honey B playing with it today by herself. Mave, however, really liked that bag. Mave liked it so much that she would put it over her head and walk around. She almost ran into the play set! It reminded me of those holiday commercials, the one where the kids open a present and instead of playing with the toy, they find more joy from the box!