Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Many thanks to Stephanie Bell for sponsoring such a lovely day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in celebration of Marie Spearman’s birthday!!
“She has been a guiding light of compassion in my life (and in the lives of many others). So grateful for the light she shines and can’t think of a better way of honoring her since CSNW does so much light shining too.”
Happy Birthday, Marie! We all hope you have a beautiful day!
Mave:
Foxie:
Burrito:
Negra:
In the past, we’ve described Burrito as being tentative and unsure about things.
It took a while for him to join Jamie on her perimeter walks of Young’s Hill. In July of 2013, about ten months after the 2-acre enclosure was complete, J.B. writes that Missy, Annie, and Jody were often seen taking part in Jamie’s adventures at the top of the hill and all around the perimeter, while Burrito, Foxie, and Negra tended to stick to the lower half of the enclosure.
By October of that same year, Burrito was occasionally joining Jamie on her perimeter walks, On these walks, he was always the follower.
In March of 2015, Katelyn describes how Burrito was joining more perimeter patrols, and even relaxing a bit. A few days later, Burrito started to invite caregivers to go on walks without Jamie, which J.B. excitedly wrote about (read to the end for one reason he was excited).
Jamie’s walks still far eclipsed Burrito’s in quantity, and most of Burrito’s were with other chimpanzees with him following behind.
Burrito would often appear to be hesitant when Jamie veered off the usual pathway. Katelyn described Burrito gingerly following Jamie as she effortless climbed the Twister structure in September of 2016.
Today Burrito took twice as many walks / runs as Jamie around the perimeter. Some with just him and me and some with a chimpanzee group.
He was the occasional leader, sometimes even waiting for Jamie to catch up.
He and Jamie appeared to decide at the same time to climb up Twister.
But Burrito was the only one to go to the very top.
Before going back inside, on his own, he took a path less traveled to explore a different part of the hill.
Choices, opportunities, and space that allow for gradual gains in confidence and incremental steps towards discovery – this really is what sanctuary is about.
You’ve probably heard by now that several members of a gorilla troop at the San Diego Zoo began exhibiting respiratory symptoms and later tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This is a moment that we’ve all been fearing, and to a large extent expecting, since the pandemic began. From what we know, the gorillas’ symptoms are still mild and zoo officials are hopeful that they will fully recover. But there’s so much we still don’t know about the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman apes.
The coronavirus isn’t the first airborne pathogen transmitted by humans to threaten the health of captive apes. Historically, one of the greatest concerns for captive ape populations has been tuberculosis, which is why most facilities, including CSNW, require staff and volunteers to be tested at least annually and avoid the sanctuary when exhibiting any new respiratory symptoms. But in rare cases, even something as seemingly innocuous as the common cold can have devastating effects on other apes, as we saw in the death of an otherwise healthy chimpanzee at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 2009. Incidents like this, and the lingering unknowns surrounding COVID in great apes, have led most institutions to further strengthen the precautions they take to protect the apes in their care. In the case of the gorillas at the San Diego Zoo, there’s nothing at all to suggest that a lack of adequate precautions contributed to the transmission. But it’s a stark reminder that we cannot let our guard down too soon.
Like our colleagues, we’re still doing what we can to protect the chimps from COVID based on the best information available. We wear masks at all times and don scrubs, gloves, and boots when around the chimps and when cleaning their enclosures or handling food and enrichment. We take the chimps’ temperatures as well as our own each morning. We’ve invested in several commercial air scrubbers, which have been shown to help filter the air of large airborne particles that may contain the virus. And we rely on a mix of natural ventilation via open doors and windows and our industrial ventilation systems to maintain fresh air in the building. We’re always thinking about what more we could do but there’s just no way to isolate captive apes from their human caregivers entirely.
One of the most difficult changes we had to make as a result of the pandemic, both for the staff and the chimps, was suspending our intern and volunteer program. Only two volunteers, Patti and Lisa, were able to meet our strict criteria for COVID precautions in their lives outside of the sanctuary, and we and the chimps are incredibly lucky to have them. But the chimps are missing many of their other friends.
Thankfully, spring-like weather has made socially distanced walks around the hill possible all winter long for our other local volunteer caregivers. And now, with our new building, we have several locations where the chimps’ friends can visit with them through glass without sharing the same air space. Long-time staff member turned volunteer, Elizabeth, came by this afternoon to see her chimp friends. Everyone was so excited to see her – Burrito even did his happy dance.
As COVID continues to challenge us all, we’re thankful for bright moments like these.
Chimpanzees playing- as far as the eye can see!
I wanted to write a light-hearted blog because, well I think we all need it. But this morning Honey B, Willy B, and Mave had a big fight at breakfast. Don’t worry everyone is fine, but it was an intense one! It was mostly Honey B and Willy B fighting, because Willy B tried to steal her chow. Chow is no joke. Each chimp really looks forward to getting their bags of chow. In general, the three seem to be less physical with each other. They have their occasional fight, but a lot of the time it’s just screaming. This morning, Honey B was not having it. Honey B has always been described as fun and silly, which she is, but I would NOT want to be on her bad side. Honey B can be, let’s go with feisty, but another word could be ruthless. Surprisingly, Honey B tends to avoid any drama that doesn’t have anything to do with her. If Mave and Willy B are worked up she will leave the area, but she also tends to be the person who will strike first if she thinks something is going to happen to her. I won’t lie, I think it works. During the fight, Honey B quite literally beat Willy B with a scooter. Again everyone is fine, but Willy B’s pride might be hurting just a little. Mid-morning we found Willy B grooming Honey B, so I think everything is all good now, but I don’t think he will try taking her chow for quite some time.
On a lighter note, Jamie received a late Christmas present. I am sure many of you are familiar with the Bodies Exhibit. We found the book version and it seemed pretty on brand with Jamie so we put it on the wish list. It finally came today! Jamie was in a very cozy nest upstairs when caregiver Anna went to go give it to her. Instead of coming down right away, Jamie had Anna flip through the pages for her. Later, after lunch Jamie took the book and began skimming it.
This is the page Jamie left her book on.
I think we should get some bonus photos!
Willy B taking a nap.
Yesterday Mave, Willy B, and Honey B watched the chimps from Chimp Haven on Disney+. Mave settled in to watch her soaps.
Jamie was on patrol after hearing the fight this morning. She went straight out onto the Hill to get a better view of the other side.
Burrito <3.
Missy sprinted out onto the Hill and had Burrito and I joined her on a mid-day run! She is seriously so fast! I took a video but I was embarrassed by how heavy I was breathing.
Honey B making a nest with toys this morning.
Watch out for this one, she doesn’t take crap from anyone!
I planned on posting a blog about chimpanzee gestures since a common question we have received in the comments on Facebook, Instagram, and even here within the blog is about when any of them request something from us and how we know. I.e. Jamie requesting to go on a walk, her requesting the Gator, Burrito requesting snowy treats, Foxie asking for a doll, etc. Also because gestures are near and dear to my heart, and has consumed most of my life for the past couple of years as part of my studies. However, as we all know every day is different and what you had planned in mind could change within an instant.
Today was one of those days. Not because anything bad happened. In fact, today was a really calm and smooth day. The chimpanzees were very cooperative in going where they needed to go so we could clean enclosures. Cleaning was done at a relatively fast pace. There were virtually no fights (there were minor arguments, but nothing too serious that resulted from them). All this calm on a day nobody has decided to go outside since it had snowed a little bit last night.
What caused me to change course and post something different were these:
Honey B and Mave had one heck of a play session earlier today. It reminded me of the old Andy Capp cartoon. Just a cloud of fur with feet and hands flung everywhere, and every so often a head would pop out. Except it wasn’t a fight like in the cartoon strips. This was play.
Then there was Honey B at lunch, enjoying her leek.
Kelsi and I debated for a longer time than we would like to admit about which of the two photos were better and to include. So we decided the best decision would for me to just include both of them. Though they are extremely similar, there are some minor differences that add a little pizzazz to each them, respectively. For instance, in the top one you can really see the coloration of Honey B’s eyelids and detail in her face. While the bottom one has the slight little turn away from the camera with a little side-eye that adds a little sass.
For me, these photos HAD to be shared today and could not wait. But don’t fret, I will post the blog about gestures soon enough. Maybe with photos a little better than the ones I currently have. As I mentioned before, every day is different.
Here are some bonus photos from today:
Jamie resting on her favorite barrel.
Willy B looking dashing, while also about to dash to the camera to review this photo.
Chad and I had just said goodnight to the chimpanzees and turned their lights out when I told him, “All these poor people are going to wait so long for a blog post about nothing!” And yep, here you are, and here’s me with nothing much to share. It was just one of those days. Cleaning ran smooth so I was able to spend quite a bit of time with the chimpanzees and take quite a few photos. Did any turn out? Nope!
Of course, all kinds of things contributed to that. Honey B was front and center, but all her photos turned out as a blur (because she’s busy!). Willy B had to approve all photos taken of himself by insisting the camera was in selfie mode. And Mave was just lying around looking cute, but the second I even thought about bringing out the camera, Willy B seemed to use some kind of psychic chimp ability to appear before I even had the camera raised. And I’m going to be honest here – I swear the chimpanzees know exactly what they’re doing when they do this. I cannot tell you the times someone is looking cute and I ask to take a photo and they say, “Sure, go ahead” and then just as I snap the photo they do something that no one wants a photo of, like picking their nose. I’m not kidding. I admit, it’s a good paparazzi deterrent.
As for the seven, being that it was a dark, foggy day – the perfect kind to stay in your cozy nest and nap, read or just lie around with friends – that is exactly what they did. They did spend quite a bit of time outside (remember, they’re Pacific Northwest Mountain Chimpanzees). At one point while we were cleaning Chad and I looked out of the windows and couldn’t even see the fence around the hill. Mere moments later, the chimps were coming back inside so it didn’t deter them much. But once inside, they were quick to head upstairs and get comfortable. So photo opportunities were non-existent on that side.
Willy B and I spent a lot of time checking out how things are going with the addition to their home. It’s really amazing! This is upstairs and Willy B looks like such a tiny guy back there, looking out the mezzanine window. We are all so excited for them to have so much new space to explore!
Willy B seemed to be waiting for one meal after the next, all day long. Chad and I wondered if the dark day put dinner on his mind, haha, and here he is enjoying his second ear of corn for the evening.
I guess about the most exciting thing to happen all day was smack in the middle of everyone snoozing after lunch (except Burrito who was taking Chad on a loopity loop of the hill), Honey B let out a screech. This woke everyone up and I figured she was just yelling at the neighbors, but her screaming was quickly echoed by Mave and Willy B and then they began to alarm call. The second I walked into Phase 1 to see what was happening, poor Honey B ran to me screaming and asking for reassurance, while Mave and Willy B had gotten as high off the ground as they could get, looking confused, but nonetheless believing Honey B when she said something terrible was outside, near their chute.
Honey B seemed to suddenly remember her nest was out there and I guess she figured it needed rescuing because she bravely raced to the doorway, reached out, alarm calling the entire time, and dragged it inside where she wrapped herself up in the corner. Every few minutes, she’d stick her head out of the door flaps to alarm call before running back to the security of her nest. Normally, I would think “snake” and Honey B’s not a fan, but it’s winter, everyone is tucked into their winter beds for the season. Chad and I looked high and low and couldn’t find whatever, or whomever, it was that had frightened her so. She continued to stick her head out of the door and alarm call once in awhile as we searched the area, but eventually she believed us when we told her she was safe and settled down.
Even the seven had been frightened by the ruckus and asked for reassurance when I went to check on them. A haint on the hill? A foggy apparition? A strange noise? It’s a mystery. But if that’s the most alarming thing to happen all day, we’ll gladly take it!
I will say I heard loud and clear as day, a woman laughing behind me in the chimp house the other day while I was playing with Jamie, who was being super silly. I had no idea who it was because Chad and Anthony and I were the only humans in the chimp house and they were both in another area (and as far as I’ve heard don’t sound like girls when they laugh). I figured even though it didn’t sound like her, Diana must have popped up to visit. Jamie was trying to see over my head and I turned around to say hello to whomever was laughing at Jamie’s antics, and that’s right…no one was there. 😉
