Archives for October 2025

Preparing for an Intro

October 25, 2025 by Krissy Brasfield

Yesterday, Kelsi shared Cy and George’s all day intro from last Saturday. She talked about how challenging it can be to isolate a chimp when preparing for an introduction.

“Setting up introduction days is a lot of work. Behind the scenes, getting the chimps to shift and move where they need to be can be quite challenging. Not everyone is always eager to cooperate (cough, cough — Honey B, Terry, and now Rayne). Sometimes, if the chimps don’t shift, it can really affect the whole day, and we have to get creative with our shifting plans. Mentally, it can be extremely taxing.” See the rest of the blog here.

Today, you get to see a glimpse of what it can take to separate a chimp. Some days are better than others, and some days we need to get creative. This was one of those “let’s get creative” days. In today’s video, Ellen’s goal is to isolate Cy into the chute, which connects to George’s front rooms. She has already separated Cy from his group, but Gordo tagged along and they are both now in Greenhouse 3. Ellen now needs to distract Gordo so she can move Cy into Greenhouse 2 and then into the chute.

Ellen decides to recruit some help, come along to see how it goes.

Oh! Jamie’s birthday is right around the corner! Check out our wish lists if you’d like to help us with the biggest celebration of the year…JAMIEWEEN! We’ve also added some fun items for Willy B’s birthday and Christmas. Thank you!

George and Cy: Connecting on The Bray

October 24, 2025 by Kelsi

Introductions are unpredictable. You never quite know what the chimps are going to do, how they’ll react, or how they’ll respond to neighbors making noise (and yes, sometimes the neighbors do heighten the situation). But that’s the point of these meet-ups — to give them the opportunity to work through situations or conflicts and gain more confidence as we build this group, especially for George.

Last Saturday, we did an all day introduction with George and Cy. We wanted to give them more time to work through different scenarios and bond together. Bonding with Cy will be a critical part of this introduction process. Cy is an exceptional leader, and I think he’ll really help show George the ropes, helping him build confidence and engage in typical chimp activities, like grooming. We also want George to understand the hierarchy and recognize Cy as the leader. And what better way to do that than to give them extended time together and introduce them to a new space they’d have to navigate side by side? So, we gave Cy and George access to the chute and The Bray!

We are so incredibly proud of George. He was actually the one encouraging Cy to go out onto The Bray, while Cy seemed a bit apprehensive. Since this was a space they hadn’t shared together before, it caused a moment of uncertainty for Cy. However, George beckoned for Cy to come — and he did! This was a big step for them in bonding and building a friendship. I think Cy has really grown fond of the little guy! As a side note, Cy was also really distracted because he really wanted to hangout in front room 7. It’s his favorite room because you can see so much in the chimp house, Cy hasn’t had access to it in a long time!

The week before, we had tried giving George and Gordo access to the same space, but Gordo, being the cautious soul he is, thought there was a catch and refused to go outside with George. George was so patient and tried hard to encourage him, but Gordo just couldn’t do it. However, as you saw in Tuesday’s blog, Gordo also had an all day introduction with George, and eventually, he found the courage to run out onto The Bray with him.

Setting up introduction days is a lot of work. Behind the scenes, getting the chimps to shift and move where they need to be can be quite challenging. Not everyone is always eager to cooperate (cough, cough — Honey B, Terry, and now Rayne). Sometimes, if the chimps don’t shift, it can really affect the whole day, and we have to get creative with our shifting plans. Mentally, it can be extremely taxing.

However, that makes it all the more rewarding to witness these milestones. George has been alone for over two years since his companion at his previous home passed away. Watching George beckon Cy over and seeing them embrace on The Bray brought tears to my eyes. George has had to explore much of his new surroundings alone, so it strikes a deep chord to see him finally sharing the experience with another chimp. Moments like these really fill our cups and remind us that this is the heart of our work- providing opportunities, offering choice, and fostering meaningful social connections.

A SECRET HIDEAWAY

October 23, 2025 by Dusty Cavaliere

It’s autumn – my favorite time of year for cattle care. Honey, Betsy, and Meredith graze in the upper pasture where the leaves turn red, the cattails wilt, and the grass is brittle gold.

Don’t tell anyone but some days I wish I could stay up there all day, hide away.

