Today was a busy, fun, crazy, happy day here at CSNW! We celebrated sweet and sassy Foxie’s 47th birthday- can you believe it?
She makes 47 look pretty darn great. 🙂
And we’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to Paulette Wrisley for sponsoring Foxie’s special day of celebration! It means so much to us to be able to honor Foxie, and each of the chimpanzees, for the amazingly special individuals they are.
We kicked off the celebrations with a delicious smoothie for the birthday girl, who loves smoothies and holds her own cup every morning. She got new dolls throughout the day, enjoyed a pre-party party, and then had a forage on Young’s Hill complete with Pineapple Bowls (!) full of yummy fruit, bok choy, cucumber, and cabbage. Despite the weather being quite warm, everyone went out on the Hill and was able to grab at least one pineapple bowl. Cy’s group also enjoyed pineapple bowls with lots of fresh goodies! Be sure to check out the video for more.
If you are new to following us, Foxie was born on August 8th, 1976 at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. According to our records her mother, Winny, passed away at the Alamogordo Primate Facility in 2013. Foxie was used in hepatitis vaccine research and as a breeder while living in the lab. She had four babies- all of whom were taken from her when they were very, very young. In the wild, chimpanzees rely heavily on their mothers for many years and live with them through their adolescence. The practice of taking infants from their mothers in laboratories has long-term harmful impacts on both the mother and the offspring- I, personally, cannot imagine this sort of trauma.
When she came to sanctuary, she adopted a doll within the first month here. This single doll has turned into quite a collection and she has one, if not two, babies with her all the time. She enjoys games of troll toss and will often give one of her caregivers a doll to ‘babysit’ for her. She lets us know when she’s ready to have them back by blowing raspberries in the loft of the playroom by the human kitchen. 🙂 When she really gets going and is playing chase with a caregiver, she is known to do these amazing spins across the floor from one end of the room to the other. Or she will climb up the caging and flip so she hangs upside down. After all she has been through, her resiliency and silly nature is truly awe-inspiring.
Foxie is a sweet, spunky, forgiving, and absolutely precious soul who I feel lucky to know. Happy birthday, Fox. <3
Photos from the day:
Foxie allowed a mini photo-shoot in the front rooms this morning:
Negra scored a pineapple bowl during the forage:
Jamie, looking as regal as ever:
Jamie, winning the ‘How-Many-Pineapples-Can-I-Carry-At-Once’ Award:
Annie looking very sweet during the pre-party party in their greenhouse:
And on the hill:
Burrito decided to enjoy his pineapple bowl on Young’s Hill:
Burrito also enjoyed the Gatorade pools:
Birthday girl enjoying her pineapple bowl on Young’s Hill:
And a fresh green onion:
Happiest Birthday wishes to Foxie!!! She’s such an inspiration for having fun whether alone or with friends and embracing life each day!! 😉
Happy Bithday, Foxi.
many thanks to all the staff at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. such a beautiful place.
God-bless
im sorry.
Happy Birthday, Foxie 🙂
Happy Birthday Beautiful Foxie !!
Looks like everyone had a good time, And Jamie looks like she is taking up juggling.:revolving_hearts:
Ha! I noticed that, too. Given Jamie’s dexterity and expertise in just about everything, no doubt she will be juggling pineapple husks by tomorrow.
Happy Birthday and Best Wishes to my Chimpanzee Pal Foxie!!! A beautiful girl with a lot of spunk. Thanks to all at CSN who give Foxie and her family such loving care.
Thanks, Grace!
I loved seeing Missy scrape by the Queen with her prize, trying to get by before Neggie played the Senior Citizen card!
Thanks for also letting us know that Neggie scored a (big) bowl! Were those figs!? Yum, that’s new!
Maybe if Neggie has to go farther, it’s good exercise for her. I always thought she was a bit pigeon-toed, but going out, she almost looked like she was limping a bit.
I laughed as Dora started to join the pre-lunch Excitement Train, then cut the corner when she saw Terry?Mave? coming.
But without a doubt, awards go to the pic of The Boss channeling her inner Farmer Jo, and First Prize goes to Bipedal Annie! Go, Annie, go! :laughing:
All of that fun, extra smoothie (accompanied by a protest from Negra, who thinks this should be her 50th birthday Celebration YEAR, please and thank you), and a NEW Orange Blossom! Her current fav!
Happy birthday, Foxie! You light up our lives!
