Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for November 2024

Terry’s Not So Teeny Tiny Nest

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Terry is a simple guy in many ways. He is not a picky eater, he is a great friend, and is not very dramatic. He’s just sensible. He also does not seem to need much for his evening nest. Most of us caregivers don’t see him make elaborate nests very often. I personally don’t see him nest much at all, but maybe that is because he waits until the Chimp House is closed up for the day.

Yesterday, as I was closing up the Chimp House for the day, I caught Terry building the most epic, largest, paper-filled nest in the Mezzanine. Have we been wrong all along? Or did the excess of paper (donated to us by our friends at Jerrol’s in Ellensburg) inspire Terry? Either way, I was so excited to catch this moment on camera. It was so sweet to watch Terry build his not so Teeny Tiny [Terry] nest.

Caregiver Kelsi in Terry’s nest today during cleaning:

Don’t forget! Our online auction is still going on as we speak.

Terry’s ornament is one of the auction items currently posted! Get your bids in now and keep checking back as new items are added often! Thank you for your support! ☺️

Be like Burrito

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Burrito is such a fun-loving chimpanzee. He easily entertains himself, thinks everything is a toy, and seems to look at life with the “glass half full” mentality. I remember about a year or two ago, I asked my mom what chimpanzee she liked the most (she doesn’t know them personally, but follows very closely on the blog). Without hesitating, she answered, “Burrito!”. When I asked her reasoning, she said that he has overcome a lot and has a great zest for life. His happiness stood out to her.

It stands out to me too! Despite working here for a few years, I’m still amazed at how he is always bouncing around. We should all be more like Burrito! It’s quite refreshing.

 

Guess what?! Ornaments of some of the chimps are up on the auction site now! Check back daily for more items to bid on!

Check out Gordo’s ornament here:

https://chimpsnw2024.afrogs.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGbdNNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYzApZ1be2Ne-EYH0mghZmIUN2EBVaPNaQJws5rvJUfHNfXc7d6pRei7pA_aem_mIhxHHmVEL0paOnjLFH-Nw#/view/961287

To build a nest

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Our two washing machines have a full time job here at the sanctuary. Almost every day we run both machines from the moment we arrive at the sanctuary to the moment we leave, all in the name of a good nest!

Exhibit A (a few good nests):

 

Our hardworking volunteers and staff are well-acquainted with the laundry process at the sanctuary. There’s a lot of behind the scenes laundry that goes on to make just one clean nest. Keeping the machines going and folding all those blankets can be a daunting task. As you might imagine, it’s never fun when we have a washer that goes out of commission.

Good news though, you can help support all of our nest formation efforts by contributing to our commercial washer fund during our Comfort and Joy Auction, happening now! Thank you all for helping the chimpanzees create those big beautiful fluffy nests!

Lucky’s 33rd Birthday!

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Today is Lucky’s 33rd birthday! We celebrated with a gum forage (her favorite), mangoes, sparkling cider, and bonobo books!

Lucky is such a sweet chimpanzee. She is simultaneously gentle and fierce, caring and reserved, silly and serious, sensitive and takes no crap. She is multifaceted!

Lucky is one of the first to greet caregivers when they walk into the room by grunting and shaking her head back and forth because she’s so excited. Lucky is so great at making us caregivers feel appreciated!

We love you, Lucky! Happy 33rd Birthday!

Caregiver Jenna wearing a Lucky photo banner like a necklace:

 

Don’t forget to check out our Comfort & Joy Quid Pro Throw online auction! We’re adding new items daily. We have some true Quid Pro Throw items listed, including this satin scarf featuring a painting of Rayne done by one of our caregivers, Ellen. You can bid on one for yourself and also on one for the chimps!

Happy Birthday, Lucky!

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Our heartfelt thanks to Marcie Milam for sponsoring this special day of sanctuary for beautiful Lucky! Lucky turns 33 today and we can’t wait to give her a special celebration!

