Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for October 2020

A little bit devilish

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Today Willy B spent a couple of sunshine filled hours in the courtyard. While he lounged in his outdoor space, staff member Kelsi took this dashing yet devilish photo of  him:

His spiky shoulder pads are not unique at the sanctuary though.  This photo sent me on a spiral into the archives looking for the best photo of Burrito I could compare it to.

Diana took this photo in September of 2016 and appropriately titled it “Burrito_devil_shoulder_hair” and  Anthony just walked by the computer and called it the “Ace Ventura.” Either way, these guys are all kinds of handsome!

In other news, last week’s plea for new blankets really paid off. We have had box upon blanket filled box roll into the sanctuary all week long. Negra is positively weighed down with all the new-found coziness. Many thanks to all who contributed!

Jamie’s Fall Must Reads

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Jamieween is right around the corner! Don’t tell Jamie, but I am making her a new book for her birthday! This one will look more like a Xtratuf catalog. It will be filled with new styles, colors, and designs! Though I am sure it will not replace her current favorite. Jamie’s must reads right now are the infamous staff wearing Xtratuf boots. Then coming in second would have to be the volunteers wearing all different styles of boots and shoes, lots of crocs which Jamie enjoys. Don’t forget the classic cowboy boot book. Something with mummies or skeletons, that is always a favorite. Oh, Dwell magazine for a little light reading. And last but not least a few good books about animals! If you would like to help Jamie get her birthday book, we are currently low on Shutterfly gift cards, I would like to get a stockpile of the original Xtratuf book so she can always have one on hand. Keep an eye out for Jamieween items on the wish-list we are starting to add some birthday items!

At the sanctuary there are lots of little moments that let you know, as a caregiver, that you have done your job well. You sometimes catch those moments throughout the day. Yesterday, before we went home for the night Jamie’s Xtratuf staff boot book came in. She hadn’t had one in a few weeks because they take some time to ship and with chimps you never know how long objects will last. I walked over to front room 4 where Jamie was standing to show her what had come in the mail for her. Immediately, she was gesturing to see it. As I gave the book to her she took off with it into the green house to be alone. On her way I could hear some low groans of what I can only imagine are excitement and happiness.

Jamie getting her new book last night:

This morning as we were cleaning, Jamie had left her book in the playroom. She began requesting it. I grabbed the book and Jamie guided me over to the food chute.

I hope this is a reminder through these weird and trying times to find the little moments that make you happy. This was mine.

 

Happy Birthday, Michael!

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Arlene sponsored such a lovely day of sanctuary for her husband, Michael, today:

“I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband Michael. I love our life together. This world can get pretty crazy but I am so thankful to be in it with you by my side. You are my calm in the storm. You are my rock, very steady and reassuring. Everyone needs that kind of comfort. Love you.”

Arlene, thank you, to you and Michael, for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts and including them in your lives. We’re so grateful for you both.

Happy Birthday, Michael! All of us here hope you have the best of days! We’re hoping Arlene made you a troll scarf to wear in celebration. 😉 October is definitely a good birthday month! Just ask boss lady extraordinaire, Jamie (that’s right, folks, Jamieween season is upon us!).

New Camera. Who Dis?

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Through the generosity of a donor, we received a new camera recently. Today was just a test run, but hopefully after a more thorough trial and error period, we will be able to provide you all with some amazing photos:

Jody in one of the front rooms.
Foxie going into the Greenhouse with a mouthful of water.
Jamie laying down in one of the windows of the Greenhouse.
Honey B unsure of the new camera.
Missy taking her lunch to go.
Annie enjoying some peace by herself in the Greenhouse.
Burrito interrupting the peace because he wanted to play and not want me to take photos of Annie.

Obviously after that last one, I obliged Burrito and played a game of chase and tug-o-war with him. I wasn’t able to get a photo of him with the new camera, but was able to snap this with my phone after he won our tug-o-war match.

And just as a little extra, here are some photos I took throughout the day of what everybody was up to (sans new camera):

Negra was found in a huge pink pile of blankets this morning when we arrived.

For the Group of 7, they received Boomer Balls tonight as their nighttime food puzzle. Jamie grabbed what she could and lined them on a bench before going to forage some after dinner lettuce. Everybody knew those Boomer Balls on the bench we hers and let them be while their owner was away.

Foxie, on the other hand, grabbed a couple herself and headed straight to the Greenhouse to enjoy them in peace and quiet.

For the Group of 3, we wanted to try something new tonight. After doing some research fro new ideas, one I came across called “Pineapple Tops.” It is similar to our Pine Cones, just with a different vessel.

Generally, when we try something new, we get a little nervous if they will like what we concocted.

In this case though, they loved them!

