Happy Valentine’s Day from CSNW!
Lucky is a sweet, quiet, independent, and excitable chimpanzee. She is low-ranking among her group of nine, but seems pretty content with her social status, except when her big brother, Cy, occasionally steals her corn.
Lucky was born in 1991 at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP). She lived in the laboratory for five years until it closed in 1996.
From there, Lucky and 30 other chimpanzees, were sent to Wildlife Waystation (WWS) in California, where they would live for the next couple decades. In 2019, WWS announced its’ closure due to financial difficulties. At the time of closing, WWS housed 42 chimpanzees and over 430 other wild and domestic animals. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife were able to find homes for the other wild animals, but not for the chimpanzees. The “Chimpanzees in Need” fundraiser began from there, with the goal of finding all of the WWS chimpanzees new forever accredited homes, which required many facility expansions, and also to get the chimps from California to their new homes, safely.
Lucky, as well as her group mates, Cy, Terry, Gordo, Dora, and Rayne (known as “The Lucky Six” in the “Chimpanzees in Need” campaign) arrived here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in June of 2021. The “Chimpanzees in Need” fundraiser was a success, raising over $4.7M and rehoming all of the WWS chimpanzees.
One of the original “The Lucky Six” pictures for the fundraiser (top L-R: Cy, Dora, Gordo; bottom L-R: Lucky, Rayne, Terry):
Lucky was quite a bit heavier when she arrived in 2021:
Once “The Lucky Six” were settled in at their new home in central Washington, they began to slowly be introduced to Willy B, Honey B, and Mave, a group of three chimpanzees that had also came from Wildlife Waystation two years prior (2019).
Spoiler alert for new blog readers: the introductions went well and the group of 9 (commonly referred to as Cy’s group on our daily blog) have been living together full-time since April 2022 (that anniversary is coming up fast!).
Lucky is full siblings with her group leader, Cy, as well as half-siblings with group mates, Rayne and Honey B.
When Lucky is very excited, whether it be because of an upcoming party, a delicious lunch, or a human friend visiting her, she will breathy pant with her tongue out, while shaking her head excitedly. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on our faces!
She also heavily communicates with her caregivers through grunting. I have been out of the chimp house lately while I recover from a non-work related injury (just to clarify!) and Lucky and I have a pretty close relationship. As soon as she spots me while I’m visiting, she will grunt loudly, even if she is a room away, and I immediately know I’ve been spotted. She will then hurry over to grunt and then breathy pant with excitement. She sure is good at making me feel special and missed! Thanks, Lucky.
Lucky’s favorite activity is to groom with others. She loves grooming her caregiver’s boots since she loves footwear.
Lucky is a fashionista. She likes to wear scarves or sweatbands around her neck like a choker necklace. My personal favorite part of her wearing a sweatband around her neck is that she has so much hair, you can’t see it when you look at her head-on, you will only notice the necklace once she climbs up high or you catch her at the proper angle. Blue and red are her colors, in my opinion.
One of my favorite days I have ever experienced while working with chimps, was the day Lucky went out on The Bray for the first time. She needed some verbal affirmations while she was building up the courage to leave the chute, and then she went for it. I remember throwing my fists in the air like my team had just made the winning touchdown of the Super Bowl. Ever since, Lucky loves spending time outside on The Bray and ventures out to all of the wooden structures to relax, take in the scenery, and forage.
Lucky’s first days on The Bray:
Lucky loves most foods. Her favorites are cherry tomatoes, berries, corn, mangoes, fennel, and baked sweet potatoes. She also loves her daily breakfast smoothie. She always licks her lips before she starts drinking her smoothie. Oh! How could I forget? Lucky is a gum enthusiast. Once she has gum, she will savor it for a few hours and chomp away.
A huge thank you to Lucky’s Pals: Vicki, Monica, Debi, Lindsey, Síle and Rachel.
If you think Lucky is as sweet as I do, make her your Valentine by becoming her Pal today! We appreciate it!
Tomorrow, we will be sharing more of today’s Valentine’s Day party! Here is a sneak peek:
Can you guess the party theme? Hint: February 14th is World Bonobo Day!
Cindee says
I say it every time Lucky is singled out for attention – she is the prettiest chimpanzee I have ever seen! Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you chimps, bovines and humans!
Jenna says
She is a beautiful chimpanzee for sure! Happy Valentine’s Day, Cindee!
Tobin says
Happy World Bonobo Day to Lucy and her devoted fans in Cle Elum.
Lucky is just charming. bI suppose that it runs in her family, but she gives off good, good, good vibrations…
What I want to know is Ms. Lucky’s weight loss secrets…I am impressed, and I don’t think that her brother’s theft of corn-on-the-cob is entirely the reason (Cyrus?! Oh, for shame!)
Linda C says
We’ll put JB in charge of your chow, Tobin 😉
Tobin says
Chimp Chow, eh? I’ll have to see if the Co-op has a supply…
Mary Garripoli says
Tee hee!
Maybe they can put JB in charge of MY food, too, while they’re at it!
Linda C says
Great minds, Mary! :laughing:
Let’s enjoy our rw sweet potatoes today, shall we? Peeled or unpeeled?
Jenna says
:joy: When Lucky first arrived she was receiving a smaller amount of chow, but she has been on the normal amount for over 2 years! She has maintained her healthy weight so well! I also don’t know what extra things she received at WWS. Only Lucky could tell us! :laughing:
Linda C says
Happy World Bonobo Day, everyone!
CeeCee says
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE !:revolving_hearts:
Nancy Duryea says
Jenna, I wish we had a video of you cheering when Lucky first set foot on the bray. You might hear me screaming all the way from Seattle when I hear that Honey B has gone out of her own volition and not just running out joining the fray and heading right back in when she realizes what she has done.
I must say Lucky seems so sweet and I agree that she has a very pretty face. (don’t let Honey B know I said that, I’ve often told her she is the loveliest of all).
Jenna says
I wish I had known how powerful of a memory it would be for me and I would’ve pulled the camera footage of it!
Kathleen says
I adore Lucky. (She looks incredible, can’t believe the weight she lost.) As a youngster, Lucky has such an adorable face… just heartbreaking she was born at LEMSIP.
How great does it feel to have Lucky excited to see you, Jenna? I’m sorry to hear you are nursing an injury but I’m guessing being greeted by Lucky’s grunts and breathy pants are good medicine for your soul.
I could watch that video of Lucky chewing her gum over and over! Thanks for sharing all these delightful details about sweet Lucky. I look forward to you getting more fashionista photos of her in the future!
Jenna says
Thank you, Kathleen! Very grateful that Lucky has chosen me as one of her friends! She is a special one.
Arlene and Michael says
Lucky is beautiful!
Happy Valentine’s Day?
Looking forward to seeing more pictures from the Valentine’s party!!! Happy World Bonobo Day too.
Eli says
Sweet Lucky. I love her sort of quiet confidence when it comes to venturing outdoors. It’s so great seeing her and Honey B form a friendship based on their mutual disdain for the caregivers’ cleaning routine.
I didn’t realize Lucky was so big when she came to CSNW. She certainly shed that weight and her new slimmer figure looks fabulous. She’s almost completely unrecognizable!
That baby picture of her is bittersweet. Seeing such a big smile on the face of a baby who is being raised in such an awful environment, seen only as a means to an end. I’m so glad she was able to leave that awful place.
Jenna says
Thanks, Eli!
The baby picture was bittersweet to post too! I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea since Lucky was making a cute face in the photo. But they’ve been through a lot and it’s important to share when we can!
Deanna says
Be still my heart! That baby picture is too much!!!
Debi W says
I sure hope the gum that I sent at Christmas was appreciated by all the chimps, but especially for my pal Lucky. Nothing like a good chew to make me smile and it seems my pal feels the same way. She is sooooo beautiful, and I am so envious of you being able to be around her, so rub her head, or foot or hand for and keep sending those pics of her. Can’t get enough of my girl!!!