Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Archives for February 2026

Love for Meredith

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We cannot think of anyone better to share beautiful Meredith’s story than our own absolute gem of a veterinarian, Dr. Erin Zamzow:

Today, as we continue celebrating our love for the residents of CSNW, we’re shining a spotlight on a cow whose life has been shaped by resilience, family bonds, and lucky twists of fate. We’d like to (re)introduce you to Meredith—a gentle, thoughtful soul who has overcome more than her share of challenges and who holds a very special place in our hearts. She’s also someone who could use a few more Bovine Buddies to help support her ongoing care. Meredith will be turning 11 this fall, an age most dairy cattle never get to.

An Unusual Beginning

Meredith’s origin story is anything but ordinary. Her mother, Honey, and another dairy cow named Betsy were purchased for a short-lived reality TV series called Utopia. Meredith was born right there on the set, where the crew—displaying a rather cringeworthy sense of humor—dubbed her “Ca$h Cow.”

When filming ended, the cows were spared the grim fate of returning to the dairy industry. Instead, Honey, Betsy, and baby Meredith were sent to Farm Sanctuary’s Northern California location. Soon after arriving, Honey developed a painful case of mastitis and was unable to nurse her newborn. Luckily Betsy—who was pregnant with her son, our beloved and now departed Nutmeg—stepped in as Meredith’s surrogate mother. Together, Honey and Betsy “co-raised” her, and when Nutmeg arrived a few months later they became a true family, a rare gift for beings born into the cattle industry.

Baby Meredith zoomies! (all baby Meredith photos courtesy of Farm Sanctuary):

For many years, the herd of 4 lived safely at Farm Sanctuary. Then, in November of 2018, we were honored to welcome them to their forever home here at CSNW.

A Childhood Almost No Dairy Calf Gets

Most calves in the dairy industry are separated from their mothers within days of birth so the cows can be returned to the milking line. Meredith was one of the lucky few who got to nurse from a cow—an experience almost unheard of for dairy calves.

Some people claim that mother cows don’t care when their calves are taken away, or that some are “bad moms.” But when cattle are allowed to live without the stress and demands of intensive dairy production, their maternal bonds are unmistakably strong and can last a lifetime. Meredith’s early nurturing—first from Honey, then from Betsy—shaped her into the confident, independent and grounded cow she is today.

Honey and young Meredith:

Meredith and Auntie Betsy:

Growing Into Herself

In the dairy industry, female calves are typically bred at around a year old, long before they reach full maturity. Meredith, however, was never bred. That means her body used its energy to grow—and grow—as it was designed to do. Jerseys, like all domestic cattle, have been selectively bred for specific traits, and when they grow larger than expected, it can predispose them to mobility issues and arthritis later in life.

Meredith at WSU veterinary hospital

A few years ago, when Meredith began showing signs of lameness, we took her to Washington State University for diagnosis and treatment. She was found to have arthritis in her right front foot. Those two trips to WSU—and the intensive aftercare she needed—are among my favorite memories with her. I’ll never forget the moment Honey came running to greet her daughter when Meredith finally returned home after a prolonged hospital stay.

Mama Honey (right) welcoming her daughter home:

Caring for her during recovery—spending quiet time in her deep, straw-bedded stall, giving her endless scratches, lasering her treatment area, and making sure she got all her medications—was a special bonding experience, even though I know the separation from her herd was hard on her.

Investigating hay-ball enrichment during her recovery:

Sweet Nutmeg checking on Meredith during one of her chiropractic sessions:

A Cow With Her Own Rhythm

Meredith is known for being a bit of a loner. She’s deeply bonded to her herd and rarely lets Honey or Betsy out of her sight but she often chooses to stand a few yards apart, observing the world in her own thoughtful way.