“Happy Birthday to Lucky, the quiet member of the Californian rowdy crowd. Lucky’s photo was used to initially announce the forthcoming addition of the Lucky six and I fell in love with her then. May you have another great day, sweet girl.”

Happy Birthday, Lucky Lou, you are so loved!

Lucky’s been particularly courageous and adventurous with her first few months of having access to her group’s outdoor habitat, the Bray. Here she is with Rayne and Cy:

The gift of Lucky (in the box behind Dora):

Finding Comfort & Joy

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Where does one find Comfort & Joy?

For me, it’s a hot drink, a fuzzy blanket, and a good book on a cold day with nothing important to do.  Caregiver Ellen finds Comfort & Joy in the great outdoors with her pups, or a good meal!  Caregiver Anna finds Comfort & Joy in her ginormous beanbag chair, trash TV and a cup of tea or a relaxing massage.  Caregiver Jenna finds Comfort & Joy spending the holidays at her parents home, thunderstorms, freshly washed sheets and mashed potatoes!  Caregiver Chad, when I asked “Where do you find Comfort & Joy?” answered with “I follow the link.”   I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Chad finds Comfort & Joy snuggling his precious kitty CC (Cat Chad) in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajamas (Chad says I nailed it!).

Where do the chimps find Comfort & Joy?

I think it’s safe to say that Missy and Annie find great Comfort & Joy in their dear friendship.  Jamie finds Comfort & Joy in a well crafted nest with a boot and a good book tucked into her pelvic pocket.  Foxie loves her baby dolls and a delicious smoothie.  Burrito finds so much Joy frolicking with his many human friends!  Negra is happiest tucked into a cozy nest with just her face peeking out, watching a caregiver dance, and munching lettuce.  Of course, you’ll never find Cy without a magazine in his possession, ideally a good gossip rag!  Honey B, Dora and Mave, collectively known as Mora B, like to spend quality time together thwarting the shifting plans of the caregivers.  Willy B finds Joy watching chimp videos on caregiver’s phones. What brings Gordo Comfort & Joy?  A box, of course!  Rayne also loves a good box, positive reinforcement training, and when her caregivers serve her meal in the correct order.  Lucky loves Jenna, I mean, she REALLY loves Jenna!  And last but certainly not least, our dear Teeny Tiny Terry finds Comfort blowing raspberries, and Joy grooming caregiver boots and licking the backs of our hands!

Where do YOU find Comfort & Joy?  We can help with that!

Our annual Comfort & Joy Quid Pro Throw online auction is in full swing! Register to bid on items for the chimps, that we will give to them on your behalf, and also bid on unique items for yourself or for a loved one! We will be adding new items regularly, so you’ll want to check back in throughout the auction, which ends November 20th.  Our CSNW calendars just dropped at a special pre order price!  I’m pretty sure you need one for every room in your house!  Also, WE HAVE CHIMPANZEE TRADING CARDS!!  What!?  Yep, you heard it here first!  Chimp trading cards!  How fun is that?  I wonder if they include a rock hard stick of gum?  I digress.  Do what Chad says, and follow the link!  The holidays are just around the corner!  It’s a great time to pick something up for the chimps, for yourself and for your most favorite person!  (And, if I happen to be your most favorite person, I’d like the Wearable Hoodie Snuggle Blanket with Chimpanzee Photos for You, please and thank you!)

 

 

 

In Memory of Lost Time

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Tobin, longtime fan and supporter of the chimpanzees, erudite and expressive blog commenter, sponsored today’s day of sanctuary in memory of lost time.

She has her own story about the meaning of today with personal memories and global narratives of time and opportunities that have slipped by.

Speaking about the chimpanzees, she shared this poignant sentiment:

“…I grieve for lost time, and for squandered opportunities. I mourn for a planet where people like Lucky and Honey, Willy B and Burrito, should be able to not merely survive as passengers on a proverbial lifeboat, but, moreover should be able to live, and to live their lives in abundance.”

Thank you, Tobin.