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Archives for October 2023

Brrrrrrrr….itto

October 24, 2023 by Chad de Bree

It always takes me by surprise when there is a dramatic shift in the weather. Just a couple days ago we were sitting comfortably in 70º weather. Even just yesterday we were still in 60º weather. But the forecast today is a high of 45º and the rest of the week’s forecast is a little dimmer with the highs not expected to surpass 37º and the low expected to be around 15º by Friday night with some snow sprinkled here and there. This dramatic shift in weather doesn’t just surprise me, it surprises every one. I type this as J.B. is now running around winterizing the Chimp House to ensure the chimpanzees are warm and cozy.

Gordo watching J.B. putting up the winter panels to the Riverview Greenhouse

With the chimpanzees retreating to the warmest spots indoors, it was almost impossible to get any photos that weren’t worse quality than that one of Gordo. Or, on the flip side of things, trying to take a decent photo of a chimpanzee who is constantly in motion is also almost impossible.

Case in point: One Burrito Chimpanzee

The only decent photos I was able to get today are:

Dora and Lucky grooming

And the Marvelous Miss Mave

So to reminisce of warmer times, here are some photos from the past couple of days!

Terry sitting on a barrel and watching while Lucky grooms the back of my hand

Nutmeg and Betsy chowing down on some supplemental hay in addition to their grazing opportunities in the pastures

Ok. This next one to me is just the epitome of Dora and her relationship with others.

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Dora sitting above Mave and Honey B as they groom

Young’s Hill as I was leaving the sanctuary last night

After looking at that last photo again, in hindsight I should have seen the signs this kind of weather was coming up. We can only hope things get slightly better for Jamieween!

Speaking of Jamieween, there are still a couple of items left on our Amazon Wish List with just enough time to make it here for the party. But today is sort of the deadline for them to make it in time.

And lastly, a quick update! As some of you know, we use Tru Earth laundry strips. The people at Tru Earth were kind enough to gives our own fundraising page where 20% of sales will go toward the care of the chimpanzees and cattle. We just wanted to make people aware the link to our fundraising page has changed. Every purchase made at this link will have 20% of the purchase go towards the sanctuary!

Filed Under: Betsy, Burrito, Cattle, Chimpanzee, Dora, Gordo, Honey B, Lucky, Mave, Nutmeg, Sanctuary, Terry Tagged With: Betsy, Burrito, cattle, dora, Gordo, Honey B, Lucky, Mave, Nutmeg, Sanctuary, Terry, winter

The Grass Isn’t Lava Anymore

October 23, 2023 by J.B.

It seems like all of the Californians are making great strides these days. Honey B, Mave, and Dora have all been on the Bray multiple times (true, only to chase the boys but hey, you’ve got to start somewhere), Cy is exploring the very top of the hill, and now Willy B is learning that while he may not enjoy it, the grass is not, in fact, lava.

I’m posting this video to celebrate Willy’s accomplishment, but I can’t help reflecting on how great a guy Cy is. Willy B is a great guy, too, but he’s not always an easy friend to have. He’s riddled with anxiety, he’s socially awkward, and while he’s not particularly aggressive himself, his displays and outbursts often have the effect of stirring his group mates into conflict. Whether Cy sees past all this, or just realizes that he has to work with what he was given, it amazes me to see how patient and kind he can be to his new buddy. Willy B may not always deserve Cy’s patience and understanding, but he’d be lost without it.

By the way, are you getting excited for Jamieween? Care to help us throw a big party? Check out our wish list here.

Filed Under: Cy, Latest Videos, Lucky, The Bray, Willy B Tagged With: chimpanzee, northwest, rescue, Sanctuary, the floor is lava, Willy B

Happy Birthday, Nanny, from Sheeru!

October 23, 2023 by Katelyn

This is the loveliest sponsor a day! Many thanks to Sheeru Singh for celebrating his grandma, Savitri, on their combined special day and including the chimpanzees!

“Happy Birthday Nanny! My grandma, Savitri Subramani, who shares the same birthday as me, will be turning 79 years old on October 23. I am donating to the sanctuary in her honor. P.S. – She is a big fan of Burrito. She enjoys watching his videos online. He brings a warm smile to her face.”

