This is apparently blog post #5316. This blog is pretty unique. In the beginning, we didn’t know how it would go. To be frank, we didn’t know how anything would go. We just knew we needed people to get involved and donate so that we could care for the chimpanzees, and we had a desire to share the chimpanzees and their stories so people would know what was happening to chimpanzees in the world, particularly those in captivity.
A lot has transpired at the sanctuary and in the world since starting the blog in 2007. A LOT! If we were starting today, I am not sure we would choose to have such a frequent and deep form of communication. It’s really quite a lot of work, and for that reason not the most efficient of marketing tools. But it has become much more than a marketing tool. It’s the diary of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, and we hear from you readers/followers how much it brings to your lives, particularly when other things in the world are contentious and uncertain.
One thing that I love about the blog is that all of the staff caregivers, past and present, have contributed regularly. Each person has a different perspective with different thoughts rolling around in the back of their brains, and sees different things that the chimpanzees do on any given day; having a variety of writers makes the blog all the more interesting.
Posting daily and including the troubling events like fights and injuries as well as private reflections about the individual chimpanzees and chimpanzees in captivity in general, in addition to the hours of play, foraging, nesting, grooming, and eating that make up the chimpanzees’ day, has naturally lead to a more intimate and transparent look at life in a sanctuary.
I imagine, given unlimited time and resources, each of the caregivers could post multiple times a day. There’s just always something to say about chimpanzees (and bovines too!). I know I’m biased, but I think they are endlessly fascinating and endearing.
I know there are a handful (maybe more than a handful?) of people out there who have gone back and read every single blog post since the very beginning in 2007. That is mind blowing to me. You all are in a exclusive club!
Most people jump in at a specific time and try to catch up, learning about the chimpanzees’ quirks and our plans for the future as each new post is published.
Whether you are new to the blog or are in that exclusive club, I know you have questions.
So, today I invite you to post those questions in the comments – the ones that you’ve been wondering about for a while or the ones you just thought of a second ago.
I will not answer them in the comments, but rather the staff will use the questions to build future blog posts upon. I am not making any promises; we likely won’t get to every question posed to us, but I imagine we will see some trends and your questions will spark future blog posts.
This whole blog experiment has been a rewarding interactive process. I know I’ve met, both virtually and in person, some of the most thoughtful and kind people I will ever meet because they happened upon this blog and fell in love with the chimpanzees.
No doubt many posts have been written based on comments. This is just a more formal process. So, feel free to come back to this post later and pose more questions. I think it will be really interesting to see what you want to know!
In another take on intimacy, you may know that there’s a spot in one of the front rooms that we call the “Portrait Studio” because of the natural light that comes through the window, creating opportunities for photos that bring out the gorgeousness of the chimps. Below are a few I have taken recently.
Jody:
Jamie:
And for a slice of today, here are some photos of J.B. giving Anna and I the tour of the expansion in progress, with Honey B and Willy B looking on:
Does it help the sanctuary if we watch the videos directly on You tube (do you have enough followers that it is monitized?)?
Good question! If I have time, I do both, vut if it helps them, I’ll do it all rhe time!
Are any of your residents chimpanzees from the Alamogordo Primate Facility? And if so, can you name them for me and perhaps tell me A bit about each.
I just moved back to Alamogordo last year. I thought the place had been closed down years ago. It broke my heart to find out that some chimps are still trapped there. Ages ago, my elementary class or scout troop (I dont remember which) took a field trip to the facility. I don’t remember much, but I am 51 now and from what I’ve read, some of those chimps may still be there. Heart breaking. I have sent emails to my representatives, maybe someone will finally listen and those beautiful chimps can enjoy their last years living in a beautiful, loving sanctuary like yours and the one in Louisiana
Hi Beverly,
I don’t work at the sanctuary, but the original 7 came from a place in PA. All of the chimps have bios on this site, under “about”, then “our family”, then “the chimps” (each includes a cool video). A week or so ago, Diana wrote a blog about how we can help those at Alamogordo. Perhaps last Sunday?
