Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for December 2023

My Favorite Subject

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On busy days, we often look through the photos on our phones to see if we can piece together a blog post worth sharing. As I was doing this today, it became apparent that I have a fondness for a certain subject.

The photos are all slight variations on the same theme: Negra, nesting atop the greenhouse climbing structure under a mountain of blankets. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, when I arrive for work and walk through the chimp house to say good morning, this is where I know I will find her. And it seems I am compelled to snap a photo each time. How could I resist?

Snow Snackin Video and Mora Blanket Thanks!

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Carrying through from my post last week about the chimpanzees enjoying snow, which Chad also posted about a few days ago, I bring you a delightful video of Cy and Terry (mostly Terry).

As you can see, that group really likes to eat snow too!

We are continuing our thanks to donors for bidding on items for the chimpanzees in the Comfort and Joy auction last month. Even if you didn’t technically “win” the item for the chimps, if you bid on it, you contributed to the final donation amount, and we are so grateful to you! Huge thanks again to Monica for donating so many items for the auction!

Our very own Chad was the “winner” who gets final credit for gifting this fabulous and large Mora (Mave + Dora) blanket that was hung so well in the Marmot Mountain Playroom. Hopefully we can catch some chimps nesting with it soon!

Jamie’s group gets a new TV

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We received a nice new firestick TV to install for Jamie’s group and so far it’s a big hit! Now both groups can pass the time on cold snowy days when going outside just doesn’t appeal. Foxie was the first to try it out. She began by displaying at it, but quickly settled into watching videos of the other group on our YouTube channel. Soon Jamie joined in, then Annie, and later Burrito.

Don’t forget to check our Amazon wishlist for Christmas gift ideas for the chimpies!

 

Meet our newest caregiver, Amanda!

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Hello dear readers!

My name is Amanda. I’m the newest caregiver here at CSNW and I’m very excited to be starting this new chapter with the chimps, cattle, amazing staff, and you all!

I’m from many places, having moved a lot as a kid and carrying on the habit as an adult. Now that I landed this job in this beautiful place, I think I’ll try out settling down long-term.

“What got you into chimps?”, many people ask, to which I respond, “My mom”. When I was a little kid she was going to school for anthropology and was drawn towards the primatology courses and soon began to intern for the Jane Goodall Institute. Childcare being very expensive, I went with her most places including her lectures, professor’s office hours, and the JGI offices. It was especially fun when she brought me along to Zoo Atlanta where I was free to run around, visiting the gorillas and orangutans each time.

Most recently I lived in Bend, drawn there to work at Chimps Inc., now called Freedom for Great Apes. This being my first experience with chimps (I’ve worked with a number of different monkey species), I quickly became smitten with them. After my time at Chimps Inc. I stayed in Bend for a few years doing this and that including caregiving for adults (humans) with physical and intellectual disabilities, running my own housekeeping business, volunteering for ThinkWild, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit, and earning a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership and management through Arizona State University online. After a while I decided I needed to jump back into the primate world so I decided to attend Oxford Brookes University’s primate conservation Master’s program, which was such an enlightening experience where I met some really wonderful people in my cohort who will remain lifelong friends.

After finishing that program I moved back to Bend without a real plan. I volunteered again for ThinkWild and their BeaverWorks project, gaining some field experience setting and monitoring wildlife cameras at beaver dam and den sites. Later on I got a summer job as a field assistant for an Oregon State University research project involving songbird and raptor surveys in the Steens Mountain Range. I was unenthusiastically searching for the next opportunity when a friend of mine sent me the listing for caregiver/veterinary assistant at CSNW and long story short, here I am!

So excited to learn and grow here! Now, please enjoy some of the pictures I’ve taken at CSNW so far!

 

Terry showing off his adorable buck teeth

 

Terry and Rayne admiring some boots Jaime received. Model credit: Grace

 

Jaime in an impeccably crafted nest holding a suede boot in her pelvic pocket.

 

Burrito playing tug-of-war with me

 

Jaime and Missy enjoying the benefits of one of the first snow storms of the season

 

Classic Betsy getting up close and personal

 

 

New Appliances!

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Yesterday we welcomed two gifts that we received from the combined efforts of many donors during our Comfort and Joy Auction… A new dryer and a frost-free freezer! This is a thrilling gift for the staff and volunteers and makes our work that much easier! Stay tuned this month as we will be continuing to highlight our Comfort and Joy donors and the items they generously purchased for the sanctuary.

Volunteer Dusty models our newest appliances:

Clean and dry blankets bring so much comfort to the chimps!

Negra:

Dora:

Ice treats are a hit, no matter the time of year!

Terry:

Annie:

 

 

Special thanks to:

Cheney C., Ellen G., Kathie J., Kathleen K., Carrie M., Aprile P., Lorna P., Jamie R., Patti S., and Karen W.

For buying the dryer!

 

Rosalie A., Ellen G., Carrie M. Julie O., Julia O., Aprile P. and Patti S.

For buying the Freezer!

 

 

 

Theme of the Day

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The theme of the day: a little bit of play and a WHOLE lot of grooming! Since the weather wasn’t very nice out (mostly rain), what better way to spend the day than grooming and playing with your friends? It was fun to see all the different pairings branching off to groom today. This afternoon, I found Cy and Gordo grooming, which is not a common occurrence in comparison to Cy and Willy B, or Cy and Terry.

Bonus photos!

Rayne:

Terry series:

Gordo series:

 

 

Word Around the Scuttlebutt

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You may be asking yourself, “What is a scuttlebutt?” Scuttlebutt is a U.S. Navy term for rumor or gossip. When on ship, a sailor’s water source was a “scuttlebutt.” “Scuttle” meaning drill and “butt” meaning cask. In layman’s terms, a scuttlebutt is a water fountain. This was just a long about way to say “water cooler talk;” a place where people gather to gossip.

The term (and concept) of scuttlebutt popped into my mind as I watched both groups converge on their tables or cattle troughs full of snow. My mind then wondered to what the chimps may be saying to each other in their secret language around the scuttlebutt. What kind of gossip would they tell each other?

Though I cannot say 100% for sure what they would gossip about, I think I have a decent guess on what Burrito would gossip about: the neighbors!

I will admit that I didn’t think of this blog until a little later on, so I missed out at the group gathering of Burrito’s group at the sandbox table. But I am not here empty handed.

Missy in particular has been seen at the scuttlebutt multiple times throughout the day

On her way to dinner, Negra stopped by for a quick refreshing treat

And of course sweet, sassy Foxie had to partake

Though the concept of snow is still new to Lucky’s group and they have yet to go onto the snow-glistened Bray, they have at least determined it’s a great treat.

From left to right: Cy, Willy B, and Lucky on the log)
(From left to right: Cy, Willy B, and Lucky on the log)

Rayne and Lucky in particular have been seen with snow throughout a majority of today

Rayne earlier on

Lucky

Willy B also was seen by caregivers returning to the source of the snow whenever he finished what he had

And Cy

There was also a nice moment with half-siblings Mave and Terry at the snow pile

Until something is invented to know what they are truly thinking, I will just sit back and imagine what they would gossip about.

Bonus photos!

A rare moment when Cy peels his eyes off his copy of People Magazine to see who is walking down the hallway
Rayne watching Terry and I grooming each other

Lastly, we are finally in the month of December! That means planning for Christmas is well upon its way. A lot has been added to our Amazon Wish List in preparation, with more being added each day. Be sure to check it out to see if there is anything you can help out with. We (chimpanzees and caregivers) would greatly appreciate it!