In winter, she’s always one of the first to greet the morning hay toss—her version of that first whiff of coffee that gets me out of bed on cold winter mornings. But late spring and early summer are when she truly comes alive. The summer pasture is her paradise: bed, breakfast, sunshine, and space to ruminate-all in one. That’s where you’ll find her resting or meandering out in the lush grass or chewing her cud under the warm sun.  The trek from summer to winter pastures and back has been dubbed the “running of the cows”.  This short journey is one the herd always seems to enjoy and gives the girls a chance to partake of the particularly delicious local plants that grow along a small stream between the pastures.  Hedgenettle, watercress, delicate willow leaves and wild rose bushes are just a few of the treats this biannual mini migration offers.  We will often let the cows linger and munch for an hour or more before completing their brief journey.

Meredith and her mom, Honey (l):

Smart, Sensitive, and Strong

Don’t let anyone tell you cows aren’t smart. Meredith knows me well—and if I don’t keep up my occasional routine of visiting, feeding, and scratching the cows, she quickly reverts to seeing me as the human who gives injections and supervises hoof trims. Fair enough.

All three cows have their hooves trimmed twice a year by a traveling hoof trimming service.  A specialized chute and tilt table get the job done safely and quickly.

Meredith coming out of the hoof trimming chute:

Luckily, I love spending time with the herd, whether it’s up in their forested summer pasture or in the winter barns:

Meredith doesn’t enjoy having a halter put on or receiving her monthly arthritis injections, but she bravely tolerates these inconveniences. I hope she knows how much we care about her and how committed we are to keeping her comfortable.

At around 1,500 pounds, Meredith receives daily pain medication (15–20 times the amount we’d give a chimp), a monthly Adequan injection, and a supplement to help slow the progression of arthritis.  She currently has three Bovine Buddies supporting her care, and we are so grateful for them. We’d love to see her circle of supporters grow.

Help Us Care for Meredith

Meredith’s life has been shaped by compassion—from the cows who raised her to the people who have ensured her safety and comfort. If you feel a connection to her story, consider becoming one of her Bovine Buddies. Your support helps us provide the medical care, comfort, and love she deserves.

If you’re called to join her human herd, you can sponsor Meredith here!

Love for Annie

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Today’s blog is all about Annie! Annie is a playful chimpanzee who enjoys spending time with her chimpanzee friends, most notably with her best friend Missy.

Annie (L) Missy (R)

Missy (L) Annie (R)

Annie grooms Missy

Annie (L) and Missy (R) play

While Missy is high-ranking in the group, Annie is low-ranking, and does not have the same level of confidence as her closest friend. She is cautious and can be quick to become upset during moments of uncertainty or upset within the group. She spends much of her time either playing with her chimp friends (especially Missy!) or relaxing. Annie, also lovingly referred to as “Annie Bird,” has an endearing habit of making “bird noises” with her mouth while resting, usually with her hands covering her mouth.

Annie making bird noises

Annie is good at solving food puzzles, especially those that require tools (or will make her own food puzzles using her tools, she can be a smoothie bandit!), and is easy to please when it comes to meals as she loves just about all fresh fruits and vegetables.

Annie uses a straw to siphon juice from someone else’s cup! Tool use level: expert.

Annie on the move with a watermelon bowl.

Annie was born in 1974, possibly in the wild, and we celebrate her birthday each year on September 10th. We celebrated her 51st birthday this past September! Prior to making it to sanctuary, she was used in biomedical research, specifically hepatitis vaccine studies.  While in the lab, Annie had several babies, all of whom were taken from her and used in research themselves. While Annie did not get the opportunity to raise her own children, I’m confident that she would have been a sweet and attentive mother. Records indicate that she had seven children: Mariah, Virgil, Damian, Tobias, Petra, Abby, and Brooke. Mariah and Virgil live at Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida, where Damian also lived until his death in 2011.

Mariah (photo from Save the Chimps)

Virgil (photo from Save the Chimps)

Damian (photo from Save the Chimps)

Tobias lived at Chimp Haven sanctuary in Louisiana until his death in 2014. Petra and Abby seem to have died at biomedical research facilities, and we have no records of what happened to Brooke.