This is a little embarrassing to ask, but I have wondered where the Chimpanzees poop and pee. Do they have specific spots where they eliminate or they go wherever they happen to be? Llamas poop in communal spots and cats bury their waste so what do chimps do? Thanks for taking such great care of the chimpanzees. I really enjoy the blog posts and videos.
Great question, Anna, I’ve wondered that too but was too embarrassed to ask.
1. Does Jamie always patrol Youngs Hill clockwise?
2. Does the exterior electric fence increase in voltage if one were to breach the interior fence?
3. How often do you perform escape drills?
4. How is Ellie the Elk doing at her new home?
5. Would you consider rescuing any Bonobos that were involved research?
Are we able to send Jamie hardback books of animals.
Hardbacks and paperbacks! Did you find one without snakes!? I could not get one…
Do you think the chimps want more physical contact with you? Do they reach out and try to touch you?
How did the chimps learn about the electric fence around Young’s Hill? Did one get shocked and the rest learned immediately to stay away? Did it take one or more of the chimps multiple times touching the fence before they learned?
Have you heard how Ellie the elk is doing?
Why is it I often have questions in my head and now that I have the opportunity I am at a loss to think of one?! For now kudos Diana on the lovely pics. “Jody with Autumnal Forage” is so beautiful. Jamie always looks beautiful in the light of the photo booth but I am loving this series — “Jamie with Two Toned Pair”.
This blog is so much more than a brilliant marketing tool. It’s more than a study on sanctuary life. It more than personal (and eloquent) writings, more than beautiful photography. It’s more than an educational tool. It’s so much more. It’s personal, inspiring, oftentimes it is sweet and silly and even downright hysterical at times, and sometimes it is quite worrisome. It is comforting knowing the chimps are so well cared for after all they have been through. Thank you for tackling this task everyday and going above and beyond to keep us informed. I can only assume as you grow the blog could become a weekly occurrence, no matter what I deeply appreciate your time and creativity. Thanks for bringing the chimps to life for me.
I still think there is an amazing book in all this, the hard part would be editing it down!
I love my daily read about your little family! Please can you tell us how you get them to go to bed at night, where they sleep, do they sleep separately and if you wake them in the morning, are they happy to get up. Thanks!!
Good to see you here, Sister Louise! Hope all’s well!
Diana,
First of all this blog is a great marketing tool. I’ve learned so much about chimps that you don’t get from reading about them or visiting zoos. They are real chimp “people” with unique quirks and personalities.
It is a valuable resource to us all so thank you.
My question is:
If chimps are so active and eat a healthy, heart friendly diet why do so many young & old chimps die from heart disease? Could it just be years of stress in labs for those in sanctuary?? It doesn’t add up since diet/ exercise are so important for heart disease. This may be difficult to work into blog but it has concerned me for awhile. Thanks.
Nice pictures, as always.
It’s been over a year and Honey-B and Mave haven’t gone outside past the chute, correct? Do you predict they ever will, maybe once the expansion is completed and there are hopefully more chimps in their family? I wonder if they just don’t care about going outdoors all that much or if they are simply hesitant of what they’re not used to. I am glad they have choices and they all seem very happy, inside or outside.
Thank you.
One thing I’ve always wondered about was fleas. I assume the chimps would get fleas because they are covered with hair. Are they treated with something to keep fleas off or does the grooming they do take care of them?
I’ve wondered about ticks, since they’re outside, and there are elk, deer, etc around
Hi Diana,
I am a big fan of your sanctuary and the blog for some years now; ever since I have been back in the Netherlands after living on one of the southern gulfislands in Canada ( we have been practically neighbors eh?).
I was wondering about birthcontroll: why are the girls on birth controll if there is only 1 male with testicals??? would n’t be easier and womenfriendlier ( if that is a word ) to give Willy B medication, instead of all the women?
