Change can be hard for George, but it’s a little easier now that he has a family. Watch as he relies on his new friends for comfort while navigating a positive but unexpected change in the routine.
With a Little Help From My Friends
Archives for January 2026
Winter Sun
The sun was out today, and the chimpanzees took advantage of it!
Mave can most often be found lying down. She’s a pretty chill, not very athletic individual. She also is still getting comfortable being in The Bray habitat, after years of avoiding the great big outdoors.
That’s why it has been surprising to see that Mave is the biggest fan of the shaky bridge that was constructed by founder Keith and friends last summer!
Mave spent some quality alone time soaking up the winter sun.
Meanwhile, George hung out with his new friends in the toasty greenhouses.
Here’s Gordo grooming George, with Cy and Rayne not visible in the photo, but nearby:
They also got some time on The Bray this afternoon!
Rayne (far right) excitedly greeted George (lower middle) while Cy monitored and Terry charged ahead:
Honey B: Problem-Solver Extraordinaire
In today’s blog video, see Honey B use her problem-solving skills to help a caregiver!
The Crunchy Cafe
Welcome to the Crunchy Café – the only place in town that serves everything crunch.
4.8/5 stars (16 reviews)
Cle Elum, WA
Winter hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm PT
Grab your favorite crunch, have a seat, and turn up the volume.
Today is for Doreen!
Long-time friend of the chimpanzees, Donna Hughes, is graciously sponsoring this day of sanctuary in memory of Doreen, Don’s twin sister, on their shared birthday. <3
“Remembering Doreen today, on our birthday. Always a bittersweet day for me, but Sponsoring The Day always makes me happy. Doreen LOVED all of the chimps at CSNW and the people who care for them. It was one of the best days EVER the day we visited in person. So, Happy Birthday, Doreen!!! You are missed every day. I know you have our dog and cats on your lap above. I have a new friend, Pumpkin, on mine. Let’s celebrate with Foxie and Friends!!”
Don, thank you so much for continuing to include the sanctuary and chimpanzees in celebration of your shared birthday and wonderful Doreen. Happy Birthday to you both, from all of us here! I can only imagine how bittersweet this day would be. May the day also bring wonderful memories – we know Miss Foxie is the best at bringing joy. We miss Doreen, too, and are thinking of you both, along with Pumpkin, today!
I love this whimsical series of Foxie and Asha “selfies”!:
Where the Wild Things Are
Follower Diana K asked: How do the chimps react when they see the cattle, BK, deer, coyote, dogs, squrriels, rabbits, etc?
Excellent question Diana! And the answer is… it depends on the chimp(s) involved and the creature they see, also the proximity of that creature to the chimps can make a big difference in the chimps’ reaction! In general, the chimpanzees are very territorial of their space and will frequently patrol their outdoor enclosure to make sure all is in order. If they see something outside their enclosure that they deem to be an intruder, they will often try to intimidate that creature and scare them away.
Exhibit A: Chimps vs. horses
Sometimes it’s not so simple though. Here Jamie investigates from afar, newcomer Benny Dog who is being walked by JB.
Many of you may remember Ellie the Elk was a common face at the sanctuary for a few years. Since Ellie was extremely comfortable around humans, she wasn’t as easy to intimidate, and the chimps became familiar with her presence:
The cows are very familiar around here as well and are met with a bit of curiosity when they change pastures but are otherwise completely ignored.
Since George is the newest member of the sanctuary, he is still getting used to what “normal” is. You can see in this video he chases off some neighborhood deer. The deer are very common sights around here and are generally ignored by everyone else.
Smaller animals such as squirrels, marmots and Barn Kitty don’t seem to be of much interest to the chimps…
So long as those small animals stay out of the chimpanzees’ enclosure… It’s a totally different story if they find their way into the chimps’ territory. While Barn Kitty (BK) smartly keeps his distance, other animals such as marmots and squirrels have not been so lucky.
Snakes of course, are enemy #1 to the chimps. Alarm calls and a dispatch crew are called for in these situations:
Crows seem to use the chimpanzees existence to their advantage. They love to get first dibs on an outdoor forage:
Thievery is met with chasing:
Occasionally the chimps will see more unusual sanctuary visitors like coyotes or bobcat. These strange intruders can understandably be off-putting to the chimps.
Here Negra reacts in alarm to a coyote she spotted on the property:
In other news:
The North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance has organized an Experience from the Field webinar. It will be held tomorrow (Friday) at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET. Kate Dylewsky, the Assistant Director of Government Affairs at the Animal Welfare Institute, will be talking about the Captive Primate Safety Act and how we can help to get it passed in 2026!
The event will be held on Facebook Live and you can RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/
Lucky Seven
As some of you may have noticed in J.B.’s blog last Monday, we added Gordo into the intro group! With Gordo joining the group, that left Dora as the final remaining member. While Gordo adjusted to his new group, Dora and Mave spent the entire week together so Dora wouldn’t be alone, because nothing is better than a little getaway with a friend.
As of this Monday, we took the final leap and officially added Dora to the group. So far, things have been going smoothly. Throughout the few days they have been together, Dora and George have shared some really lovely small moments together. In fact, as I write this, I just watched Dora approach George and offer brief reassurance after the group had a minor disagreement.
Of course, this is only the beginning, and where the real work begins. Now that everyone has been added to the group, they’ll need time to figure out their dynamics and learn how to navigate conflict together. Still, I think it’s incredibly important to celebrate the wins, big or small.
When I reflect on the George I met in May, I still can’t quite wrap my head around how brave George really is. Coming to a new place, meeting new caregivers and volunteers, exploring new enclosures and outdoor spaces, and then joining a group of chimps! George has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. I truly don’t think there are words that can express how proud we are of him, but I am in utter awe of how courageous this little chimp is!