Happy birthday sweet Foxie! Between holidays and birthdays, every day seems to be a great party at CSNW! And why not spoil them….they so obviously appreciate it. Lovely photos as always….thank you.
And don’t you just love the photo of calender pin up boy for August…Gordo. So sweet, with his crossed legs and laid back attitude.
Jamie…Whose Birthday is this any way??!!!!HOARDER :grin:Happy Birthday Foxie…Enjoy your treats……Saw nothing I sent you!!!!!!Get your gifts ……they’re holding them hostage:weary::flushed::astonished:
EVERY birthday is the boss’s birthday…..:grin:
Happy birthday to my favorite chimp, the beautiful Miss Foxie! Hopefully many more happy birthdays to follow!
Happy Birthday sweet, sassy, funny Foxie!! Foxie and her big smoothie, good to the last drop! Those pineapple bowls were the best ever. Big and beautiful! Little Foxie has a BIG birthday theme. And am I mistaken or did Foxie do an extra floofy touch to her shoulders just for this big occasion? She looks amazing, as if she hasn’t aged at all over the years. How lovely you captured Foxie in the Photo Booth on this special day.
Jody was there with the gang, she snuck into Jamie’s body to enjoy the bountiful forage. What a haul. Annie sipping through the straw was great. I almost think she enjoyed the straw as much as she enjoyed the mini smoothie.
Thank you, each of you, all of you, for this (and every) special celebration. I just love seeing both groups enjoying the healthy bounty of favorite foods! The contrast of this joyous celebration and the story of Foxie’s past gave me pause. I also caught my breath seeing Foxie’s mother named. Winny. I don’t recall knowing that before. Thank you caregivers and volunteers. I celebrate all of you, too!!
You said it well, Grace:. Foxie is absolutely precious. I am so glad that she is part of the community on Young’s Hill. If nothing else, Foxie has the good taste to play with Trolls, Doras, and Strawberry Shortcakes and to exclude stuck-up, smelly, woke Barbie out of her clique. You go, Chimpgirl!
:rofl:
“Many a true word spoken in jest”, as Bill Shakespeare had a character recite. As a wee child, circa 1967, I accidently picked up a Barbie that I saw laying about, and I was viscerally repulsed by the smell and the texture of that creature! I ran for the refuge of my matted plush toy who bore a strong resemblence to Neggie’s visually-challenged friend Eeyore.
Happy Birthday my dear Foxie. I’m your biggest my fan and there’s a little extra I’ll send you to help get more dolls. You don’t have nearly enough. Here’s to many more happy troll years.
Happy Birthday dear Foxie! What beautiful photos! The video is so fun!!! I love how excited the Chimps get when it’s time to eat. I can relate:) Looks like an awesome day for the birthday girl and her family. Thank you for the wonderful celebration. Hugs to you all.
First, thank you Paulette. for sponsoring this special girl on her birthday. Second, Foxie your resiliency is awe inspiring. It would be very hard for anyone to recover from the losses of your babies. Thank goodness that has changed and you are in a wonderful place where if you wanted you could have as many dollies are you can carry. Speaking of carrying, c’mon Jamie, don’t be like human primates at a buffet who walk away from the table with more than they can carry and say to everyone ‘oh this isn’t all for me.’
Happy birthday darling Foxie! What fine fun and shenanigans you had. I loved the photos and my sweet pal Annie looked gorgeous at the party. Thank you everyone at the sanctuary for giving the chimps one heck of a fun time. Bless you and I love you all
Happy B-day:pineapple::watermelon::grapes::strawberry::birthday:- Sweetest – cutest :two_hearts: Troll-doll :dolls: mum!
(& many many returns)
Foxie is my absolute :gift_heart: favorite! She’s such an inspiration and makes her friends happy too :revolving_hearts: right!?
Dear Foxie,
(on the day after your birthday,)
I was moved by reading the name of your mother. Her life of suffering, right up to her death at Alamogordo, at the hands of well educated humans, is unjust. I was not unfamiliar with the Southwest Foundation For Biomedical Research, the institution who tortured your mother and cruelly chose to breed primates such as yourself. I googled SFBR and discovered they are now called Texas Biomedical Research Institute. Their tagline is “Health Starts with Science”. I believe that science starts with the latest technologies and not cruel and inhumane archaic methods. Dear Foxie, when will they learn there is simply no excuse for the exploitation of animals used in science.
I am going to share what my google search discovered. With all our advancements in modern science (see NAVS and AAVS websites for information), I find this disturbing :
“Texas Biomed recognizes the critical importance of animal models in discovery and has included the development and construction of research facilities that meet regulatory and animal welfare standards.
“As one of the largest breeding colonies in the country, the Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomed cannot meet demand due to facility constraints and must increase its physical animal housing footprint immediately to meet the challenge,” said Larry Schlesinger, M.D., Texas Biomed Professor and President/CEO.
To that end, Texas Biomed has committed to the Nonhuman Primate Animal Facility (NHP ALFA) project. The $10 million NHP ALFA project will create critical new space, of approximately 45,000 sq. ft., for Texas Biomed to double the number of rhesus macaques on campus and accelerate development plans currently established in the 10-year strategic plan.”
Learning that Texas Biomed is expanding and investing in nonhuman primate research sickens me. Imagine what our sanctuaries could do with that same $10 million. The lives they could save!
Dearest Foxie, I wish everyone involved at Texas Biomed could see you now! I want them to see you spin and pirouette, laugh and play, and drink your smoothie to the very last drop. I also want them to know your deep fondness for your dolls, and that you sometimes phantom play, and that you choose not sleep in piles of cozy blankets. I want them to know you lost your family member and close friend, Jody, this year and you mourned her just like we humans do.
Despite Texas Biomed, Foxie, you finally have the life you deserve. You have your family of chimpanzees and a family of humans who show up every single day to ensure your life is enriched. You have choices, freedoms, and peace.Your little body, mind, heart and soul are your caregivers priority. YOU are their priority. You are our priority. We are all here to ensure you live the richest life possible. I will not stop fighting to change the minds of institutions and to stop, once and for all, experimentation on animals in research, testing in education. In the meantime, Troll toss, spin, forage, and play. We love you…..always.
Thank you Kathleen! This reminds us that there’s more we can do in other areas
Happy Birthday sweet ‘n spicy Foxie!
What a horror story! How is this allowed in the 21st century, and what kind of human thinks this is OK? Is there nothing that can be done to stop this expansion?
Kathleen, thank you for researching this and sharing this ongoing travesty about Texas Biomed. I am horrified by this information and the ongoing exploitation of another sentient species for human needs. If we can put people on the moon and venture into far outer space, if we can build the Hubble space telescope and now the Webb, we can damned well figure out to stop the horror of these inhumane behaviors to other beings and accomplish the medical goals in some other way. I am ashamed of us as a species that we continue to do these things when we can do so much better to accomplish the same outcomes with different effort, if those people could be convinced to give a damn. It is not acceptable, not humane, and completely unconscionable. It’s a good thing I keep kleenex next to my computer since I’ve used up a bunch of sheets writing this!! Just heartbreaking.
Fabulous Foxie is so resilient! She is my inspiration on how to survive trauma. Don and I were helping two sanctuaries in Florida but for some reason I was searching on line and
discovered CSNW shortly after the 7 had arrived from the Buckshire Labs. There was only a night house back then and it housed 7 malnourished and traumatised chimps. Six of them participated in enrichment the exception being Foxie. As you know, she was a research chimp and 4 of her babies were taken from her arms. My heart breaks when I think of this horror. Fortunately at CSNW Foxie’s maternal instincts kicked in and she bagan to heal when someone gave her a troll doll! During the first year of operstion, a screen enclosure was put around what is now the greenhouse. It was unusable during the winter. We watched the chimps take snow on a finger and quickly go back to the warmth of the night house. On June 13, a year after the chimps arrived, we took a trip to Cle Elum to meet them and the staff. I bought 7 stuffed chimps as gifts for the chimps. i didn’t know who was calling me over but if turned out to be Foxie. she put her fingers under the wire door and indicated that she wanted a stuffed chimp. It turns out that this new chimp was such a threat to her BsbyTroll that she tore it apart, pulled out it’s eyes, stopped on it and when she was sure it was no longer a threat, she put her troll doll on her back and left! What an amazing mother! We have all watched her develop and grow into the most wonderful chimp. Whenever life becomes difficult, think of Foxie’s example on how to survive loss – in her case the loss of 4 babies. She is absolutely remarkable. Happy Birtjday Foxie from Karen and Don
Thanks so much to the 2 of you (and Ryan) for recognizing the need and lending all of your support to them!