Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for March 2025

Around The Bray

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The weather has been so nice in Washington state recently! We’ve seen temperatures up in to the high fifties – which has been amazing! Today, the sun was out and there was not a cloud in the sky. As soon as we did checks to allow the chimps to go out to their outdoor enclosures, many of them went outside before breakfast!

After human lunch, I went to see where Terry was and he was out at the top of The Bray! He had a paper ball in his mouth and seemed quite content absorbing up some sunshine and taking in the views. Today’s video includes clips from Terry around The Bray! Check it out above or the link will be here. Enjoy!

Unlike mother, unlike daughter

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Last week I went over the similarities between Missy and Honey B, the mother and daughter chimpanzees that live at CSNW. If you missed the blog, be sure to check it out here.

The major difference between Honey B and Missy is their relationship with caregivers. Honey B is significantly more interactive with her caregivers. It feels like she is always watching us and hyper aware of what we’re up to, sometimes plotting a mischievous “prank” to steal a cleaning tool. Nothing gets by Honey B.

Missy is more of a chimp’s chimp. She seemingly has little time and interest in our activities and would rather spend her day with her group mates, up and away from the human goings on.

Honey B:

Missy being groomed by Annie

Missy is an outdoorsy adventurous person and is often found sprinting up Young’s Hill. Honey B, on the other hand is more cautious. She has just recently started to go out on the Bray and hasn’t yet graduated to “explorer” status (all in good time though).

Missy:

Honey B venturing out:

Front Room Fun

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At CSNW, the chimps typically have the freedom to be in whichever space they choose, so long as we aren’t cleaning it. And while their favorite places are the large playrooms and greenhouses or, for some, the multi-acre outdoor habitats, they tend to have the most fun together when they congregate in the smaller indoor rooms. Laughter is a typical soundtrack to our morning cleaning routine!

Happy Birthday to Sarah Sweeney!

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Many thanks to Brynn Edwards, along with Pat, Vicky and Maia, for sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in celebration of one of their avid, long-time supporters, Sarah Sweeney, who “absolutely adores them and their caretakers”. 

“Happiest of birthdays to you! We know how much the chimps mean to you and want you and the chimps to have a wonderful day! With love- Pat, Vicky, Maia and Brynn.”

All of us here are wishing you the happiest of days, Sarah!

Thanks to you all for sharing your love of the chimpanzees and this lovely day of sanctuary!

The wondrous person who is your Pal, Honey B!:

On the March winds

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March is a whirlwind of sorts. A time of awakening, celebration, community, honoring, and hope, even if we have to look for it in the smallest of things at times, across the world. Here in our tiny part of the world, we are waking to birdsong and light now. The robins arrived the other day by at least a hundred, their cacophony of song from the treetops like a deep breath. Snow turned to rain at least on that day, temperatures have gone from barely creeping above freezing to stretching into the 50’s most recently, herds of deer and elk are on the move, and unbelievably, the first marmots were spotted. And the chimpanzees are anxiously eyeing Young’s Hill and the Bray, taking some soggy steps to the nearest structures, and enjoying the occasional sun in the greenhouses. Even the cow ladies are more on the move.

I have a cherished place in my heart for this time of year and the enchanted blur that is Mardi Gras and Carnival season, which culminate on March 4th. It’s a liminal time rising out of the quiet and stillness of winter to, well, the exact opposite. I can’t help but envision the humans and chimpanzees marching together in a second line around Young’s Hill and the Bray. We’d most likely be covered in mud and snow, but what a thought, right?!

Speaking of grand celebrations, the wildly handsome and all around wonderful guy, Cy, will be turning 35 on March 12th! He holds the entire birthday month to himself. As he should. Cy is one of the most special beings you could meet. He holds a presence like no other.

As the amazing leader of his group, we’d be lost without him. But it’s probably safe to say the feeling isn’t entirely mutual as Cy truly cherishes his time to just relax in peace and enjoy his beloved magazines and movies. His job is not the easiest, so fair enough.

In his office 🙂 :

And beloved St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th leads right into, dare we say it, spring, which arrives on March 20th! As far as winters go here, it hasn’t been nearly the hardest. But somehow, everyone I speak to (including myself 😉 ), even hard core winter fans, seem to be anxiously awaiting spring this year. And who can say for certain, but based on some of the chimpanzees’ light-hearted behaviors of late, I feel like they sense it nearing as well.

As many of you know, true spring arrives when Negra emerges from her winter nest in search of spring grass to eat. It’s such an anticipated event, seeing this joy of hers, which turns to this joy of ours, that it typically gets broadcast across the radios.

Sweet Annie:

And we also have Daylight Savings time on March 9th, which I only mention here because it means the sanctuary schedule also springs forward one hour. We choose to adjust our schedules with the time changes to give the chimpanzees the opportunity to have the most of the daylight hours. And for you, our wonderful and loyal blog followers, this might mean the blog posts popping up a bit later as well.

Thank you is never enough, from us to you. We are so grateful for your steady and gracious support of the sanctuary residents and for helping us create lives where their days hold more than the past, without worry of the future. We’re wishing you every good moment possible in the new season ahead.

In memory of Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty

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Our continued gratitude goes out to Joan O’Flaherty, who has been sponsoring days of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and bovines in memory of her parents, Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty, for many years.

“My parents were great animal lovers and supporters of conservation. Thank-you for all the hard work you do giving the chimpanzees and cows a wonderful home.”

We truly appreciate the sanctuary residents being included in your parents’ wonderful legacy, Joan. You have all made such a difference in their lives. 

Dora and Rayne:

Meredith and her mama, Honey:

Foxie and Burrito:

Cy:

Annie and Missy: