July 16, 2021 - Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Cy’s reaction to magazines still catches me off guard. Is someone food squeaking? Alarm barking? Oh, it’s just Cy looking at magazines again. We’re going to need a name for that vocalization.

Willy B continues to be the center of attention at the sanctuary. When he goes into the courtyard, the Seven hoot and holler, which causes the Lucky Six to respond, which in turn causes Willy B, Honey B, and Mave to call back. And around it goes. Eventually they all settle down. But it’s quite the soap opera.

Speaking of soap operas, that little Dora continues to look for Willy B wherever he goes.

Once and a while they meet across the hallway…

While I was on my perimeter check this morning I came across Meredith grooming her buddy Nutmeg.

Then Betsy came over to groom me.

Many thanks to Lynn Wilson for sponsoring a day of sanctuary in honor of Anher Flores, the Senior Manager at Wildlife Waystation, and for sharing this wonderful message about her gift:

“Last night we watched ‘A Checkered Past’. I felt so bad for Anher losing the chimps he has worked with for so many years. He also did so much for many of the other 77,000 animals saved by the Wildlife Waystation. My husband and I were fortunate enough to get to know him when we were volunteers at the Waystation. Anher deserves an honor mention and a donated chimp day for all he has given for the many years he has been with the Waystation. Thank you Anher.”

For Mave, Honey B and Willy B, and most recently, Cy, Rayne, Lucky, Dora, Gordo and Terry, Wildlife Waystation, was the only home they’d known for the majority of their lives before arriving here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. And Anher, along with so many other caregivers, are the wonderful humans who cared for them for all those years. The chimps’ human friends and family. We can well imagine how difficult it is for everyone, humans and chimpanzees, having their whole world change overnight.

We’re so happy to have the opportunity to honor Anher and his colleagues today for all they’ve done (and continue to do for the remaining 26 chimpanzees who are still at Wildlife Waystation awaiting their new sanctuary homes) to provide care and love to these amazing individuals and for all they’ve done to help make their transition as easeful as possible. We think of them every day, with so much gratitude.

Gordo, in one of his new greenhouses here at CSNW:

As many of you may be aware, “A Checkered Past”, a short film by Shaun Monson and narrated by Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, was just released on World Chimpanzee Day, July 14th, to highlight the emergency rescue campaign led by the North American Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) and fiscally sponsored by 7th Generation Advisors. The film tells the story of the original 42 chimpanzees who remained at Wildlife Waystation when the facility unexpectedly closed. Twenty six chimpanzees still remain there who urgently need our help.

We are profoundly grateful to each of you who, in a myriad of ways, made it possible for us to welcome home the nine incredible chimpanzees who have joined our family. And if you’ve followed us for awhile, you are well aware of the enormous undertaking it is to be able to offer safe, appropriate and enriching living space to chimpanzees. While accredited and experienced sanctuaries have been identified to take the remaining chimps, they are still in need of daily care and help getting to their new homes. If you are interested in learning more about the remaining Chimpanzees in Need, would like to see the film, or share the chimpanzees’ story (far and wide, please!), you may do so here.

Lucky: