As Chad mentioned yesterday, the Yakima River has been absolutely raging thanks to the atmospheric river sweeping through the region. Today felt just a tiny bit less dramatic, the water receded a bit, and we even caught a few glimmers of sun, but the storm definitely isn’t finished with us yet.
Regardless of what the weather decides to do, caregivers still have to make it in, and the chimpanzees still need their meals, enrichment, and all the usual comfort. So we do what caregivers always do- plan around whatever nature throws at us and find a safe way to get to the sanctuary.
Luckily for the chimpanzees, they remain blissfully unaware of any river drama. While the humans were swapping road-condition updates like we were running a small weather station, everyone inside was having a perfectly lovely day. A little sunshine peeked through the clouds, letting everyone soak up the warmth before cozying up in their nests.
Even we humans stepped outside to enjoy the sun for a minute. Can you tell it’s winter? One beam of light and suddenly we’re all sunflowers.
Cy eating baked onions:
Cy in a nest:
Sweet Georgie:
Jamie this morning, cozy in a nest:
Negra enjoying her persimmons:
Gorgeous pictures, thank you so much for sharing.
Among the sweetest photos of the chimps, thanks. Loved seeing Cy and George content nd vulnerable lying in their nests.
It appears these storms amplify the need to build that new staff building. 😉 This would allow staff to have slumber parties if needed when storms hit. And I wonder if Barn Kitty might enjoy joining you after the project is completed. I know she isn’t the social type, but we’ve witnessed many sanctuary residents blossom over time. 🙂
Cy holding his massive onion is my beam of sunshine today. You can tell George no longer lives alone by the many bald grooming patches he’s earned. And I’m guessing that you are one of the few people who is allowed to capture Jamie resting so nonchalantly. Negra is literally sparkling with Royal splendor while she dines on her persimmons. All this proves, storm or no storm, Sanctuary must carry on!
Absolutely gorgeous photos of the chimps! I know that the rough weather has to be hard on the caregivers, so I really admire all of you all! It’s wonderful to see the chimps carefree (or in Jamie’s case, in surveilance mode) and enjoying themselves!
that’s a HUGE onion Cy has there!
that last photo of Negra, she is very, very disapproving of that atmospheric river right now:angry:
Love the smile on George’s face! It is so wonderful to know that George is no longer exposed to all the cold wet rain, and winds by himself with no shelter from the elements. Now he has a warm place to sleep with bedding, friends and enrichment. That right there is a Christmas gift!
Wow, he didn’t have access to indoor rooms in the winter in OR!?:sleepy:
He was sadly kept in an outdoor cage with a concrete floor and only a tire for enrichment. It was horrible!
I am beyond horrified about this. What if it was you or I I can’t even imagine. We would go insane. It just makes my heart swell even more for the new loving and caring HOME he now has. For the rest of his life.
Looks like baked onions bring out the inner Shrek!
I’ve just seen video of flooding from WA; not having tv leaves me uninformed sometimes.
Please do all take care, mind yourselves while this continues.