Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for June 2022

Greenhouse Energy

by

Although the next season is still a sunset away, the chimpanzees are already exhibiting typical summer behavior.

This transition has been most notable on warm days when the chimps spend most of their time in the greenhouse areas. The first of these unique enclosures was built shortly after the first group of chimpanzees arrived, and we added the Oakwood Greenhouse and Riverview Greenhouse just last year. These enclosures offer the best elements of the indoors and outdoors, especially when a few select panels are removed from the outside and the cool breezes can pass through. It’s not surprising that the residents choose to hang out in those spaces more often than not during this time of year.

Here are some photos of the chimpanzees enjoying their favorite summer digs.

Annie letting a foot hang off the edge of the platform
Willy B
Gordo
Dora (left) grooms Mave (center) while Rayne (right) sits nearby
Missy
Gordo
Annie
Burrito (right) and Foxie (left) grooming each other
Burrito returning to the greenhouse after racing around Young’s Hill
Foxie
Cy looks down at caregivers from an elevated area
Jody
Gordo
Negra
Jody

Meet our newest caregiver, Jenna!

by

Hi, everyone! My name is Jenna and I am the newest staff member at CSNW. I am so happy to be here!

Originally from Arizona, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona in 2018. While I had anticipated going into the medical field with the goal of helping humans, I never felt confident with that plan. It was not until my final semester of college where I completed an internship at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, where I had the epiphany, “why have I not considered working with animals before?”.

Immediately after graduating, I started unpaid internships so I could build my resume as I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate degree. While I completed two internships at AZA-accredited facilities, I knew I found something special when I began a wildlife medicine internship at a small sanctuary in Arizona, called Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC). SWCC heavily focuses on wildlife rehabilitation and releases as many animals as possible. For those individuals that cannot be released, such as those formerly kept as pets illegally, SWCC provides them a home for the rest of their life, where they can live in peace. Up until to that point in my professional life, I had never seen anything like the work SWCC was doing. I was quickly hooked into the sanctuary world and I have never looked back.

While my title of staff is new, I am not a stranger to CSNW! I began interning here in 2019 when I moved to Washington for the Primate Behavior graduate program at Central Washington University. In fact, I arrived shortly after Mave, Honey B, and Willy B arrived at CSNW! I quickly fell in love with the people, the chimpanzees, and the positive atmosphere here. While the pandemic ended my in-person internship early, and I eventually went on to work at other chimpanzee sanctuaries, I always kept CSNW close to my heart. I think it is pretty evident a lot of former interns have similar experiences, as many have returned as staff.

For the past year, I have been in Florida working as a full-time chimpanzee caregiver at Center for Great Apes (CGA)! I learned so much during my time there and felt very fortunate to build such close, strong relationships with several of the chimpanzees. I would have to say that the highlight of my time working at CGA was being a caregiver to Knuckles. For those unfamiliar with his story, Knuckles was born in 1999 at a California entertainment facility and he quickly was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Based on the severity of his condition, doctors had no idea how long Knuckles would live. He arrived at CGA when he was 2 years old. He unexpectedly passed away in November 2021 at the age of 22. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to be apart of his life as I am not the same caregiver, nor person, as I was before knowing him.

I have been back in Washington since the end of April and I could not be happier. I have missed the beautiful landscapes, the wonderful humans that make up the CSNW staff, and of course, the chimpanzees.

As a disclaimer, my photography lessons with Chad and Anthony just started today, so please know these pictures will improve in the future (well, one can hope). Here are a few moments that I captured today:

Foxie:

Foxie and dolls:

Burrito:

Jamie:

Meredith:

Silent Communication

by

Today, I spent some time with Honey B in silence.

When I’m one-on-one with a chimpanzee in a quiet moment, I find myself trying to communicate to them through my gaze or just my presence.

I want them to know that I’m so sorry for every bad thing that’s happened to them.

I’m sorry that humans took so much away from them.

I’m sorry that they will never know what it’s like to live free.

I want them to know that this place is all about giving them the best life we can.

And that I love them unconditionally for the unique person they are.

Missy on a Mission

by

Missy invited me to play chase up the hill this afternoon. When we reached the top, she veered off into the tall grass with a look of determination.

She climbed atop one of the mounds.

And then walked out onto the log bridge.

From there, she scanned the area.

Then she disappeared into the weeds.

When she emerged, it was clear she had found what she was searching for: a yellow goatsbeard flower and a handful of prickly lettuce leaves.

With an equal sense of purpose, she marched through the grass to Jamie’s Tower.

She climbed the ladder and perched on a support.

There, overlooking the river canyon, she munched on her prickly lettuce.

When she was done, she met up with her best friend, Annie, and returned to the chimp house, saving the flower for later.

Happy Belated Birthday, Julie!

by

Thank you so much Karen Olson for sponsoring to day in honor of her sister Julie’s belated birthday!

I am sponsoring my Sister Julie’s birthday a day late this year because I have had a trying year and I just noticed I was too late to grab June 16th for her. Julie is the kindest and most patient Sister you could ever ask for. Her love of these Chimps is as large as mine. Happy Birthday Julie and here is hoping for a brighter year ahead!”

Happy birthday, Julie! We all hope you had the most terrific day yesterday and today! And thank you Karen for choosing to celebrate your sister’s birthday with the chimpanzees in mind!

(Half) Sisters Honey B and Rayne (under the blanket) playing:

Rayne with her other (half) sister, Lucky:

(Half) Sisters Lucky and Honey B:

Best friends, Missy and Annie:

Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake:

Queen Negra:

 

 

Munch munch munch…

by

There is something very relaxing about watching and listening to chimps as they munch on their meals or forages. Before having access to the hill, Negra stood by the opened up side of the green house caging asking me to smuggle her some prickly lettuce. Annie then joined to ask for some as well. The hill is covered with prickly lettuce and as soon as the group got access to the hill they bolted to forage some naturally grown greens. On mornings like these it is not unusual for Annie to even skip her breakfast but today she came in for breakfast served in the green house.

On the other side of the building the chimps really enjoyed their lunch: strawberries, leeks, and mini peppers.

Watch today’s video for a close up glimpse of their meals.

All Good Things

by

This morning when we walked into the chimp house, every chimp was super playful! Gordo was bunny hopping around, Annie was playing chase with Burrito and her caregivers, Missy was chasing Jody, Jamie was playfully foot stomping to her caregivers, Dora and Mave were playing, and chimps on both sides were grooming in the greenhouses. Every day at the sanctuary is a great day because the chimps are safe, secure, and cared for, but that does not mean that every day is sunshine and rainbows. Obviously,the chimpanzees have their own feelings and moods, just like us. Some days we walk in and one group is displaying, while the other group is calm. Other days it’s loud everywhere you go. However, most days you get a balance of some calm with a little bit of displaying from time to time. And then you get a day like today, where both sides of the building are just silly and playful!

While most people wanted to play, Negra wanted to sleep all day:

We are running pretty low on magazines. If you have any laying around, I am sure Cy would love to take them off your hands!