Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for July 2021

Afternoon Photos

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Today was the first day The Lucky Six were out of quarantine! They have been in quarantine since they have arrived and during that time we took turns working with them each day. So it was nice to be able to pop over from time to time today and say hi! You will notice a lot of my photos are of them, as I was taking advantage of this. Sometimes it’s hard to get photos in the first half of the day since we are busy cleaning. This afternoon I spent some time walking around between the three different groups to see what photos I could get. Not only did I get some photos this afternoon, but a relaxing grooming session with Jamie and a play session with Dora!

Sweet Dora drinking from the extra tub of water we set up in their enclosure.

Gordo relaxing in one of their Playrooms.

Rayne was all about finding good resting spots today.

Lucky watching me from above.

Cy flipping through one of his magazines.

Cy taking a little break from looking at his magazines.

Jamie waiting to have a grooming session with my boots.

Foxie and her doll resting in the Greenhouse.

Honey B with her makeshift table and chair.

The Elusive Gordo – A Contrast in Characters

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Jamie is a chimpanzee who does not hide anything. She’s not shy. This was evident even the first time we met her at Buckshire before her group of seven came to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

She doesn’t hold back when she has an opinion about something. She can be challenging (she’s the only chimpanzee at the sanctuary who throws feces, for example), but we all appreciate that she is not only able to express herself, but feels quite comfortable letting the humans know if she wants something or is displeased with us. When she likes something she REALLY likes it, and it’s a joy finding those things (like boot books), and being able to enrich her life in very specific-to-her ways.

Here’s a photo I took of the boss today:

Gordo, on the other hand, has been very aloof so far.

He arrived just one month ago from Wildlife Waystation, and we are still getting to know him and the other five in his group. We were told that he takes some time to warm up to new people, and so far he’s definitely the least interactive with the caregivers.

The other two males in his group, Terry and Cy, are usually front and center and wanting to play chase. Upon seeing the caregivers, Lucky will present her belly for rubs, Dora likes gentle games where she touches the back of our hands with her outstretched fingers, and Rayne is showing herself to be a fun-loving friend.

Gordo is very interested in food, so when serving meals has been the main opportunity to interact with him. He will take food from us without hesitation, but it’s normally a very one-way transactional interaction.

I feel no shame in admitting that I have been on a mission to win over Gordo. I make eye contact with him (eye contact with chimps is a good thing, though that’s not the case with some other primate species) and attempt to instigate games of chase whenever I can. Most captive chimpanzees, particularly males, really like to play chase.

Often, Gordo is against a wall in one of the new playrooms or in a doorway, observing at a distance. The photo below isn’t very good, but it shows Gordo in one of his spots with one leg crossed over the other – this, along with the full splay, is a classic Gordo pose.

I’ve noticed that he’s also been hanging out in the corner of the far greenhouse. Whenever I pass by, I stop to talk to him for a bit. Often I don’t get much of a response.

I was beginning to wonder if I was perhaps coming on too strong, when, last Saturday, Gordo did grant me a game of chase. It was wonderful. And brief.

Today, Kelsi and I were being goofy with the whole group, and Gordo joined in the fun! I don’t know if you can tell how elated Kelsi was in these photos, but let’s just say she’ll be riding this high for awhile.

When he was done playing with Kelsi, I caught his eye and went out to the greenhouse hallway. To my great surprise, he walked towards me. On purpose! And I didn’t have food!

It was a great moment to kick off my weekend.

Thank you, Gordito.

 

Quiet Moments?

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Kelsi and I were just talking about how difficult it is to come up with a new blog title each day now that we have published over 5,600 of them. Often times we are left starting blankly at the screen long after the workday ends, with all but the title completed. Quiet Moments…hmmm, have I used that one before? Photos of the Day? Happenings? I don’t know, but it’s getting awfully dark outside…

Of course, some of our staff have been seduced into the dark world of pun titles. Anthony and Chad are too far gone now to be saved. Sadly, they are intent on bringing Sam down with them, though I still have hope for her.

In any event, here are some photos of quiet moments and happenings that I took today.

Missy:

Annie:

Burrito:

Jamie:

In honor of Dr. Erin Zamzow!

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We’re so thankful to Nancy and Jonathan Suttles for their generous gift of sponsoring a day of sanctuary in honor of our very own, Dr. Erin Zamzow!

“We are sponsoring a day for the chimps to honor Dr. Zamzow. She provided veterinary care for our beloved pittie, Portia, with the same dedication, compassion and wisdom that she provides to the chimpanzees & bovines. We are so thankful to have her in our community!”

Nancy and John, we understand completely what it means to have someone like Dr. Erin providing care for our friends and loved ones and are so glad she could be there with you and Portia. Thanks so much for honoring her today.

Dr. Erin and her medical colleagues have quite literally saved lives here at the sanctuary. More than once. We are profoundly grateful for the incredible compassion, professionalism, experience, dedication and sense of teamwork and community she brings to the sanctuary, and not only to her care of the chimpanzees and bovines, but to all the animals she provides care for. Not to mention her fellow human animals. 🙂

Burrito and Jody:

Our beautiful HCIC (Head Chimp in Charge), Jamie:

Erin and Honey C(ow):

Erin and Honey B(eezie):

Erin and Nutmeg:

Foxie:

Negra receiving a laser treatment from Dr. Erin:

Burrito smooches:

Special spots

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This afternoon I found Jody relaxing in one of her favorite summer spots, the bottom platform of Greenhouse 1. I have seen her in this pose (with her arm up on the next platform above) more than I can count.

Jody loves to use the upper deck of the greenhouse as her personal table. We’ve captured the moment many times throughout the years:

Just as you probably have a preferred side of my couch or a designated spot at the dinner table, the chimps all seem to have favorite places they spend their time.  Their preferences change with weather, season and time of day.

Honey B in one of her commonly found spots in the chute.
Negra in her usual Greenhouse nest.
Upside down Jamie on her barrel. The best spot to casually monitor the humans from Playroom 1.
Gordo has already decided he enjoys the doorways that go out to the greenhouses.

In memory of Bill Walters aka Twister

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Heartfelt thanks to long-time friend of the chimpanzees, Nicki Walters, who sponsored this day of sanctuary in memory of her beloved husband, Bill Walters. Bill was lovingly known as “Twister” by his family and friends and if you are newer to the blog and wonder if there’s a connection to the chimpanzees’ climbing structure on Young’s Hill that we call the Twister, well, there sure is!

Nicki shared this beautiful and gracious message about today:

“On this day 5 years ago the world lost an amazing human, Bill Walters. Yet today we not only concentrate on celebrating his life but also the addition of the Lucky 6 to the Amazing 10! The generosity of the caregivers to take us along in such personal blogs has brought so many laughs and joy to my life and did to Bill‘s life. I love seeing Missy scaling the Twister and so many times they all gather below as if in a fort. I so look forward to following along this journey as the Lucky ones acclimate and join others to build an incredible community. Thank you to all the caregivers, Diana and JB for all you do for the chimps and for us in sharing so many wonderful events and funny antidotes on a daily basis. You allow us to feel like we know each of these amazing characters. You all make the world a better place for the Chimpanzees and for for all of us by doing so.”

Nicki, we’re sure thinking of you and Bill today. It’s such a gift to witness the chimpanzees continue to find courage, joy and shenanigans on the Twister. Even these years later, seeing someone gaining the courage to climb to the top for the first time, or seeing someone enjoying a moment of solitude up there as they take in the view, is incredible to witness. We can only imagine what the chimpanzees’ must be thinking when they’re up there, but we are so grateful to you both for giving them the opportunity to see more, to see further, to climb higher, than they at one time ever imagined. We’re so grateful to you both for continuing to bring new adventures and make a lasting difference in all the chimps’ lives. We hope your heart and memories are filled with comfort, ease and love today.

And if anyone would like to learn more about Bill’s wonderful legacy at the sanctuary, you can read more here.

Missy!

Annie, Missy, Jody and Jamie:

Missy:

Annie and Missy:

Missy (top) and Annie (below):

Annie and Missy top of Twister

Jamie’s Day

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Let’s be honest, everyday is Jamie’s day. But today, Jamie had no problem stopping us from whatever we were doing to help her. Don’t tell Jamie, but we love doing this. It’s the best when Jamie gestures for something in particular and you know exactly what she wants. It’s a great feeling to be able to give her exactly what she had in mind. For example, when she gestures for a specific boot or book. She will nod her head for the one she wants and then once you hand it to her she makes the low groan of excitement. That is the best. So all day felt like Jamie’s day because she had a belly full of raspberries, walks around Young’s Hill, naps, groomed with friends, and most importantly Jamie got to tell us exactly what she wanted all day.

Jamie is her amazing nest. Jamie was modifying blankets to help weave her blankets through the caging, there were book pages included in her nest, and a cardboard box. Not to mention she has a boot close to her while she reads a magazine. I think tucked under her chin is a boot page from one of her many boot books.

I can’t take credit for this photo because Chad took it yesterday, but it needs to be shared. Jamie deep asleep on a boot.

So on Friday Gordo seemed to be coming out of his shell a little bit. I thought this also needed to be shared. Gordo in a BOX!

We have some more birthdays coming up soon so keep check up on our wish list! Also, check out our new Wildlife ToyBox wish list too!