All of us hope you have a wonderful day, Savitri and Sheeru!! Happy Birthday! From Burrito, too! 🙂

This guy! We’re all hopelessly smitten…

Filed Under: Sanctuary, Sponsor-a-day

Blanket Fort Day Contest

October 22, 2023 by Diana

We have for you a little something different and interactive today! On the enrichment calendar that Chad prepares for the month, today said “Blanket Fort Day”.  We caregivers are notorious for getting really involved in cleaning and then forgetting to set up blanket forts when it is blanket fort day. So, as a way to remember, Grace suggested we turn it into a bit of a contest, with you being the judges!

The way we divide up the staff for cleaning, is (roughly) half go to the old side of the building and the others to the new side of the building. So, there are two “teams” – one for each side. We were going to try to have each team be anonymous, but there are some nice photos of caregivers included (who you may or may not recognize). Please try to remain completely impartial, regardless.

Chad came up with these categories in which to judge our forts:

  1. Best Overall
  2. Best Photo with Chimp
  3. Best Destroyed

We’ll start with Team A:

Playroom:

 

Playroom Loft:

Greenhouse:

 

And now we have Team B

Riverview Greenhouse:

Marmot Mountain Playroom:

Marmot Mountain Playroom Catwalk:

Lupine Playroom Catwalk:

 

Front room 7:

Mezzanine:

Please respond in the comments with your judgements!

 

Wait a second, blanket forts bring to mind something…. what could it be…

Oh, yes! Comfort & Joy!! Be sure you are signed up for the Comfort & Joy online auction, opening next week, and the other festivities, including a Behind the Scenes Virtual Visit on Jamieween!

Filed Under: Burrito, Caregivers, Enrichment, Honey B, Negra, Nesting, Rayne, Sanctuary, Volunteers Tagged With: blanket fort, caregivers, Enrichment, enrichment calendar, pre-made nests

It’s Complicated

October 21, 2023 by Sabrina

Mave and Gordo have a complicated relationship that usually involves Mave pressuring Gordo to give up his produce items during meal times. Gordo has figured out how to barter with Mave by giving her a piece of an item to appease her and she usually will go away for a time after receiving tribute. However, the more positive side of their relationship is harder to get a glimpse of and usually when we do see it it is very short lived. Well today was our lucky day and we were able to capture a fairly long play session between these two, with Dora supervising or course!

Filed Under: Gordo, Mave, Play Tagged With: Gordo, Mave, Play

Hubba Bubba

October 20, 2023 by Jenna

The chimps love gum! We hand out sugar-free gum that is good for their teeth (not Hubba Bubba, that was just the blog title), to the chimps as a special treat or to reinforce a positive behavior. Lately, we have been passing out gum to Cy’s group when all 9 of them shift enclosures. Sometimes, we have stragglers, like Honey B, who doesn’t always shift to where we would like her to go. Which is okay! We are flexible with the cleaning schedule. However, the days she and the rest of the group shifts on their own, we try to reinforce it by handing out gum, a treat loved by all! Some swallow the gum fairly quickly, and some keep it for over an hour, chomping away (like Lucky).

Photos of the chimps enjoying gum from the past!

Honey B:

Terry:

Cy:

Willy B:

Dora:

Missy from 2011:

Burrito from 2011:

Photos from today!

Cy in a Greenhouse:

Burrito with a giant play face with volunteer caregiver, Krissy:

Jamie’s saved book page:

Filed Under: Enrichment, Food, Lucky Tagged With: bubble gum, gum, treat

In loving memory of Mary Ann Wilson

October 20, 2023 by Katelyn

Our heartfelt thanks to Marc Wilson for sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in loving memory of Mary Ann Wilson.

We truly appreciate your thinking of the chimpanzees in your honoring of Mary Ann, Marc.

Dear Rayne:

Mave:

Negra:

Lucky:

Filed Under: Sanctuary, Sponsor-a-day

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Cle Elum, WA 98922
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