Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for January 2024

Try this on for size

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Jamie received a fresh pair of Doc Marten boots a few days ago and has been asking her caregivers to model them for her. Today was my first day back from my weekend and item #1 on Jamie’s agenda this morning was to very clearly request that I don this piece of footwear for her enjoyment. Well, what choice do I have? Jamie is the boss, after all.

 

Jamie takes her boot to the one spot she where it will fit through the caging as Burrito looks on

 

Watch out for footwear projectiles – sorry it’s so blurry :/

 

Once I put it on, Jamie came down and displayed with the blue barrel

 

Mission accomplished

7 years bad luck

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Let me begin this story by telling you that today is my birthday… This is not a plea for birthday wishes, but rather an ironic cherry on top of this latest chimp house caper… More on that later.

Today, Jamie and her group received a roll of paper. This is a standard enrichment item that they receive regularly. What wasn’t standard about today, was Jamie’s mischief she decided to create with the cardboard tube at the center of the roll of paper. Unbeknownst to her caregivers, Jamie spent her morning using the cardboard tube as a a tool to knock down a very breakable mirror that we have had mounted on the outside of the caging (for many years!). We use this mirror to spy into the loft of the playroom so we can see who’s up there from our vantage point on the ground. Today though, Jamie decided it had to go.

To truly tell this story, we had to watch Jamie’s antics back on our security camera footage. Unfortunately, the video quality wasn’t great so to really appreciate today’s blog, you’ll have to use some imagination. After finding her ready to use tool, Jamie spent about a half an hour working on Project: Destroy Mirror. She tried multiple angles and methods until she successfully sent the mirror crashing down to its demise.

After hearing the crash of something shattering into a million tiny pieces, I naturally responded to the incident with a broom and worked on making sure the glass pieces were safely out of chimpanzee reach… Only to be greeted by Jamie and a handful of feces flung at my head. How dare I move her sharp glass, she had worked so hard on that! Volunteer Dusty and I spent an extra hour diligently cleaning up my happy birthday mess, artfully gifted to me by my creative chimpanzee boss/overlord.

Thanks James.

Speaking of birthdays, Burrito’s big day is coming up.  As Kelsi announced yesterday, in celebration of Burrito’s 41st birthday we will be having a photo contest to have our followers pick their favorite photo(s) of Burrito, we will then be selling the photo with the most votes.  We will post the contest every day on the blog, so you can vote once per day and you are welcome to vote for more than one photo! The contest ends on January 8th at 6:00 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Burrito Photo Contest!

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Can you believe Burrito is about to turn 41 years young on January 6th? Sometimes I forget because it feels like his energy is never-ending. Every day we are so grateful for Burrito’s presence. He brings such a light to our lives with his easy-going, fun-loving personality. Life with Burrito is always full of laughter and joy. In celebration of Burrito’s 41st birthday we will be having a photo contest to have you all pick your favorite photo of Burrito, we will then be selling the photo with the most votes. I know we all want a photo of Burrito in our homes! We will post the contest every day on the blog, so you can vote once per day and you are welcome to vote for more than one photo! The contest ends on January 8th at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Bonus!

Not everything got delivered in time for Chimpmas. Jamie got to open her new boots today and was soooo happy! I mean look at them, who wouldn’t be:

She built a giant nest for her and her boots to nap in and seemed very content the rest of the day:

Burrito spying on the neighbors at lunch:

There were a few extra photos of Rayne and Cy from Saturday:

Don’t forget to vote!

I Love Lucy the Bonobo

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Jamie is a person of particular tastes. She knows what she likes, and what she likes she really likes. One item that she really likes is the book series of Lucy the Bonobo.

You may have seen these books in the blog, when we do a shameless plug for our Amazon wish list (which this is also a shameless plug and you’ll see why soon), social media, and other places.

If you have been following for the past year or two, then you might also know Cy is a literary lover. Cy, however, has more of a taste for celebrity gossip magazines. He is, however, not the only one in his group who likes to thumb through books and magazines.