And I also had the the poop and pee question Anne was asking.
Lots of love from Europe,
Marianne.
First of all that first picture is just so beautiful. All the questions people have already asked are ones I would have surely added. But my question is do any of the Chimps have a favorite caretaker, one they get excited about when they see? Another question is do they know and respond to their name? I don’t know what I will do when you only post once a week tho I can well imagine how much time it takes to put these together but it sort of starts off my every day in a happy way. But whatever you decide to do I will be grateful but will miss it so very much.
That first picture is just so beautiful. Many of the questions already posed would have been ones I would have asked, but my two would be do the chimps have a favorite caretaker, one they get excited to see when he/she arrives or walks in their area and the other question is do they know/respond to their name. I realize how busy you all are with reduced staff and perhaps it is inevitable that you can’t continue these daily post but I can’t imagine my life without starting my day off reading them. But whatever you decide to do, know we are all grateful for the years you HAVE shared daily goings-on with us.
The new chimps seem to have more hair and longer. Why is this?
The girls’ bottoms seem to big bigger and pinker at different times? Is this when they are in estrus?
Thank you for the daily blog. I look forward to it every day. I love every chimp.
My question is about birth control: are al the females on some form of birth control? Are the males neutered?
Thank you for all the work you do. I am waiting to win the lottery for you all!
Do you ever give the chimps animal protein, such as hard boiled eggs, or any kind of raw or cooked meat? If you do, how do they react to it, is it a different reaction than when they get their veggies and fruit?
I don’t have any particular questions at this time (I probably will later when there isn’t time to answer). Suffice it to say, reading this blog nearly every day allows me to stay connected to the residents of the sanctuary. None of the chimpanzees or cattle knows who I am, and yet the blog grants me the great privilege of knowing about them. And the more that I know about these fourteen unique individuals, the more that I love them. As someone wrote on this blog a few months ago, following the daily activities of the cattle and chimpanzees “is my source of sanity” in an anthroposphere that has gone mad. I concur.
The photographs of Willy B and Honey B, Jamie and her footwear, and my dear Jody and her sprig of Lemmon’s Willow are simply beautiful. What a presence of grace it is to read about their lives and look upon their faces.
Are there any foods specific that certain Chimps don’t like?
I have wondered if you ever play music for them as an enrichment? I saw the post where a sax player performed, but what about something like classical music when cleaning and vacuuming are being done? Thanks for this blog, a ray of sunshine in a troubled time. ?
I see emoticons don’t translate, that question mark at the end was a Namaste emoticon.
Hi Diana,
I know it must be a challenge to think of blog topics some times, but truly,it’s what has brought me to make the small contributions I can. I came here from YouTube, and it continues to be the only blog I follow daily (and I’m not on FB or Insta). Because of the amazing work that you guys do with the blog, and because you’re small, we feel as though we get to know these chimpy people as individuals. And it can grow from here….quarantine has done crazy things to the YouTube algorithm. An old video (someone named Erik, not csnw) of the chimps going out onto the hill for the first time has recently been getting views and comments. If people in the comments seem concerned about the chimps, I’ve directed them to your channel and to the blog. Some have subscribed, others have mentioned donating. Same with educating people in the comments in one of the umpteen videos on little Limbani’s reunion with the people who “rescued” him. Based on a link to your advocacy page on roadside zoos, someone has sought info on donating.
I also think getting Dr Goodall’s video support was a major coup.
I hope we’ll always have news of the chimps here, even if it’s “nothing much happened today, and that’s okay by us!”.
Also, since I have not had time to review all 13 (!) years of blogs, it’s perfectly fine, I think, to occasionally do a throwback: “on this day in 20_ _”, and an update.
Quick question: I have made something special for The Boss’s birthday, that I hope she likes. In addition, I’ve got an infinity scarf here. Is that okay, like the sash? I wanted to make sure there wasn’t a safety issue.