Many of my favorite memories of Annie involve watching her interact with her chimp friends, and on some more rare occasions, her human friends. She is such a fun friend to have!

Annie plays with Burrito, who shows us a big play face.

Missy and Annie play

If this hasn’t given you enough to love about Annie, see Jenna’s post here for fifty more (okay, some may be repeats!) things to know, love, and appreciate about our friend, Annie. Thank you to Annie’s 14 current pals who support her and the sanctuary! If you’d like to become Annie’s pal, visit the link here!

Love for Terry

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Today is all about Terry, who is quite simply, a really easy guy to love!

Terry was born at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) on June 13, 1990. According to his records, his father may have been Conrad and his mother Carrie. He is half siblings with our very own Mave. After LEMSIP shut down in 1996, Terry was transferred to Wildlife Waystation together with more than 30 other chimpanzees and then to his life at CSNW in 2021 as part of the “Lucky 6.”

Little Terry at LEMSIP:

Terry is best known as being a big friendly guy at the sanctuary. He LOVES having visitors of any kind, whether it’s a caregiver he knows well or a brand new volunteer, he’s just meeting. Terry is one of our resident greeters and will push a chair right up to the window so he can say hello to a new friend.

Everyone loves Terry’s unique “kiss.”

Terry would definitely be considered a “bro” if he were a human, but he also has a sweet sensitive side. He has even been known to gently groom tiny little insects out of the petals of a flower.

Terry likes to show his tough side to the girls next door. One of my favorite things is to watch Terry do his unique chest beating displays when he’s outside.

Terry enjoys most food. He’s one of the least picky chimps around here. He uses a raspberry type sound called a Bronx Cheer to get caregiver’s attention.

Terry uses his sanctuary space well. He likes being outside or spending time with his friends grooming in a sunny greenhouse.

Terry currently has 9 Pals who know just how lovable Terry is.  Be sure to join the Terry fan club today!

 

 

Love for Jody

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As we continue our Valentine’s series, we could never forget our dear friend Jody. When I think about sanctuary, Jo embodies what sanctuaries are made for.

Jody was born in 1975, we don’t know her exact birthday, we believe Jody may have been captured in the wild. However, we honor Jody on Mother’s Day, because she took on the role of “Den Mother.” She was the glue of the group. Jody was a protector, she fiercely loved her family and would do anything to ensure their safety, even if it meant that she involved herself in conflict taking on the burden to protect others. In her absence, we have noticed how much she was helping her group navigate conflict and how much she stepped in and took the brunt of it. Losing Jo definitely effected the balance of peace in the group. Jamie’s group has adjusted since, but it is impossible to fill the hole that Jody left, showing us another parallel to human lives. Though someone has passed, we have to figure out how to walk on this earth without them, acknowledging that it won’t be the same, but you rebuild, slowly.

Jody like many other chimp stories, is a heartbreaking one, she was used primarily for breeding during her years in the labs, over her time there she had 9 children and 2 miscarriages. Chimps that were used for breeding in biomedical labs had their children taken away and sadly, Jody was no exception. In between her many pregnancies, the industry managed to also use Jody in hepatitis vaccine research. If you ever met Jody, you know she was born to me a mother, it is a tragedy she was not able to be a mother to her children, but regardless she became the den mother to her group. We do know that 4 of her children made it to sanctuary.

This is Jody when she arrived to the sanctuary.

And Jody after 15 years in sanctuary, almost aging in reverse.

Jody was resilient, deeply loyal, a mediator, and the heart and soul of her group. She was a serious chimp. She did not open up quickly, but once she did, you were apart of her world.

Jojo was best known for her dinosaur food grunts. You would hear these sounds when she was extremely pleased with the food being served.

Jody was known for her elaborate nest building. She was the only chimp to help us get blankets out of the doors and most likely the one who left the pile of blankets in the door!

We often described Jo as more of a serious chimp, but she loved to have fun with her friends too!

 

Jo was an extremely protective friend. If anyone in her group was out on the Hill and hadn’t come back yet, she would wait at the end of the raceway until they returned.

Jody could also be found in the happy baby pose.

She was an incredibly supportive friend. My favorite story is when Jody would go out every morning with Foxie to climb the Twister, a structure out on Young’s Hill. Jody would go out and climb with Foxie, going only as far as Foxie was comfortable, but always encouraging her to push a little further. Eventually, one day Foxie got to the top and Jody was right there with her the whole time. I think about that moment often. It speaks to who Jody was as a person, supportive, protective, and encouraging.

I think about Jody all the time. I feel a pang of grief every time I do a produce order. I always come across a food or leafy green that Jody would totally get excited for! Jody was so expressive with food. It was so exciting and she was so vocal. Because of this, Jody was an avid forager, aka Farmer Jo, whether that be foliage on the Hill or foraging for produce. She would walk back in with a haul- hands, toes, and mouth full! And if you have ever wondered where the nickname Farmer Jo came from, I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Oh! I almost forgot that Jody once foraged a whole rose bush, fast forward to 7:26!

Let’s not forget the great pumpkin heist! Jamieween is one of our biggest celebrations and every year we put out a big pumpkin on Young’s Hill. The pumpkin heist is something many of us looked forward to every year. To see how Jody would steal or try to stealthily get the whole pumpkin, even though, eventually she would share her winning with Neggie.

She had the cutest nubby toes and a very stabby toenail.

But I miss her heart-shaped browridge the most. Jody had the most captivating eyes, it felt like she could see your soul.

However, something I miss deeply is every night when we would close up the chimp house, we would say “Goodnight”. Jody would give a “Goodnight-grunt” and then everyone else would harmonize after. It was a sweet quiet moment. We don’t hear them do it as often without Jo, but when they do, I feel her presence.

It was an honor to care for Jody and watch her flourish in everything our sanctuary had to offer her. She was provided dignity, choice, and safety. She is deeply missed by her family and her human friends. To gain her trust as a human friend of hers is the greatest privilege you could ever ask for.

Jody currently has 12 pals (in memorial). If you would like to honor sweet Jojo you can donate or become her Chimpanzee Pals (in memorial).

Love for Lucky

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Where do I begin when describing someone who means the world?

Lucky:

Prior to George’s arrival in May 2025, Lucky was our youngest chimpanzee resident. Lucky was born on November 6th, 1991 at the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP).

Not a confirmed story, but a LEMSIP employee once said that Lucky was named “Lucky”, because she had a twin who didn’t survive birth, therefore Lucky was the “Lucky one”.

Lucky at LEMSIP in the nursery: 

Lucky lemsip

Her mother was Sally and her father was Herbie. She is full siblings with alpha male, Cy, and half siblings with her bestie, Rayne, as well as Honey B.

Dora, Lucky, Cy (L to R):

Lucky lived at LEMSIP for about 5 years, until the laboratory closed down in 1996, sending Lucky and over 30 other chimpanzees to Wildlife Waystation (WW) in California. Lucky, among many of our other chimpanzee residents, lived at WW for the next couple decades until its closure in 2019. With WW’s closure, there was a huge task of finding new forever homes for many groups of chimpanzees, which led to the “Chimpanzees In Need” campaign, that people like Jane Goodall advocated for. Through the “Chimpanzees In Need” campaign, CSNW helped rescue Willy B, Honey B, and Mave in 2019, then Cy, Lucky, Gordo, Dora, Terry, and Rayne in June 2021.

The group of the “Lucky Six” advertised in the Chimps In Need campaign (top L-R: Cy, Dora, Gordo, bottom L-R: Lucky, Rayne, and Terry): 

Lucky is a low-ranking female in her chimpanzee group. However, with a very stable group and a gentle leader like her brother, Cy, it does not seem like Lucky cares about her low status. Lucky loves spending time with her best friend (and half sister), Rayne, who takes her under her wing. Lucky loves to groom her group members, as she is more of a groomer than a girl who wants to play all the time. Lucky is quiet and introverted. She is loyal, observant, and doesn’t care for drama. She only gets upset with others if they target her.