I realized today we haven’t touched upon the other “reader” in the group other than maybe a casual mention here and there.

For a long while now, we knew Rayne tends to seek out the cardboard children’s books to flip through, though she does have a “eat after reading” mindset. Lately, however, we began putting some Lucy books in her group’s daily enrichment. Rayne has taken a liking to Lucy as well! We have been noticing her carrying around Lucy books a lot lately. Unlike the cardboard children’s book, she has not adhered to her “eat after reading” policy. She leaves them intact and holds onto them as long as possible. Even taking them out onto the Bray with her.

It was this morning when I saw her holding the previous days’ Lucy book close to her chest that sparked the inspiration for today’s blog.

She even kept one to take with her to her nest later on in the day.

Hopefully now you know why this blog is a shameless plug for our wish lists. With two Lucy fans, we are going to need to have a stockpile ready.

In fact, we might have three Lucy fans in our midst! Several times today, I have seen Lucky carrying one around!

Unfortunately for Lucky, every time I saw her flipping through one, Rayne would come by and take it from her sooner or later.

Only time will tell if Rayne’s Lucy fascination will stick and if Lucky will be able to showcase her admiration of Lucy more.

So please help us keep our stock plentiful if you can!

Bonus Photos

“Mavey see, Mavey do!” Today, Mora had a leg up, literally.

Okay. Okay. Okay. In reality, if anybody copied anybody here, it was Dora copying a Queen of Relaxation.

And of course, our very own handsomely lovable Teeny Tiny Terry!

123123…

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123123…4! Happy New Year, everyone! And so we begin again. At least in regard to the Gregorian calendar. Whether we come leaping or limping into the new year, we friends o’ the chimpanzees are lucky to have Burrito in ours lives to help usher us in and focus on here and now. The only true time.

In case you’ve missed our blatant hints so far, Burrito is turning 41 on the 6th! (It’s possible there may still be just enough time to scoop up the lingering slinkies on his Wishlist if you are so inclined). If ever there was proof of age only being a number and time being non-linear, it’s this endearing and beloved guy.

So January celebrating friends, you have a pretty high celebration standard to uphold and we hope you do Burrito (and all of the chimpanzees) proud and take in every bit of joy you come across.

Jamie (first photo) and Burrito (above and below) taking in the first views of 2024 on their new climbing structure. And Missy, taking in the first zooms.

Book-ending this birthday month is the beautiful, brave, and regal, Rayne. We will be celebrating her 34th birthday on January 29th! Raynie is queen of exhibiting calm, supportive, and decisive leadership for her fellow group mates when they need it most. Even, maybe especially, when they think they don’t need it at all (we’re looking at her half-sister, Honey B, and Willy B here. 🙂 ).

Gordo and Rayne:

Rayne is so special.

For very different reasons, Burrito and Rayne have spirits made all the more incredible by the fact they have histories not remotely conducive to the development of the glimmering souls they are. I look at them, and their thirteen friends and family members, and wonder with awe, “How?”

There are, I think, more mysteries than answers to that question, but one reason is most certainly, *you*, and the lives in their sanctuary home you help make possible. A safe and loving home for them to shine, just exactly as they are. A priceless gift we are endlessly grateful for and want to radiate out for every living being.

And bonus January birthdays to celebrate!

Negra’s beautiful daughter, Heidi, who lives at Chimp Haven in Louisiana, and is turning 40 on January 8th! We have the special gift of having a staff caregiver (Sabrina) who has had the unique privilege of working with Heidi. Her blog post about Negra and Heidi is really beautiful.

And Jody’s handsome son, Bart, who lives at Save the Chimps in Florida, will be turning 32 on January 14th! (photo courtesy of Save the Chimps):

We are so grateful for you! It’s amazing what just your being here in the world, being yourselves, makes possible for so many. Just like the chimpanzees. 🙂

Happy Birthday, January friends, Happy New Year, all!