Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Archives for October 2025

Jamieween 2025!

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October 31st is Jamieween!

The spookiest day of the year. A day for costumes, sweet treats, baked goods, skeletons, cool weather, pumpkins, and to celebrate chimpanzee, Jamie, on her birthday!

Jamie turns 48 years old today! Some days I can’t believe she is 48 because Jamie just seems timeless.

Jamie is bossy, assertive, dominant, smart, silly, and confident. Jamieween is one of our biggest days of the year, because Jamie truly runs this place. The least we can do is celebrate her in a big way each and every year!

Today, caregivers Kelsi and Katelyn planned a jam-packed party for Jamie’s birthday. There were ice treats galore (shaped like eyeballs and brains), special blood orange blended drinks, pasta with sauce, baked apples, baked potatoes, carved pumpkins, and pomegranates…. I’m also probably forgetting something else, but it’s getting late and I got to get home before the goblins come out.

I know blog readers are going to ask… which member of Jamie’s group stole the pumpkin? The answer is anticlimactic…. no one. The pumpkin is still out on Young’s Hill as I type this. Although I did see that someone messed with it a little, as the pumpkin looks like it’s been through something. Maybe tomorrow someone will take the pumpkin!

Enjoy today’s 11 minute video! You may see a costume or two and some SPOOKY footage.

Happy Halloween! Happy Jamieween! 

Happy Birthday, Valerie Gabriel and Jamie Chimpanzee!

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Our many thanks to Karen Averill for including the chimpanzees in such a special day of sanctuary in honor of Valerie Gabriel and Jamie on their birthdays!

“Jamie! Guess what??? My Aunt Valerie is turning 100 years old on October 31. Let’s have a party and celebrate life!”

Happy Birthday, Valerie!

Today (aka “Jamieween”) is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year here at the sanctuary and we are thrilled to include celebrating Valerie on her 100th birthday!! Valerie, happy, happy birthday, from all of us here at the sanctuary! We hope you have the most beautiful and magical day!

We’re also celebrating Jamie’s 48th birthday today!

Missy during last year’s pomegranate forage:

Cy:

Annie and Negra (below):

Lucky:

Honey B:

Good Night, Sanctuary

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The day is done, the sun is gone, and it’s almost Jamieween! So, it’s time to say, “Good night, friends.”

Good night, Jamie.

Good night, Rayne.

Good night, Negra.

Good night, Betsy.

Good night, Foxie.

Good night, BK (Barn Kitty).

Good night, Honey B.

Good night, Annie.

Good night, Sanctuary.

Downtime with George

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Lately, George has barely had a break. With introductions happening multiple times a week, finding a quiet moment to himself hasn’t been easy. But recently, he managed to set aside a little time to just sit and enjoy a pomegranate. It was a small, straightforward pleasure — his moment of zen this week

 

George & Terry

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George and Terry recently had their full day together, they had a rocky start in the morning but after taking a few minutes to cool off they had a great day together!

Lost in Thought

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Lucky loves to groom and socialize with her caregivers, but she is often more reserved when it comes to her fellow chimpanzees. During an introduction with George this afternoon, she ignored him for a full 2-1/2 hours before finally agreeing to the briefest of play sessions. Having fulfilled her social obligations, she then returned to her nest and her cherished solitude.

Some introductions result in conflict, others in newfound friendships. And then there are those, like today’s, that result in two chimpanzees sharing the same space at the same time and nothing more. Which is all you can ask for sometimes. After all, Lucky never signed up to be on the welcoming committee.

Fort B Access Granted

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There are times I wish I was able to peek into the chimpanzees’ thoughts to see what they actually are thinking. For instance, I really wish I could peek into Honey B’s mind to see what that brain conjures up imaginatively.

For the six years I have known her, watching her has always been intriguing. If you were able to watch her almost every day, you too would understand that mind is running on all cylinders at all times. From the luring in of unsuspecting caregivers to spit in their face, to the placement of toys in places to mess with daily shifting, to her strategic placement of items when she is building her nests, and yes, to some how figuring out how to steal a hose while the caregivers were away.

I was spending time with her in the afternoon while she was in the mezzanine. She was specifically in the area commonly know as “the cubby.” If there is an spot in her areas that she without a shadow of a doubt love, it’s that little spot. She was in such a playful mood (with me at least), spinning around on her back, making her little grunts of happiness that serenades my ears. She reached outside her area, grabbed a purple blanket and drug it in. Draping it over her head, she grabbed two corners and held them up into the cage mesh.

It looked like a little tent or fort. Honey B then invited me to come closer. It was like we were both playing a little game of “fort,” which she seemed to think was fun.

It was really reminiscent of being a child again, playing fort and telling secrets. And as it happens somewhat frequently, I missed a grand opportunity. I was telling my friend about it, to which they asked if I had a blanket on hand to complete Fort B. Unfortunately, I did not since I had not anticipated this fun little game. Next time though! (Hopefully there is a next time.)

Side note: here is Honey B’s mother, Missy, utilizing a fort during “Blanket Fort Day.” Missy was enjoying her food puzzle and watching that young whippersnapper, George, as he was on the Bray earlier.

*Bonus Photos*

Terry munching on his dinner carrot
Willy B enjoying his night bag