Lucky and Rayne’s friendship is one we don’t highlight nearly enough. They nest next to each other, sit next to each other at meals, groom with each other, explore The Bray together, and swap foods with each other. Something that really stood out to me was how protective Rayne was of Lucky during the George introduction. Rayne, Cy, and George were already living together for weeks beforehand. When it was time to finally add Lucky into the group (towards the end of the introduction), Rayne would make sure she was always nearby Lucky. If Lucky moved outside, so did Rayne. If Lucky went upstairs/downstairs, so did Rayne.

Lucky and Rayne in nests right next to each other, as they prefer: 

Lucky (L) and Rayne (R) out on The Bray together:

Lucky (L) and Rayne (R) grooming: 

Rayne and Lucky’s new fun way to travel:

Lucky is probably one of our least picky eaters at the sanctuary. She very rarely declines a vegetable. She also loves enrichment items, such as this peanut butter pinecone and gum!

Lucky working on a peanut butter pinecone for her evening enrichment: 

Lucky will savor gum for HOURS. Unlike Rayne, who already swallowed her gum. Most chimps swallow the gum right away, but not Lucky! 

Despite Lucky being introverted and preferring her alone time, she loves her people fiercely.

Lucky kisses the glass: 

When I started at CSNW four years ago, Lucky was the first chimp I connected with. On one of my first days, I walked by Lucky and when she saw me, she let out a big grunt, leading into a breathy pant, which is true Lucky fashion (check out the newest video at the top of today’s blog for an example of this). She still does it to this day when she first sees me. She will stop what she is doing and run over to say hello. I can always tell when she first spots me because I will hear her exaggerated grunt. When she is really excited to see someone, she also shakes her head back and forth, with her tongue out, while breathy panting. She truly gives the warmest welcomes ever.

A couple years ago, I got a portrait of Lucky tattooed on my arm. I feel deeply connected to her and now she will be with me forever!

Photo reference for the tattoo:

Lucky currently has 9 pals! Thank you so much to her current pals for the symbolic sponsorship. If you have fallen in love with sweet Lucky today, you can help send her into double digits! Become Lucky’s new pal here! Thank you so much for your support.

Love for Mave

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Today we continue our Valentine’s series with some love for Mave.

Mave was born on September 25th, 1989  to mother, Lulu, and father, Conrad, at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP). She is half-siblings with own very own Terry, whose father was also Conrad. We didn’t know this at first but should have guessed by the floof alone. I can only assume Conrad was rather hirsute, as well.

Mave (L) and Terry (R)

Like all laboratory chimpanzees, Mave was taken from her mother at a very young age. She was immediately paired with another infant chimpanzee named Goliath. Mave was reportedly an anxious infant, and Goliath became her rock. Throughout her childhood in the lab, she would continue to rely on Goliath for support.

When LEMSIP ended its chimpanzee program in 1996, Mave, Goliath, and 30 other chimpanzees were transferred to the Wildlife Waystation in California. Mave and Goliath stayed together at the Waystation until Goliath’s death, some time around 2018. I can only imagine how devastated Mave must have been. She was soon moved to live with Willy B and Honey B, and as the Waystation began to close, this unlikely threesome came to live at CSNW.

Despite her upbringing, Mave has a high degree of social intelligence. Anyone who can successfully navigate life with Honey B and Willy B would have to, I guess. She’s the kind of chimp that can fit into almost any group—she knows who to groom, who to console, who to support, and who to put in their place. And she does this all with a quiet ease that belies her anxious childhood.

A key to her ability to make friends is the thing I consider to be her superpower: hugging. I have to admit, I sometimes tire of people asking if we wish we could hug the chimps. They are adults, they have each other and don’t need us, it’s far too dangerous…I could go on. I really don’t want to hug the chimps. But if I were a chimp? I’d be first in line for a hug from Mave. Despite the disappointing outcome of our initial effort to integrate Mave’s group with Jamie’s, I wall always remember this hug (and I’m sure Burrito will, too).

Within a couple of years of that first attempt, Mave’s group was once again being integrated with another, and this time she met someone who would take all the hugs she had to give: her new friend, Dora.

These two hit it off instantly. Sometimes I wonder if Dora somehow filled that Goliath-shaped hole in Mave’s heart.

But like so many love stories, this one was complicated, as their families didn’t always get along. And eventually the two groups had to be separated. But while the other chimpanzees at the sanctuary remain in their fixed groups, Mave and Dora (better known as Mora) get to cross back and forth between groups so that their friendship can continue.

Like her friends Willy B and Honey B, Mave had a difficult time becoming comfortable with the outdoors. But she worked hard to overcome her fears, and now she can often be found soaking up the sun on one of the platforms in her 2-acre habitat known as the Bray.

We’re grateful to Mave’s Pals for supporting her life in sanctuary. If you’d like to give Mave a (virtual) hug, consider being her Pal today!

Love for Missy!

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Continuing our month of love, I have the distinct honor of writing about Missy, in the hopes that she will gain more Chimpanzee Pals.

Missy, in a word, is cool.

She is small in stature, but fits quite firmly in the “small but mighty” category. She packs a lot of muscle and a lot of spirit into a small frame.

Missy leap

Missy was born in captivity in 1975 and was owned by the Buckshire Corporation. She spent many years at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) that was part of New York University. There, she was used for hepatitis vaccine testing and breeding. Missy had two children during her time in biomedical research: Honey B, who lives here now, and Josh, who lives at Center for Great Apes. CGA recently wrote about Josh for an electronic newsletter and shared that he, too is quite small, weighing just 90 pounds! We don’t know Missy’s actual birth date, so we chose a date for her to celebrate: August 23rd.

Missy is very loyal to her boss, Jamie.

Missy reaching for Jamie

When we attempted the introductions between Missy’s group and the group of three that included Missy’s daughter in 2019, we learned that Missy relies on Jamie. I had always thought of Missy as quite self-reliant and confident. When she was separated from Jamie, however, she was as nervous as I’ve ever seen her. Now I think of Missy as a soldier who needs a sergeant. She understands hierarchy and wants to know her place in the order, even if her sergeant can be a bit of a bully (see Love for Jamie).

While Jamie and Honey B are both smarty-pants and mischievous in show-offy ways, Missy is quietly intelligent and clever.

She also knows how to crack herself up. This is one of my all-time favorite caught-on-camera moments of Missy. It’s from 15 years ago, so apologies for the poor quality:

Missy was Annie’s rock for the first decade or so at the sanctuary.

Just tonight, I watched Missy reach out to Annie to give her reassurance and bring her in for a hug when Annie was anxious. To both Missy and Annie’s credit, Annie has blossomed and doesn’t need Missy’s constant presence, but we still consider them best friends.

annie and missy outside

Missy is best known for being a runner. As soon as she had access to a large habitat, she ran. She’s been running ever since. J.B. described it best back then: “She is like a spring that was coiled up for decades, just waiting to be released.”

Missy has a new running buddy! She is thrilled when George, in the other habitat, challenges her to a race.

She can spot a tomato, her most favorite food in the whole wide world, from a hundred yards away. Her August birthday is perfectly timed for peak tomato season.

Are you a runner? Do you love tomatoes? Do you know someone who is / does? Well, then, it’s clearly time to become Missy’s Pal or give the gift of Pal sponsorship to your tomato-loving, uber cool, athletic BFF!

Missy currently has eleven pals. Thank you to those eleven for loving Missy, and thank you to everyone who has signed up to be a Pal or Buddy this month! Your support gives them the individualized care they deserve and keeps this blog going!