Willy B’s first step to this was to search through the leaves for peanut butter, seeds, and raisins.

Mave went straight for the sweet stuff: the left over pineapple at the bottom.

Honey B rushed to the Chute, so I wasn’t able to get photos of her, though I could just make out she went with a method similar to Willy B.

We are so grateful to all our supporters and followers. You all have helped us try to provided the best support we possibly could to these 10 unique individuals.

As you may have heard, Giving Day For Apes is coming up on October 13th! It is a yearly fundraiser drive among all the ape sanctuaries across the world to raise donations to maintain the best care we can provide. There are several events throughout the day that could help earn additional funding to expand, maintain the best care we can provide, as well as bring more chimpanzees home. We hope you will be able to help and donate what ever you can that day. For the Chimpanzees. For the Cattle. For Sanctuary.

Fall fashions

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Jamie has a love for occasionally wearing troll scarves and it seemed like every time we saw her today she was modeling a different one. Of course, as you are probably aware if you’ve been following us for long, we certainly don’t advocate chimpanzees (or any other wild animal) wearing human clothing. Prior to her three decades being used in biomedical research, Jamie spent the first nine years of her life living in a human home with a trainer, sadly being used in entertainment. It makes sense that some of the perhaps more human-oriented enrichment we provide the chimpanzees may be familiar or interesting to her. But that’s exactly the difference. The enrichment we provide the chimpanzees is just that, enrichment for them to choose to engage with when and how they find interesting, including the choice not to engage with it at all.

Beautiful and creative, we couldn’t love the unique and kaleidoscopic individual she is more. And I’m pretty sure troll scarves will be the next fashion trend, so just remember you heard it from Jamie first:

Napping in style:

The luncheon troll scarf:

From earlier this summer:

Celebrating World Animal Day… with Mediocre Haikus

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This past week has been warm, but the transition into autumn is unmistakable. The sun is setting earlier, the morning air is crisper, and the elk are passing through the valley as they migrate to their winter ranges.

Even if you’re not into drinking pumpkin spice lattes, harvesting your crops in a worn-out flannel, or listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors while walking through fallen leaves, this season’s potential silver lining is that it contains some great holidays.

Giving Day for Apes, Jamieween, Dia de Los Muertos, Native American Heritage Day, Election Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday… it’s always hard to pick a favorite! Of course, the best strategy is probably to cherish each one in its moment, just as we make the most of each passing season.

To kick things off, we honored today, October 4th, as World Animal Day. The first celebration of this holiday, which occurred in Germany in 1925, was chosen to honor the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi who is regarded as a protector of nonhuman beings. In 1979, Pope John Paul II actually declared that Francis would also be the patron saint of the science of ecology, protecting the Earth’s fragile ecosystems. Rock on, St. Francis!

In celebration of this unique day, Chad and I thought it would be fitting to highlight our nonhuman friends: the cattle. Is there a better way to honor these bovine lawnmowers than with four amateur haikus, accompanied by some of my favorite seasonal photographs?

 

“Betsy”

Before the new grass

Look for her in the creek bed

In Nutmeg’s shadow

 

 

“Nutmeg”

Warm gentle giant

Mowing sanctuary lawns

Saxophones taste good

 

 

“Meredith”

Strolls the golden woods

Black mask over sweet nature

Real Jerseys have curves

 

“Honey”

Tan fur capped with frost

She awaits the alfalfa

Do not touch the horns

 

Happy World Animal Day, everyone!

Fort Honey B

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Honey B likes to build nests with blankets, toys, paper and boxes. We discovered yesterday that Honey B builds forts. Earlier this week, caregiver Anna and I found a broken down box that we put out for enrichment. As we cleaned the Mezzanine, we noticed the box wasn’t just in the nest as nesting material, but setup almost like a barricade (no photo was taken). Fast forward to yesterday, when we set out more boxes, not really thinking they would actually build a fort. Anna and I were almost done with the day, just finishing up our last checks, when Anna called me on the radio to come look.

It was magnificent! A perfectly circled box fort, with a built in green bench to complete the fort! It looked almost too perfect. We actually had to text our volunteer Lisa to ask if she had set it up. With her confirmation that she did not make the fort, Anna and I could say with confidence that this was Honey B.

I mean, just look at the craftsmanship!

While Honey B built her walls, there were walls being built outside her window this week. The expansion is really coming along!

For Honey B, boxes can be used for other things. This morning, as Anna served the three breakfast, Honey B really wanted to drink some juice that was meant for Mave. In an effort to get the cup off the table, she slyly pushed her flattened box out to its full extent. We couldn’t say no to such a clever attempt, so of course Honey B got to drink some juice as well.

We just absolutely love Honey B. Life is never boring with her by your side 🙂