Long term question: I think of things all the time, though none are coming to me now, lol, and sometimes we don’t get answers. I imagine it would take as much time to file questions away for later as it would to just answer them, and you’re busier now than ever.
One that I’ve wondered about before has been posted above: based on seeing a video of Foxie doing backflips when a caregiver came back from vacay, I have also wondered if each chimp prefers one caregiver (besides you and JB, who seem to be loved by all) over the others, and if that has to do with who is assigned to each chimp.
I imagine that when you’re finally able to have volunteers and interns come back, a video cam will be handy, to record the chimps’ excitement at seeing their old friends!
Those are my only 2 for now! Have a great Sunday night!
I always wondered how you separate a certain chimp from the others if one is injured. Obviously one cannot enter the enclosure and lead the injured chimp out to another room to be examined. Thank you.
I am super interested in the creative lives of non-human animals. Until recently, the notion that a another species would create art for arts sake was a no fly zone in terms of assigning human desires to non human species. But recently I have read a bunch of information that this perception has changed.
From those mega nests, to the way the chimps play with various toys. I am interested to find out if the caregivers have a sense of creativity and artistry on behalf of
your residents. Are they influenced by things they see around them, nature,
snow, rain, the construction.. in terms of what they “produce” for nests what we would call messes etc.
Which kid is the class clown, most congeniality, most beautiful/handsome, and most quiet?
I would love to hear about a typical day and actions for each chimpanzee separately with photos. Down to the little nuances and details. How they wake up, what kind of mood they are typically in, how they move, the way they look at things. How they react to different sounds, smells, touch.
If it’s not too intrusive for the chimpy people, and once staff comes back, I live this idea! “A day in the life of ___ Chimpanzee’! Not every single minute, but what fun!
Love this idea…
Thank you for persevering with the writing of this blog. I love hearing about what the chimps have been up to, and seeing the amazing pictures-that first one of Jody with her plants is a real keeper!! Any way it
would make it’s way onto a greeting card or into a calendar someday?
I wonder about the alarm call when one of the chimps sees a snake. I went to an animal sanctuary in Costa Rica, and some of the primates there would never get to go back into the wild because they hadn’t spent enough time with their mothers to teach them to be afraid of snakes. I was wondering if the chimps born in captivity might not sound the alarm about the snakes, and the chimps who had been born in the wild would know to do so? Also, I am amazed when I see pictures of their feet-they seem so versatile! Do they ever use their feet like hands? Thank you for all that you do.
Jo is so photogenic, even if not the most conventionally beautiful. I thinkbwe could have an entire calendar of Jo: Jo by the Christmas tree last year, Jo with lilacs, Jo here, Jo relaxing, Jo coming back triumphant from a forage.
Hi! I was always curious, what the story of Burrito’s big scar on his upper lip was. I don’t remember it being mentioned anywhere, of course I may not have noticed.
Dear Caregivers,
I’m Dutch, living in Amsterdam, and have been reading your blog since more than a year. Enjoying every one of them.
My question regards the names the Chimps were given. When you call Jamie, or Burrito by name, I’m sure they know they themselves are meant to come and see you (like my dog, named Tony. When I call him he reacts.) But do the individuals in your group know Missy is meant, when you call her??
Thanks for everything your doing for these great individuals,
Marguerite
Do you think that Mave and HoneyB think that ‘going into the yard’ is a ‘boy’ thing?
To start, the portraits are so beautiful, Vermeer would have been jealous of that light.
I agree with what others have said, that the blog goes far beyond just being a marketing tool, or an educational tool. The people who write the blog come to it with different experiences, but you all write in one voice, and that is the voice of respect. I think it’s possible for a blog to dissolve into just marketing or the voyeurism of a “virtual zoo,” but I don’t feel that you have done this, you have shown respect for your chimpanzee companions, respect for your fellow caregivers, respect for the world-wide community that supports you.
A friend recently asked me what I would do with my life if I could live it over. The first thing I thought of is that I would work harder to bring justice to all non-human species on the planet. The blog allows me to be a part of community that does that. I see your blog as a tool for planet-wide social justice for all living things. No pressure 🙂
My question revolves around an issue I really find fascinating, and that is long-term-thinking. Thinking in decades, centuries or millennia seems ridiculous when every minute you’re trying to figure out how to accommodate the Chimpanzees in California that are waiting for a home, and the Ten in the next room who are waiting for breakfast. But the joyous (and sad) truth is that we’re all working for a day when they are no more Chimps in captivity anywhere. Given that the captive Chimp population is overwhelmingly elderly, that day will come in the next few decades. So what happens then? We’ll have a beautiful facility, a highly knowledgeable staff, a world-wide community of caring supporters just waiting for the next challenge. What will that be? Again, no pressure 🙂
Thank you for all you do.
I have a couple of related questions. I’ve seen 2 videos lately that were very moving. One was JB and Jamie that showed deep affection on both sides of the window. The other was Diana and Negra where Negie kissed Diana’s hand through the mesh. I understand that Negra and Diana had a connection before the seven came to Washington. I know JB and Diana have been with the seven the longest but how soon were Jamie and Negra so demonstrative? So how long does it take for the chimps to relax and trust a new caregiver? Burrito seems like he loves everybody right away.
More questions!
1. What behaviours did they all have to learn or re-learn? For instance, Foxie making nests or any of them brachiating?
2. Have the cattle ever been bothered by snakes….I guess not as they all look so well and healthy.
3. Did Missy and Annie know each other before sanctuary? They seem to have such a close bond.
4. Is there anyone on site during the night? Do you have cameras so that you can monitor them?
Is there a 2021 calendar to buy?
Many thanks.
My question: during the times when you’ve had to anesthetize a chimp, for whatever reason, do you take the opportunity to love on them a little? Stroke their hair, kiss their face, whisper in their ear, inhale their scent, hold their hand? Especially in a situation where you fear you may lose them?
I would like to add unto this question.
How do you decide which chimpanzees to “pick” to bring home to the sanctuary?
Did the 7 and the 3 know each other in their previous place?
And I always wonder if there is an order inwhich you give food…Jamie first, since she is the boss, Annie next, or maybe Jody?? ( I heard a caregiver say to Missy, that she would give someone her tomatoe first, ok Missy??)
My repy was supposed to be aad-on to CarolR’s third question, oops!
Were the chimpanzees already named when they arrived at the sanctuary? Or did you get to name them? There’s got to be a story behind Burrito having the name he does.
I am curious to know how and if you try to break up a fight when one breaks out among the chimps. I am specifically referring to the melee that happened when the new 3 were finally introduced to the original 7 and Burrito was injured. What can the caretakers do in that instance? I imagine it’s very frightening for everyone.
Hello Diana! I will save my many questions about the chimpanzees for Facebook comments. I will take advantage of this question opportunity to ask you: I have always wanted to know who are the performers and where can we obtain some of the background music on your wonderful videos? Two of my favorites: https://chimpsnw.org/chimpanzees/jamie/ – Fall in love with Jamie Chimpanzee
https://chimpsnw.org/chimpanzees/missy/ – Fall in love with Missy Chimpanzee
This one is so perfectly timed with her athletics!
I’d also like to know about your other background music if you don’t mind sharing!
Thanks so much.
It seems like the chimps at your sanctuary spend a far amount of time playing. Do wild adult chimps play?
More questions!
Do you know how many chimpanzees you will be getting in the next rescue and who they will be or are you just allocated them by the facility they’re currently in? Do the premises have to be inspected before you take any more? How do you design a chimp house……where to put doors, having rooms for isolation or recovering patients, as when Burrito needed his space? There can’t be many architects with such experience, so I guess you put your ideas together from experience and get them to come up with a plan?
Hello. I know in the wild Chimps hunt and eat meat now and then. While I’m sure hunting is out of the question, do they ever get meat? If not, where does their protein come from?