Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for January 2024

How to Entertain a Chimpanzee

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First up, here is your Honey B update! Despite our best attempts to keep her attention away from her healing eyelid and occupy her time with other activities, she did open up her incision slightly yesterday. Dr. Erin assessed her and for now, we are waiting to see how it continues to heal and consulting with other experts to be sure we have the best plan in place for her. We continue to provide her with extra enrichment, and today one of her enrichment devices doubled as enrichment for the humans who created it.

We have had a large cardboard tube in the Chimp House for the past several weeks without a use for it. Today it found its purpose! We drilled some holes in the tube, added chain through the tube, and clipped it to the caging of Honey B’s room. We added some of her favorite things to the inside of the tube (popcorn, shelled peanuts, raisins) and raspberries to some of the holes to peak her interest. We gave her a bamboo stick as a tool and sat back to see what she did with it.

The idea was that the small snacks would fall through the drilled holes when the tube rolled around the chain, and Honey B would use her bamboo stick to pull the snacks to her. Well…that’s not exactly what happened. To no one’s surprise, Honey B outsmarted our plan! She was able to tap and tip the tube in such a way that the majority of the snacks fell out of either end, so it did not take as long as I had thought it would to finish the puzzle. I would like to create a reusable version of this for everyone with PVC one day, and Honey B has helped me to identify some flaws in my plan! Thank you for the design assistance, BeeBee!

It was a very good day around the sanctuary today. It is warmer here today (not warm…but warmer!). Negra enjoyed a nap in her nest in the greenhouse which was quite cozy with the heater going. Her group enjoyed eating some of the remaining snow, which is now a perfect snow cone texture. Burrito loved looking at himself on my phone and was especially fascinated by his own tongue.

I feel so fortunate to be able to share in these moments with the chimps, and to get to share them with you all. I hope your Saturday has been just as good as ours!

 

Happy Birthday, Pam!

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So many thanks to Pam Powers, who wanted to sponsor today “for these wonderful chimps” on her birthday!

“Celebrating my Birthday with this special day of sanctuary for these very special chimps. Sending love, Pam Powers”

This is so lovely, Pam! Happy Birthday! All of us here are sending you wishes for the happiest day of celebration! We truly appreciate you sharing your special day to enrich the chimpanzees’ lives.

Willy B:

Lucky:

Foxie:

Burrito:

Joyous Moments with Missy

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Regular readers of our blog are well aware that Missy is a quintessential chimpanzee who cherishes her bond with Annie and her group mates and also engages, on rare occasions, in brief playful interactions with her caregivers. Since I have met her it is uncommon to witness Missy taking an interest in the variety of enrichment objects we provide to the chimps on a daily basis. However, this week presented a delightful surprise: I observed Missy taking time to herself to play with a new Jolly Ball, a gift from volunteer caregiver Krissy intended for Burrito. Although Missy’s play session with the Jolly Ball was short lived, it was a joyous moment to be able to witness and capture on video for all of you to enjoy as well!

On the other side of the chimp house:

Lucky finally got her turn with the ‘Is Bonobo Lucy Singing?’ book

 

In Memory of Karen Creason

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Many of you know the names Margaret Parkinson and Karen Creason. Margaret and Karen were early donors to the sanctuary. We first met them in person when they came to the open house event before the first group of chimpanzees arrived in 2008.

I remember them pulling up in the driveway with their car overflowing with blankets and toys for the chimpanzees-to-come and balloons sticking up and whipping around in the wind above their sun roof.

They stepped out of the car with smiles a mile wide, laughing and full of joy.

In the early days, they were kitchen volunteers in the chimp house, baking treats, making night bags, doing laundry, and charming us all.

Over the years, J.B. and I managed to insert ourselves into their lives, which was quite easy because they were so welcoming and also overly complimentary of our work. If ever we were feeling overwhelmed or down, a call or visit with Margaret and Karen would lift our spirits immediately.

Karen would remark over and over how wonderful we were and how delightful it was to be together as we shared stories of the chimpanzees. She had a particular connection with Negra.

Karen had many interests, and we would often talk about current events or movies or documentaries. She was a collector, an advocate, an artist, and a writer, and she lit up when sharing her latest writings or treasured objects with us.

She and Margaret last visited the sanctuary together in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Of course, for these two, a plain ordinary mask would not do…

Karen passed away on December 31st, Margaret’s birthday.

Margaret was with Karen through all the difficulties that aging and declining health introduced. Their lives together are an inspiration for what love, marriage, and commitment can be, and we feel so lucky that they happened into our lives.

If you would like to make a donation in Karen’s honor, you can do that on our donation page or by becoming a Pal to Negra. I will be sure to let Margaret know!

Battle of the Toes

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It is hard to find Missy without Annie far behind. If they are not near each other- they are definitely keeping tabs on one another. I often will see Annie scanning the Hill if Missy has gone out on her own, just to make sure she know where she is (just in case). The best is walking in every morning to hear them laughing and playing together. I think we all have that go to friend(s) that we are so incredibly thankful for. And though Missy may be higher in the ranking, Annie seems to be very thankful for her close friendship with Missy, even if she doesn’t get any special favors. I hope you enjoy this sweet video of two besties playing and laughing with each other.

*Honey B update*

Honey B is recovering well and healing in the way we hoped so far!

Bonus photos:

A series of Burrito! They may all look the same, but I swear they are all a little different and it was too hard to choose!

Burrito in the portrait studio:

Annie in the portrait studio:

Jamie nesting:

A Path Out

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We finally have a decent break from the snow and subfreezing temperatures. Though there are some more winter storms in the forecast, at least most days are going to be fairly mild in regard to temperature. In fact, for the first time in a long time, the sun has broken through the clouds to grace us with it’s warm presence. With the sun out, it was too good of an opportunity not to try to give Annie’s group Young’s Hill. After some light shoveling, a path to Young’s Hill was forged.

I must apologize, however. As I watched the pileup at the door that leads to Young’s Hill was opening, I realized I had forgotten the camera and my phone. I guess it boils down to I was too plum excited to see the color contrast of chimp and snow.

Foxie

Annie

Even with access to get their own snow, sometimes having the snow brought to you is the best. At least that seemed to be Jamie’s preference, with the addition of icicles and black cherry Stur water enhancers.

Missy also had joined Jamie in snow and icicles.

Some bonus photos of Willy B playing with Lucky a couple of days ago!