For their first 30 days here, our new arrivals will be in quarantine to protect the health of the chimps already at the sanctuary. In addition to keeping the groups physically separated, the staff must change scrubs, gloves, boots, and masks anytime they go between groups in order to prevent cross-contamination. To make life easier, we dedicate two staff members each day to work with the new guys while the rest of us care for everyone else. You can imagine how badly those of us not working with the Lucky Six want to pop over and say hello!
As it was not my turn today to work with the new group, I’ll have to share some photos I took the other day. I’ve been reminded a lot this week of when the Cle Elum Seven first arrived back in 2008. We were all so eager to get to know them, but whenever we tried to spend time with them there was one chimpanzee – Jamie – that hogged all of our attention. Likewise, as much as I’m dying to get to know Rayne, Lucky, Gordo, and Dora better, for me this whole week has been The Terry and Cy Show.
Terry enjoying some chewing gum:
Fun fact: Terry really wants to lick everyone:
Cy, the alpha of the group:
By the way, if you haven’t noticed already, Terry and Mave are brother and sister from another mother and mister. They even do the same “smoosh face”, wherein they greet you with their faces pressed up against the caging.
While Willy B has been putting on some of his best displays to make himself known to the chimps on the other side of the wall, Mave has offered up only the occasional recumbent pant hoot to back him up.
Thankfully, our record-breaking heat wave is over and we’ve returned to a seasonally appropriate level of too hot. But it is a relief in comparison and the chimps have been spending a little more time outside.
Foxie:
Missy and Annie:
Burrito:
Egads! Terry looks so big! Great pics of both boys enjoying their gum. I bet the noise level at the chimp house is a tad higher these days between the girls trying get Willy B’s attention and now the new residents too, and Willy B trying to get a rise out of his new neighbors, well it all just makes me laugh. What must the bovines think of it all?!
Enjoy the *cooler* temps. What a relief for you. Whew.
This brought me such joy today. Thanks for that. My heart is so joyful that the lucky six are now with you all. I used to volunteer up at the Wildlife Waystation, and I always felt I was doing good work even though small. That’s where I had my first encounter with a wolf and it changed my life. I hope the remaining chimps are able to find their homes as soon as possible. Love to all.
I’m glad you’re still following them! We’d love you to share stories!
I love the new group already! Can’t wait to get to know them all a little better. They are all so beautiful, and I know they will be extremely happy and well loved in their new home. It would be marvelous to be able to merge the groups together, but I guess that’s asking a bit much! I look forward to your posts every day – I love seeing all aspects daily chimp life. Thank you for always sharing your days with us ?
I can definitely see the resemblance between Terry and Mave. He seems like he is going to provide us all with plenty of antics to relish!
Like everyone else, I too am excited to get to know the newcomers. I know y’all are crazy busy – I truly appreciate the time dedicated to taking pics and videos, and writing the daily blogs. Everytime I read the daily blog, it reiterates just how awesome each of you are. Thank you for doing what you do.
J.B. — 2 questions —
I don’t think y’all have reported on the 7’s reactions to the new arrivals. How are the 7 responding? And how much can the 2 groups see each other?
Second, how well do the 3 and the new 6 know each other? Were they ever together or were they always in separate groups?
Thanks!!
They have not made much of a fuss over the newcomers, I’m guessing because they don’t have a great vantage point from which to see them yet. The only good way for them to see each other is when they Seven are on the hill and the Six are in the new greenhouses and in that case there’s about 75 feet of distance between them.
A few of the chimps from the Waystation groups have lived together previously but not in recent years. And the two groups were housed in different parts of the property at the Waystation so they didn’t have any visual contact in that time.
My first comment when I saw Terry was that he looked like Mave, are they really siblings, or did you just mean that figuratively….? Well, I guess we are all brothers and sisters in some form or other, aren’t we?!
But it would be cool if they really were siblings, beautiful babies!
Sorry for the confusion! They are not actually related – that expression refers to people who are close like brothers or sisters but not related.
Awesome, I thought so, thanks!
A-ha! My suspicions have been confirmed. Mave and Terry are indeed siblings. I hope that, when and if they should ever meet that they shall get along with each other. Next revelation: Terry’s outward protusion of his tongue served as the artist’s model for the Rolling Stones’ logo.
Oh, and a happy new circle around the Sun to you, Professor Mulcahy.
Thanks, JB, for the photos and comments. I forgot about the quarantine, but of course that’s necessary for everyone’s safety. Love those tongues and expressions!! I also look forward to learning how a possible integration goes down the road when they can be together. Much appreciation to all the gang there (humans) for all you do for the chimps and to support each other!
Wonderful photos….have they ever had chewing gum before? I was looking at sweet little Foxie on my calendar today and realising that we’re going to need 20 months in next year’s one….16 chimps and four bovines! Are you planning on doing a ‘Fall in Love with…’ series when you get to know them better?
I was chuckling to myself about the 2022 calendar too. Maybe it needs to grow in overall size to double up two chimpanzees per month and a full page for each bovine, or it could become a weekly desk calendar, or even a page-a-day! (I am kidding of course but it is funny that there are now 20 beloved faces for us to admire.) Just goes to show every little thing needs to adjust, grow or expand with new chimps in the house. It’s amazing to look back on all the progress made over just a few years.
Hi J.B. and I also wish you the best year ever!
I always wonder with the chewing gum: do they spit it out when the flavor is gone, or swallow it and how bad is that??
And this is for the gameplayers amongst you: How about a game of “who-is-who” with photo’s of All the “twins” and we would have to guess……
Of course this is for a later time, because you are all so bussy right now, but I would love to play that game!!
That would be a fun game, after we get to know the 6’s faces a bit better!
Hope ypur birthday was fun, JB!
I did notice hairy Terry and Mave looked similar. Maybe the other mothers and other misters had relatives.
That is some lip extension Cy has there! Better than Neggie’s, if I’m not mistaken!