I’d kick back with the girls and do cow stuff – like gossip around the mineral trough,

itch on the cattle scratching brush,

search for more snacks in the sidekick,

nap beneath the shady pines and listen to the chimps pant-hoot far below the hill.

And if no one missed me in the chimp house, I’d stay all night. I imagine the stars are fantastic, the milky way bright. I’d find the perfect spot nestled between Betsy and Meredith (Honey likes her own space). We’d listen to the coyotes howl, the deer leap over the underbrush, and the night birds dive in the pond.

Where’s your secret hideaway?

Waking Up The Chimp House

October 22, 2025 by Jenna

Every morning, the lead caregiver (we rotate this role daily) will go unlock the chimp house and turn on the lights. During this time, the chimps are already awake, but are still starting their day slowly (like Rayne being wrapped up in a blanket, sitting in the sun). Usually, once the caregiver comes around to turn on lights, some of the chimps demand to groom or play, while some still have their “bed head”. Some chimps, like Negra and Terry, offer kisses to the back of our hands. Some choose to engage in a solo activity, such as Gordo foraging in the Greenhouse for seeds. While the video above is all from this morning, I will admit it is pretty chaotic and accurately depicts working with chimpanzees!

George and Gordo’s Day on The Bray

October 21, 2025 by Jenna

George is currently going through an introduction process with Cy’s group members. Today, George spent his day with Gordo. Gordo and George have seemingly been fast friends from the start. They seem very comfortable together. They spent their day exploring The Bray and spending the day soaking up the sunshine. Check out today’s video above!

Jamie and Foxie’s Exams

October 20, 2025 by J.B.

From Dr. Erin:

The last few days have been even busier than usual at the sanctuary!

Both Jamie and Foxie had complete exams this week. The decision to anesthetize any of the chimps is never taken lightly but when it comes to anesthetizing older chimps (Jamie is turning 48 in a couple weeks and Foxie is 49), we are especially careful and consider several factors before making the decision to perform an exam under anesthesia. These factors include what data we can get through positive reinforcement training, how long it’s been since their last exam, as well as any previous health concerns or current changes in behavior or affect that indicates there may be a health concern.

In Jamie’s case, as J.B. noted in a previous blog post, Jamie has been slowing down over the last several months and her belly has become more pronounced. While the physical changes can certainly be ascribed to aging (ask me how I know) and the change in social structure since Jody’s passing, we couldn’t be sure and there was something “off” enough about her that an exam was warranted.

With Foxie, we were concerned about a cough that developed this past summer and persisted in spite of various medications to address possible causes.

Both chimps did well under anesthesia and while Jamie wanted an extra day of rest before rejoining the group, Foxie was clamoring to be back with her family before breakfast this morning. The procedures consisted of a complete dental exam, including x rays and cleaning, abdominal ultrasound, echocardiogram, head to toe physical, full body x rays, and sample collection for diagnostic tests on blood, respiratory fluid and urine.

Jamie’s team on Friday included local professionals Dan Whitemarsh, DDS and Tanya Hebert, sonographer. Traveling from west of the Cascades were Jaime Sheehan, echo tech, Milo Torres, LVT & the wonderful Dr. Dan Low and anesthesiology intern Pat Herndon. Dr. Yousuf Jafarey, an experienced primate vet and dear friend, flew up from California just to participate in the exams!

Jaime Sheehan returned yesterday to perform Foxie’s echo as well. The rest of Foxie’s team consisted of Dr. Charles Dyer, the dentist from the Dental Coalition for Conservation (who performed in Missy’s dental care in July), Korey Krause, sonographer from Kittitas Valley Health, David Liston, MD and Kate Uselman, CRNA from Seattle on anesthesia, as well as Dr. Jafarey and myself.

We have some preliminary information from the exams that will help guide care for both of these amazing older ladies and are awaiting lab results, radiology, and cardiology reviews that will further inform protocols for keeping them as comfortable as possible in their golden years.

I am incredibly grateful to the professionals that lend their time, effort and expertise to these exams, it really is a team effort to ensure the chimps have the safest and most thorough exam possible. I am so appreciative and impressed by the staff and volunteers who rearrange schedules, take on extra work, come in early, deal with clinic equipment spilling into the foyer and all support each other as well as the chimps. I work with the most wonderful people!

And we are so fortunate to work with the incomparable Dr. Erin!

The team prepares blood samples: