As J.B. summarized in yesterday’s blog post, we’ve been hard at work caring for Negra as she recuperates from a trip to the sanctuary’s clinic.
Neggie continues to enjoy her cozy solitude and appears to be making a speedy recovery. We caregivers have been supplementing her cocktail of meds with enrichment puzzles, movies, and even the occasional sips of Sprite and nibbles of a sweet Hawaiian roll. It’s safe to say that, despite the laceration on her backside, Negra is thriving in this temporary clinical setting. (Think of Forrest Gump happily eating ice cream despite the bullet wound in his buttocks.)
Despite the unpredictable events of the Chimp House, J.B. and special projects volunteer Adam found time this weekend to complete a facelift of the upper pasture. The area was previously grazed by our neighbor’s horses but will now be the main enclosure for the rescued bovines during the summer. This afternoon, Betsy, Honey, Meredith and Nutmeg made the trek up from their winter paddock to the new frontier. The area is currently dotted with wildflowers and partially shaded by pine trees, and we think they’re going to love it up there once they get used to the terrain.
(Note: the wildflowers include quite a bit of lupine, which is problematic for pregnant cows when grazed in large amounts. Since none of the cows in our small herd are breeding and they generally avoid the lupine anyway, we’re allowing it to remain on the pasture for now.)
Here are some photos of Betsy taking an initial romp around the new area:
And here is a wider shot of the four bovines hanging out at the far end of the new pasture:
There aren’t many things that get the Jersey cattle to show their excitement, but giant fields of green grass seem to do the trick.
Linda C says
Thanks for the update on Neggie, Anthony!
I can almost see her now…
Glad the lupines can stay. They’re pretty
Anthony says
It’s all balsamroot right now, but the lupines should be bursting with purple color soon!
Kathleen says
I have been thinking (and fretting a wee bit) about Negra all day! Now I can sigh in relief knowing she’s sipping on Sprite and wadging Hawaiian sweet rolls. Good grief, of course she is, what else would a Queen be doing?! Oh how I love her. Thanks for the update!
Wow! Lucky bovines!! The new pasture is beautiful. So lush and dense and green.
Just curious, I am trying to envision exactly where on the property it is located. If my back is towards the chimp house, is this on the left up past their barn? I can’t see the electrical towers so I wasn’t sure if it was near last years summer pasture.
Anthony says
Hey Kathleen! The new pasture is located directly east of the current Young’s Hill enclosure. If you were standing by the Chimp House and looked in that direction, you’d only see Young’s Hill and then the wooded knoll covered in wildflowers and pine trees behind it. The new pasture is hidden behind that.
I looked back at the HOOT! videos and this one from 2016 shows the terrain: https://youtu.be/3YAtoMb3SM4
Anthony says
I made a little map for you. You can see the powerlines at the bottom:
https://chimpsnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screen-Shot-2022-05-23-at-9.12.03-PM.png
Kathleen says
Seriously, youare THE best! Thanks for your map! I waspicturing it more to the left,so thiswasfun seeing exactlywhere the Moo’s will be enjoying their summertime. Privacy from those crazy primates!
Linda C says
And which movies does our Queen enjoy, Anthony?
And now I’m wondering if, now that they’re a troop of 9, Willie B still enjoys, or even has time for, watching movies!
John says
Get totally well, soon, Negra.
Terry Stockdale says
could you include a list of ALL the CHIMPANZEE’s birthdays by month. It would make it easier to sponsor a day and include all chimpanzee’s that share a specific birthday month.
Paulette says
1/6 Burrito 1983
01/29/90 Rayne 1990
Nutmeg Cow 2/10/2015
3/1 Willy B 1990
03/12/90 Cy 1990
5/? 1975 Jody (Mother’s Day)
5/27 Mave 1989
06/06/89 Dora 1989
6/11 Honey B 1989
06/13/90 Terry 1990
6/13/73 Negra 1973
6/13 CSNW anniversary
7/19/88 Gordo 1988
Betsy Cow 7/20/2007
8/8 Foxie 1976
8/23 Missy 1975
9/10 Annie 1974
Meredith Cow 9/23/2015
10/31 Jamie 1977
11/06/91 Lucky 1991
Honey Cow 11/10/2007
Jeani Goodrich says
Thank you Anthony for the great blog. I was wondering if the chimps can have the lupine so you could gather some to give them as a treat?
Love the photos.
Tobin says
I am sighing in relief regarding the stability of Neggie’s condition. As for Betsy and her Moo Crew, it is good to see them again as they take residence in their summer vacation lodgings. I hope that can leave at least some grass for Her Majesty to nibble upon while she convalesces.
tom austin says
i am sure that new pasture is part of the nice additional acquisition of acreage they made a year or two ago…..looks like a great place for 4 bovines to eat and play…….:slight_smile:
Anthony says
It is! I think the acquisition was announced at 2017’s HOOT gala. It’s my favorite area of the property. 🙂
Cara says
What lovely bovines! Would love to see a video of them cavorting in their pasture :slight_smile:
Are the trees above the pasture burned or died from insect infestation?
Anthony says
I’ll see if I can get some video this week! We’ve been so busy that our visits to the upper pasture have been brief lately.
I believe most of those trees were charred by the Taylor Bridge fire in 2012. That one started nearby and eventually burned most of the wildlands and many homes between Ellensburg and Cle Elum.
There are certainly some trees that have succumbed to wood-boring insects over the years as well, both before and after the fire. This is a normal and necessary process. We see woodpeckers and other critters inhabiting the snags that the insects create. 🙂
marianne says
She is a tough cookie our Negra, isn’t she?
So glad to know she is doing well, considering all she has gone through.
And those cows, every time they seem to have different colouring; I never know who is who….
They look very happy with all the juicy gras and herbs to eat.
Anthony says
They all look lighter in the summer when their hair is really short! Honey, in particular, sheds into a pale golden cream color with patches that are almost entirely white. It makes her stand out in the lush green pasture of late spring!
Marcie says
Moo Crew, good name for those beauties. Glad to hear HRM Negra is getting better, thanks for the update and the beautiful pictures too.
Deanna says
Beautiful Bovines!!!!