Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for July 2025

The Social Life of George

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As J.B. announced in his blog earlier this week, we have begun the process of introducing George to other chimpanzees at the sanctuary! This process is both very exciting, and a little nerve-wracking, as we all want the best for both George and his hopeful new friends. With this said, here are some great reminders to keep in mind about introductions with chimpanzees that J.B. shared earlier this week, which can help in understanding today’s video:

  • It can be difficult to integrate chimpanzees social groups because they are naturally hostile or fearful toward strangers and have the capacity for intense aggression
  • That said, sanctuaries and zoos do regularly integrate chimpanzees into groups, though not without challenges
  • We will be following a slow, methodical approach in which George repeatedly meets all of his potential group mates one-on-one over the course of months
  • These initial introductions take place in the smaller Front Rooms so that we can more easily separate them should they get into a serious fight (some fighting is to be expected)
  • Conducting them in the Front Rooms, with thick plastic sheets over the windows, also reduces the influence of the other chimps during these initial meetings
  • Dominance displays are common during introductions, as each chimpanzee tries to demonstrate their strength and agility. These displays actually help chimpanzees avoid fighting by exchanging information about the likely outcome of a physical altercation.
  • Intense play and grooming are also common as chimpanzee get to know each other.
  • We chose to begin with Cy because he has shown himself to be a gentle and caring leader who seeks to protect the underdogs in his group. Terry and Rayne were chosen as next partners due to their personalities and social skills, as we want to give George as many positive experiences meeting others before he faces potentially more difficult introductions.
  • Meeting other chimpanzees one-on-one is one thing; being fully integrated into an already established group is another. George will be vulnerable, so establishing good relationships with the others, and especially with Cy, will be critical.

In honor and memory of Harrison & Rita

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Our many thanks to Ashley Stroud for her third annual sponsorship of a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and cows in honor and memory of Harrison & Rita.

“Harrison and Rita were my dogs and the best friends I could’ve asked for.”

We’re so touched that you choose to celebrate your beloved Harrison and Rita by making a difference for the chimpanzees and cows, Ashley. Thank you so much for allowing us to share in their memory and legacy and we will be thinking of you all today.

George!

Cy:

Betsy enjoying wild roses:

Rayne and Terry:

Missy and Annie:

Missy Annie running behind

The Crazy Continues… but you can do something

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You may have seen that Tonia Haddix, the main subject of the documentary Chimp Crazy, was in the news again recently.

Even if you didn’t watch the HBO series, you may have heard about Tonia testifying under oath that Tonka, a chimpanzee in her care, had died and she had helped cremate his body. In dramatic fashion, the filmmakers of Chimp Crazy reveal that Tonka was actually being held in the basement of Tonia’s home.

Thankfully, Tonka is now living in a social group at Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida, where many of the children and siblings of the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest also live.

According to records from PETA, there’s a good chance that newly rescued George is Tonka’s half-brother!

But that’s not why I’m writing this.

Incredibly, the reason that Tonia is in the news again is because she was found to be hiding another missing chimpanzee in her home. I really wish all of this was a made up story. But it’s not.

Tonia Haddix is clearly a very disturbed individual. And yet, she was able to be responsible for the lives of multiple chimpanzees and held a license for years to display, buy, sell, and transport primates and other animals, even after the Chimp Crazy documentary aired. Many of the primates she was “brokering”, as seen in the documentary and more recently on Tonia’s social media profiles (which I don’t suggest you visit because it will only increase their reach and her celebrity), are very young infants. Removing infant primates from their mothers to sell to private owners is something that is still legal to do.

I’m glad that there are now serious charges against her, but her story and profession points to a lack of oversight, a need for better laws and better and quicker enforcement of existing (rather weak) animal welfare regulations.

Which brings me to why I am writing this.

 

We are re-launching our advocacy program, Primate Patrol, and we want you to be a part of it.

Please check out this short survey to let me know if you are interested in being a part of Primate Patrol and advocating for primates.

 

And if you want to deep-dive into Chimp Crazy, Andy Gray of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance and I co-hosted discussions via zoom after each episode of Chimp Crazy aired. The four videos are still available to view on our YouTube channel.

Be Bold, Be Brave

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Today, George had the chance to venture out onto the Bray once again. Watching him explore this new part of his world serves as a reminder of just how remarkable he truly is. He seems to be fearless—even though he’s nervous, it doesn’t seem to hold him back. Considering he’s never had a space like this before, seeing him go out on his own is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

You will notice at the end of the video, George is laying down on a structure. For me, this is a great sign of how much more at ease he’s becoming on the Bray.

When I think back to Willy B and Cy’s group during their first few outings, there was always someone there to offer reassurance and encouragement. But George? He’s learning all of this on his own, and it’s truly impressive to watch him face new experiences with such bravery. So much has changed for George, and he has grown exponentially since arriving here, but it’s his resilience and courage that allow him to embrace the unknown and stay curious every step of the way.

Heart Health Training

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A year ago today, we shared about KardiaMobile training with you all for the first time. I had been planning on sharing some exciting Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) progress today, and this gives me the perfect opportunity to share some of our wins from the past year. We have come so far!

As a refresher, the KardiaMobile is a small, wireless EKG device that records heart rhythm to a smartphone or other device. To record a complete reading, the chimpanzee must sit still for at least 30 seconds, with one finger from each hand resting on the pads of the KardiaMobile device. This sounds simple, but it is no small feat for a chimpanzee to stay completely still for 30 seconds. To make things trickier, readings are easily impacted by interference from other sources. For example, another chimpanzee pant-hooting, displaying, or even tapping on the caging to request a snack can impact a reading. Other devices such as fans, radios, and TVs can also cause interference which can muddle the EKG enough that it no longer provides diagnostic information. Watch the video before continuing on to avoid any spoilers!

Since our first update on this behavior, we have recorded multiple EKG readings with Willy B, Terry, Cy, and…George! Willy B is a quick learner and was the first to successfully record EKG readings. JB made some adjustments to the platform that holds the KardiaMobile device (and keeps it safe from being taken by the chimps), so that Terry’s adorably stubby fingers could reach the KardiaMobile, and he is now unstoppable. Cy needed more time to grasp the behavior, but in the past 2 weeks has recorded his first EKG reading, and several more since then! George impressed us all by learning the behavior in just one session!

Above is one of George’s first EKG readings recorded with the KardiaMobile device. You can see at the beginning where he moved his fingers slightly, and the reading is affected. He then settled in and recorded a very clear reading for Dr. Erin to be able to review.

PRT is one of my favorite parts of my job. Not only is it a fun way to build relationships and incredibly exciting when the chimpanzees make breakthroughs in behaviors, but most importantly it allows them to cooperate in their own care. Through KardiaMobile training, we are able to provide Dr. Erin with awake EKGs on the chimpanzees, which gives her a diagnostic tool to regularly assess their heart health. For more information about KardiaMobile training and other PRT behaviors, check out the blogs linked here, here, here and here!

George Makes a New Friend

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Now that George has completed his quarantine period, become familiar with the greenhouses and playrooms, and explored the two-acre outdoor habitat known as The Bray, it’s time for him to make some new friends! If you are new to the sanctuary, here’s some information that may help explain what you will see in the above video:

  • It can be difficult to integrate chimpanzees social groups because they are naturally hostile or fearful toward strangers and have the capacity for intense aggression
  • That said, sanctuaries and zoos do regularly integrate chimpanzees into groups, though not without challenges
  • We will be following a slow, methodical approach in which George repeatedly meets all of his potential group mates one-on-one over the course of months
  • These initial introductions take place in the smaller Front Rooms so that we can more easily separate them should they get into a serious fight (some fighting is to be expected)
  • Conducting them in the Front Rooms, with thick plastic sheets over the windows, also reduces the influence of the other chimps during these initial meetings
  • Dominance displays are common during introductions, as each chimpanzee tries to demonstrate their strength and agility. These displays actually help chimpanzees avoid fighting by exchanging information about the likely outcome of a physical altercation.
  • Intense play and grooming are also common as chimpanzee get to know each other.
  • We chose to begin with Cy because he has shown himself to be a gentle and caring leader who seeks to protect the underdogs in his group.
  • Though George’s meeting with Cy went well, he will face a lot of challenges over the coming months. Meeting other chimpanzees one-on-one is one thing; being fully integrated into an already established group is another. George will be vulnerable, so establishing good relationships with the others, and especially with Cy, will be critical.

George is really something. Even after living on concrete, he’s exploring his grassy two-acre outdoor enclosure almost without hesitation. And now, after living with only one female for most of his life and living alone since 2023, he’s hitting it off with the alpha male of what may someday be his new group. I know I say this about every chimp I’ve met, but I really admire him. Whether this integration is ultimately successful or not, George is most certainly going to take advantage of his second chance.

Video of Gordo’s 37th Birthday Celebration & Happy Birthday Betsy Cow

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Ellen posted photos of the Christmas in July celebration for Gordo yesterday, and I had the privilege of putting together the video today of clips that Ellen and others captured while preparing for and during the grand celebration.

I think I know mine, but what’s your favorite moment in the video? 

Today happens to be Betsy‘s 18th birthday! The cows celebrated with some homemade applesauce, and it was reported that they loved every last tongue-full of it!

Betsy is a wonderful sentry and protector of her little herd, and was such a great mom to her son Nutmeg, who passed away at the sanctuary last year.

She is also the friendliest cow with us humans.

There’s so much I love and admire about Betsy’s personality. I hope we get to share many more years with her and with Gordo at the sanctuary.