Archives for November 2022

The VIP Lounge

November 7, 2022 by Anthony

The chimpanzees spend more time resting and socializing in the heated indoor areas as the weather gets wetter and colder.

We’ve recently been focusing much of our content on the chimps’ outdoor enclosures, especially Young’s Hill and The Bray. Large outdoor habitats are irreplaceable because they provide chimpanzees with unique opportunities to engage in “natural” behaviors such as climbing, foraging, and patrolling as a group. The greenhouse-type enclosures, including the new Riverview and Oakwood Greenhouses, also have certain characteristics that the chimps can take full advantage of at their leisure.

Even so, chimpanzees living in sanctuary also need clean, climate-controlled, enriched indoor spaces. These are locations where they can be cozy, entertained and secure, regardless of the conditions outside. It would be easy to look at the artificial interiors and think that these enclosures are inferior to the outdoor ones, but the chimpanzees don’t seem to think so. Instead, the residents seem to utilize the various spaces differently so that together they provide one expansive, complex, multi-functional home.

Sofia highlighted the indoor front rooms in her September post “Back to Front Room 7” and Anna wrote about them again in last week’s post “Small space, big fun“. I thought it might be fun to share some additional video clips of the chimpanzees enjoying that same space today!

A Lucky Day

November 6, 2022 by Grace

Winter may officially be at the sanctuary, but that doesn’t stop our celebration train from rollin’ through! Today we got to celebrate Lucky’s birthday. Lucky was born on November 6th, 1991 and is the youngest chimp here at CSNW.

Lucky was born at the the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) and is a full sibling to Cy and half sibling to Rayne and Honey B. Lucky came to CSNW with the Lucky Six in 2021 and is in the newly integrated group of nine.

Lucky might seem aloof to many of our blog readers, since she is often doing her own thing, but she has a goofy side to her as well. She really, really enjoys grooming the scabs off of her caregivers, will make bubbly-sounding raspberry noises with her mouth when she wants something, and is known to scoot across the floor while grasping blankets in front of her (see more here). She is a sweet, sweet lady and we are very lucky to celebrate her!

We also want to take a moment to say thank you to our amazing supporter Paulette Wrisley for sponsoring this day for Our Lucky Star. We couldn’t do the things we do without our amazing supporters and we are so grateful to you!

Cy, enjoying his mango:

A close-up of Dora:

Lucky before her birthday lunch (and Gordo cheesin’ in the background):

Rayne with a mouth full of mango:

Willy B looking very handsome during lunch:

Jamie & Burrito’s Day of Friendship

November 5, 2022 by Diana

They really did play for a good amount of time while Anna and I cleaned their playroom. I was very glad to get the clips I did!

As you can see from the video, the snow from yesterday was short-lived. I saw Annie walking up the stairs to the playroom loft with a big handful of snow. It’s good that they love to eat it!

First Snow of 2022!

November 4, 2022 by Sofia Castro-Loza

We officially got the first significant snow fall last night! All the caregivers arrived to work surprised to see this so early in the year when only two or three weeks ago temperatures were in the 80s. Young’s Hill is beautifully covered by snow, but the chimps in Jamie’s group did not find it amusing, probably because it has been raining nonstop. Regardless of the rain, I thought that this morning they would have run outside to get the first taste of snow, but not a single one has stepped outside today. Instead, they have spent most of the day happily nesting on the second floor of the playroom. On the other side of the chimp house, the chimps on Cy’s group spent their second day with access to the new chute, inside and cozy. Many nests were made, and many naps were taken today.

The Bray, future outdoor enclosure for Cy’s group

The corridor between Young’s Hill and The Bray, with the new chute in the far back

Cy and his friends spent most of the day doing as little as possible in the front rooms.

Willy B looking at his teeth on my phone’s screen while on selfie mode

Back in the chute!

November 3, 2022 by Anna

Today Cy’s group got access back to the outdoor chute. After a few months of construction, the chute has received some new and improved space and connections. This chute will eventually be the portal that leads to The Bray outdoor enclosure (currently being built). For now though, it’s a popular hangout where the 2 groups of chimpanzees can check in on each other. Even after the initial excitement dies down, this visual connection is quite enriching!

King of the Hill

November 2, 2022 by Kelsi

While on a walk with Jamie, I observed Burrito and Missy following each other on the logs and then start to wrestling. It made me think about when I was young playing king of the sand dune with my brother. I asked the rest of the staff if they had ever played this game when they where kids, which of course they had! Some of their variations were: king of the mountain, king of the hill, and king of the log! The object of the game was to be the last one standing and then you were pronounced king of the object you were standing on, said log, mattress, or hill and then you have bragging rights for as long as you rein! Today, for Missy and Burrito it seems as though no one holds the title but I see a rematch in their future!

Time has flown by! Can you believe it already been 4 years with our wonderful bovines!

Honey and her gang:

Honey:

Meredith:

Nutmeg and Betsy:

Stay Spooky

November 1, 2022 by Chad de Bree

Though October has passed and we have begun November, it doesn’t mean we can’t still be in the Spooky Season! Yesterday you saw how Jamie and friends celebrated her 45th birthday. As promised in yesterday’s blog, here is how Lucky’s group celebrated Jamieween!