As many of you are aware, June 13th has been a special day for the sanctuary for a long time.
On this date in 2008, the first group of rescued chimpanzees (the iconic “Cle Elum Seven”) arrived at the sanctuary from a private facility in Pennsylvania.
Among them was the beloved Negra, an older female chimpanzee whose actual birth date is unknown. The team decided that her birthday should be celebrated annually on June 13 and it’s been honored as sanctuary tradition ever since. What better day to recognize the passing of years than the day that she reached her permanent home?
The Seven were the only official residents of the sanctuary until 2018 when we welcomed four rescued Jersey cattle to the property. Chimpanzees Honey B, Mave and Willy B followed close behind; they were transferred from the closed Wildlife Waystation in the summer of 2019. When it was formally arranged that we would receive another group from the Waystation in 2021, we were surprised to see that one of the individuals, adult male Terry, coincidentally had June 13th listed as his date of birth. It’s almost as if we needed another reason to pop champagne on a random day in early summer…
With so much going on, it is no longer fitting to just call today’s event “The Queen’s Brunch” (as we did last year and the year before). Instead, this year’s bash was dubbed the Trifecta Jubilee (thanks to Kathleen Corby for that winning name and the graphic to go along with it!) to reflect today’s joyous confluence of three major anniversaries. The party menu featured many of Negra’s favorite foods, including oat waffles, peanut butter smoothie, whole leeks, fingerling potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and sparkling cider. (As for Terry, let’s just say that he’s not a picky eater and seems happy to be there regardless.)
Notably, the Trifecta is also precursor to the much-anticipated HOOT! 2022, our first in-person gala since 2019! You can visit the event’s official web page to learn more and buy tickets: http://chimpsnw.org/events/hoot-2022/
So, on this blustery thirteenth day of June of the year 2022, we’re not just celebrating Negra’s 49th, Terry’s 32nd, or the sanctuary’s 14th…
We’re toasting to the entire past, present, and future of the sanctuary and the twenty magnificent individuals who call it their home!
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Days like today are only possible because of the generous donors who follow, support, and love the organization. Officially, three donors chose to independently sponsor today: Debbie Reintzell (in memory of Terry Lee and Theresa Hood), Tami Roy (in honor of The Queen herself), and Paulette Wrisley on behalf of the birthday chimps! We are eternally grateful to all of them- and all of you- for helping us to throw a birthday bash worthy of these amazing individuals.
I was so happy to see Dora with Rayne in one shot, and Dora hugging and kissing Rayne in the window. With Dora’s dance card being so filled lately with new friends, Rayne deserved some one on one time.
We got a hot pink birthday kiss from Negra today! and Cy gave Terry all the window space he wanted today.
And! congratulations to CSNW for 14 years providing hope, love, and sanctuary. You do it so very well:heartbeat:
You Are Loved!
And, as ever, Paulette, thank you so much for your generous support of the chimpanzees and cattle who reside at the wonderful sanctuary.
I love a party forage video. Mave, Rayne, and Dora, followed by Willy B and Terry, and then Terry and Cy peeking out the window and all twisting their necks to get a better view of what you are doing. That was priceless!
Oat waffles, peanut butter smoothie, what a menu! So many milestones to celebrate and all in one day. Happy birthday to HRH and Terry. Fourteen years ago today, did you ever imagine the sanctuary would look this grand? Happy Sanctuary to all!
Kathleen, thanks for thinking of this great name and the perfect visuals to go with it for this year’s celebration! Love the image of the truck & trailer — I recall tearing up when I saw the wonderful video of the last two groups being loaded into & out of the trailer into their new lives. It’s lovely to honor that journey and its amazing outcomes!
Happy Birthday to Negra and Terry! Big thanks to those who sponsored this day and the care givers who threw the wonderful party! So grateful for all you do for all of these lovely creatures!
Thanks for the longer video!
The Queen, as evet, excited for and appreciative of her waffles! One more year till cake, Neggie!
And what a sight to see–Rayne, Mave and Dora in a window!
Congrats to all, and thanks to all of the sponsors!
it was great to see the Lucky Nine so peacefully together. Thank you for the wonderful video, photos and blog post,
Happy Birthday Dear Negra. Happy Birthday Dear Terry. What an awesome video of happy Chimps. Love all of their sweet faces and how happy they are with their special celebration. Another fabulous party. Thank you for all you do for them. Love and hugs to everyone there and thank you to all who made this possible for them. Happy Trifecta Jubilee!
Just when I think that the videos and photos can’t possibly get any better….they do! This is a stunning testimony to what you’ve done in those 14 years …..happy, contented animals, a perfect team of caregivers and a big family of so many appreciative supporters. Every aspect of this special celebratory video is wonderful, but if I have to focus on one moment, it’s that beautiful kiss from the birthday girl herself….thank you Neggie.
Happy Birthday to the “Queen” and the “little Cowboy” :tada:
Thanks for sharing the great video today, what a fun party.:revolving_hearts:
What a celebration!
everyone looks happy and healthy..It is wonderful what you all have accomplished these last 14 years.
I am very grateful for this amazing sanctuary and all its hardworking caregivers and supporters.
Hope,Love, Sanctuary for many years to come!
Hail the Queen Happy Birthday to you and Terry. loved the special kiss. Great job to you all from Down Under Xx PS Loved receiving your Thank You note last week much appreciated Michelle Herbert X x
I love how we see deference to the elders in action here…Neggie comes in and gently shoves someone to the side, off “her” lunch bench on the scale!
Just love those hoots and happy grunts as the gathering went on! I’ll have to remember to do a good pant-hoot also the next time I’m at a party buffet! Some of my friends would love it. Others would need to be “informed” about the importance of vocalizing one’s joy when attending a celebration.