Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for November 2022

Winter is Here to Stay

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Today was a quiet snowy day at the chimp house. The humans were busy shoveling snow and cleaning, while the chimps ate snow and napped in their cozy nest! Everyone was so content grooming or napping that it was hard to capture photos of them. So please enjoy these photos of some cozy chimps I was able to capture. Speaking of cozy, today is the last day of our Comfort & Joy auction! The auction will be wrapping up at 6 pm PT so make sure to check on your bids or bid one last person out! We will be starting to slowly add Christmas gifts for the chimps on our wish-list soon, so be on the look out!

We got a little bit of snow last night and this morning…

Burrito sat still long enough to snap these photos:


The ever so handsome Cy:

Neggie’s silhouette eating snow:

Negra can’t wait for all of her new blankets from the Comfort & Joy auction!

Jamie getting a little shut eye:

Jamie nesting, Neggie style (blanket over head):

Mave in the middle of a big grooming party in the green house:

A Whirlwind of a Day

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Today has been a really busy day! Beyond the normal cleaning and preparing meals and enrichment, we had to shovel some snow, prepare for the incoming snowfall, and have our bi-weekly staff meeting! I was able to get some photos of Rayne for all to enjoy though!

And some bonus photos from last week!

Before the snow froze to become a giant ice cube for a bandit to steal, it was a trough full of fluffy snow!

Gordo was the first who grabbed a handful!

Followed by Willy B who shoved as much snow as his mouth could fit!

All the while Rayne took her time only picking out the best of the best of snow in the trough!

It’s amazing to think that when these two groups (before the integration) were very hesitant about snow treats! In fact, even last year they were pretty hesitant of snow. It’s always a joy when they come around on things they weren’t used to.

And finally, Negra still in her nest when I greeted her this morning!

And don’t forget Giving Tuesday! You can donate today or before the end of the year for our end of the year campaign!

“Commuting”

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This morning’s dusting of powdery, fluffy snow converted the drab November landscape into a winter spectacle.

My morning drive to the sanctuary cuts through open farmland into desert hills furnished with towering wind turbines. The highway then plunges into the Yakima River canyon and winds upstream along its forested banks and basalt cliffs. Closer to the sanctuary, the roadway climbs just enough to peek out of the canyon to see the rolling foothills of the Cascades with their thick coats of evergreens: cedars, firs, hemlocks and pines. One last curve leads into a quaint pastoral valley flanked on either side by steep hillsides speckled with woodland, upon one of which the sanctuary was built.

There are many days when this scenic commute feels like an unadvertised employee perk, offering us sweeping views of quintessential northwest landscapes with nonexistent traffic. Of course, there are contrasting days when this highway becomes a nightmarish gauntlet of hazardous elements. Depending on the season, the perils may include black ice, crossing wildlife, reckless country drivers, wildfire haze, whiteout snowstorms, stray boulders, surprise farming equipment, and never-ending bridge repairs. Despite driving the course thousands of times, none of us can reliably predict what each driven mile will entail.

This morning, we were all treated to a stunning frosty landscape bathed in warm sunlight. I think the chimps must have rushed to the windows to take it all in. I pulled off the road on my way to the sanctuary to take some photographs with the intention of sharing the experience with you all. The pictures don’t do it justice, but hopefully they convey some of the wonder.

 

Bromance Isn’t Dead

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As today’s video suggests, “bromance” is very much alive in this chimp house. I caught Terry and Willy B engaging in an exciting grooming session – with tons of breathy pants. It still amazes me to think that a year ago at this time, Willy B and Terry lived in two separate groups. Now, Terry and Willy B (plus their 7 friends!) have been living together for 7 months (as of tomorrow)! I’m so happy for each of them as friendships help enrich their lives.

Speaking of the group of 9, I had a photoshoot today with Cy. He took me both indoors and outdoors in attempt to get the perfect shot. I tried, Cy!

Photoshoot with Cy:

Lucky:

To Be Continued

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I have good news and bad new about the Bray. The good news is that it is about 95% complete. The bad news is that winter came early this year and the remaining 5% will be difficult if not impossible to finish in freezing weather. It’s also a less-than-ideal time to introduce the newest group to the enclosure, so the Bray will likely be opened late winter or early spring. We’re disappointed but looking forward to longer days, warmer weather, and an entire summer of Cy’s group exploring their nearly two-acre habitat.

Here’s a photo I snapped of the lower portion of the Bray during the single week of fall we got to enjoy this year:

With the colder weather upon us, the chimps have taken to basking in the sun from the comfort of their greenhouse enclosures.

Honey B:

Lucky:

Gordo, trying to get away before I could take his photo and making a mental note to spit on me the next time he sees me: