Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for December 2024

Busy Busy Busy

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We have so much fun watching the chimps forage and open their new presents on Christmas! But as you can imagine, the next day it is a mess! Between the clean up of the party and shoveling snow it didn’t leave us with a lot of time in the chimp house. However, while the humans may have been busy, the chimps on the other hand, had a lovely calm day- eating snow, nesting, and watching a little bit of TV! I hope you all have a lovely relaxing day after Christmas too!

Here are a few pictures I was able to capture in between cleaning!

The handsome Cy:

Mr. Willy B:

Mave & Dora nesting and grooming:

Raynie:

Dora:

Christmas 2024!

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Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Another Christmas Day is in the books.

The chimps are currently in their nests, getting ready for a deep sleep after a big day of fun! Both groups had many presents to open, full of new toys (thanks to you!), gingerbread cardboard houses, and a Christmas day feast consisting of vegan celebration roast, mashed sweet potatoes, Hawaiian rolls, green beans, corn, sparking cider, and pomegranates. The chimps were over the moon excited for the celebration.

I think they immediately knew something was up as I wore a Christmas cowboy hat all day and Caregiver Katelyn wore a pink Troll doll wig. I suspect they saw our weirdness and figured there was a special celebration incoming! They were right!

Merry Christmas to you! Happy Holidays! I hope you have had a safe, warm, happy day.

Thank you for helping us provide special days like these for the chimps! We couldn’t do it without you.

For Lydia from Tobin, Karen and Mary Ann

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Thank you Tobin, Karen and Mary Ann for sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and cows in honor of your friend, Lydia:

“For Lydia with love.

By some random happenstance (although I considered it to have been a miracle), nearly eight years ago I discovered the existence of CSNW. A video was posted on YouTube with the title, “Rescued Chimpanzee plays with Caregiver.”

I was immediately smitten with Burrito, and I had to find out more about him and where he had been given refuge. I soon learned that Burrito was one of seven chimpanzees who live in a sactuary in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Their material needs were provided by their human caregivers.

Moreover, in viewing the video on the CSNW website of the recent Christmas Day celebration, I observed the love demonstrated by the caregivers towards the chimpanzees. In a manner fitting for Hobbits, Negra and her friends were treated to both a first as well as a second Christmas feast.

In the 13th Century, an Aristotlean scholar from the Italian village of Aquino wrote: ‘To love is to will the good for others.’ Thus, it is in that spirit that, on behalf of her friends Karen and Mary Ann, we are sponsoring this day of sanctuary for our beloved friend Lydia.

While Lydia might not necessarily find herself amidst the sounds of ecstatic food squeaks from the likes of Foxie, Burrito, and Dora, we nevertheless wish that she will experience the presence of love on this day.“

Dora (Rayne and Honey B in background):

Foxie, Burrito and Missy:

Negra and Burrito:

Christmas Eve in the Chimp House

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We are one night away from Christmas here at the Chimp House and while caregivers are hard at work procuring the food for the festivities and wrapping all the presents for the chimps to receive tomorrow Honey B and Gordo are taking it easy and enjoying a long play session in their giant box.

Caregivers Krissy and Dusty hard at work wrapping presents for the chimps:

 

Krissy constructing a gingerbread house for tomorrow’s festivities:

Fun for One

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I’ve known few chimpanzees (or humans, for that matter) that could entertain themselves quite like Burrito. He’s not always playful but when he is, he is as close to pure joy as I’ve witnessed.

While Chad and I were cleaning Playroom 1 this morning and Jamie and the gang were grooming on the greenhouse platform, Burrito was keeping himself entertained with “Celestino,” a Squishmallow that was donated by Monica B. and purchased for the chimps by Sherry R. in our 2024 Comfort & Joy Online Auction. Cleaning stuffed animals like these, not to mention the 150 blankets that we make sure the chimps have at all times, requires some durable washing machines. That’s why we wanted to extend our sincere thanks to the many donors who contributed to our Commercial Washer Fund, which will allow us to replace one of our aging residential washers with a machine that can withstand being used 8 hours a day, seven days a week. Thank you, Vicki F., Jamie R., Kathie J., Sarah H., Patti S., Julie A. O., Deborah J., Nancy D., Margaret L., Rebecca Z., Rosalie A., Chloe G., and Ellen V. for helping us keep the blankets and stuffed animals clean so that the chimps can continue to experience comfort and joy!

The Fortunate Demise of Three Snowpersons

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For a little caregiver fun, we would like you to decide which snowperson is the best. You can base your decision on whatever subjective aspects you choose (though please do let us know how you based your decision).

All three seemed equally enjoyed by the chimpanzees. Please leave your votes and commentary in the comments!

Hat Snow Person:

 

Reclined Snow Person:

 

Lettuce-Head Snow Person:

Thanks for playing along!

You Got a Friend in Me (For Today, Anyway)

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We are in our final phase of our reintroduction process, and Honey B and Gordo are living together, alone.  I wasn’t sure what to expect of this chimp combo.  Would they fight?  Ignore each other?  Just bide their time until they could be reunited with their friends?  Well, while they did have a squabble a few days ago (I mean, it happens, right?) they are having SO much fun together!  What a joy to watch these two play with reckless abandon.  The play faces!?  The best!

Enjoy!