Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for May 20, 2020

Negra can Play!

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If you follow the blog regularly, you will know Negra’s favorite hobbies are making nests and napping. Now some of you are nodding your heads and you’re thinking same Negra, same. What you might not know about Negra is that when she does decide to play, Negra is known to play rough! That may shock some of you, but she doesn’t go easy on anyone. For the past couple of weeks right before the seven are about to go back into their freshly clean Playroom Negra gets downright silly. As you will see in the video she has a very loose lower lip, meaning she is relaxed and you can hear her breathy panting, which is like a laugh. It could be that she is excited for the lettuce forage in the Playroom, maybe it’s the spring weather, and it could be a little bit of everything. We will never know for sure, but man watching Neggie play is the best!

I am sorry to say I only have videos of Neggie and no photos. So, I hope you all are okay with some pictures of Burrito!

 

 

 

Thank you, Thyra and David!

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Today was sponsored by two long-time friends of the chimpanzees, Thyra and David Rutter, in celebration of the five year anniversary of Arte for Elephants!

Thyra and David are the founders of this wonderful organization which was created out of their desire to do whatever they can to help elephants who are suffering in captivity. Five years ago they sold most of their belongings and set out in an RV, traveling to raise awareness of the issues captive and wild elephants face, selling artwork, donating funds and inspiring other artists to take action. Since that time they’ve donated over $45,000 dollars to support sanctuaries around the world that are rescuing and appropriately caring for captive elephants. They also work with those communities to create programs which promote humane and ethical travel and tourism opportunities, as well as an educational scholarship program. In 2019, Arte for Elephants was able to award their first two Big Elephant Magic Scholarships which are paying for a full year of education for two young girls in northern Thailand and subsequently, have expanded to include three young girls in Kenya.

If there were ever a time when reading something inspiring, hopeful, and community-centered was much appreciated, it’s certainly now. Thanks so much, Thyra and David, for the impassioned work you do and for including the chimpanzees in that good magic.

If anyone can attest to the intrinsic value of living a life of dignity, respect and love for exactly who they are, particularly after decades of use in the entertainment and biomedical research industries, it’s Jamie:

Jamie leading Missy, Jody and Foxie on a perimeter check around Young’s Hill:

A throwback to Jamie and her elephant friend napping by the old barn doors of the playroom (pre-expansion) in the springtime breeze: