Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Tuesdays are our staff meeting days and that means we’re pretty busy in the afternoon. It’s often a scramble finding blog content. Luckily we have Negra in the “Portrait Studio” to carry us through the rest of the day! Thanks to staff member Kelsi for grabbing these moments with The Queen this morning.
P.S. Jamie has recovered nicely after yesterday’s procedure. She is already back to walking around Young’s Hill this afternoon.
Last fall, Jamie underwent an exam to follow up on concerns about her reduced activity levels and her growing belly. Both are more common with age, but we thought an exam was warranted to rule out other causes. And indeed, ultrasound examination did reveal a possible cause: the presence of uterine fibroids, which have the potential to cause significant pain and discomfort. After much research and consultation, Dr. Erin decided to take a twofold approach to managing Jamie’s condition: First, Jamie would receive a subcutaneous hormonal implant that would help shrink the fibroids. And second, those fibroids that could be removed would be extracted using a procedure (and specialized piece of equipment) known as MyoSure.
After receiving an anesthetic injection, Jamie is wheeled to the clinic.
Kate Uselman, CRNA, places an endotracheal tube while 4th-year vet student, Larrea Cottingham, observes—Dr. Erin is always happy to help train vet students who are interested in careers in sanctuary medicine! Dr. Dan prepares Jamie for gas anesthesia.
Dr. Chavez performs the MyoSure procedure while Huong Johnson assists with ultrasonography.
The MyoSure procedure utilizes a hysteroscope and a special cutting and extracting wand to visualize and remove the fibroids. The team watches the procedure on the monitor.
Jamie receives the hormonal implant. With chimps, implants are often placed between the shoulder blades so that they don’t try to remove them.
CSNW Vet Assistant, Krissy, monitors Jamie’s vitals as she recovers back in Front Room 1. We loosely ties scarves to the chimps’ wrists and ankles so that they can’t try to climb or walk away before they are coordinated enough to avoid injury. The scarves also help us safely manipulate their body positioning to maintain an open airway. Providing veterinary care to potentially dangerous animals requires creativity!
We’re so grateful to Dr. Dan Low, Kate Uselman, Dr. Chavez, Huong Johnston, Ashley Mellotte, and Larrea Cottingham for volunteering their time and services to help Jamie (and Dan and Kate for also braving a monster snow storm on the pass!). Thanks, as well, to the folks at Hologic for supplying some of the MyoSure equipment. And thanks—as always!—to our own Dr. Erin for all her research, networking, recruiting, and leadership.
Jamie’s care team (Ashley not pictured) poses for a photo while monitoring Jamie’s recovery.
Jamie takes advantage of a Squishmallow-filled nest while recovering—her scarves still tied to her wrists and ankles.
With those pesky scarves untied, it’s time for a drink.
Dr. Erin serves Jamie some baked sweet potato for dinner.
As long as that snow doesn’t hit us down here in the foothills, I’m sure Jamie will be back on her patrols tomorrow—and hopefully, feeling a whole lot better.
I hope you had as much fun as I did reading the Month of Love blog posts that highlighted the personalities and stories of each individual at the sanctuary. Huge thanks again to all Chimpanzee Pals and Bovine Buddies who are sponsoring the care and memories of all past and present chimpanzees and cows. Your support is important and meaningful.
Sharing the chimpanzee’s personalities and quirks really illustrates how everyone in our care stands out as their own unique, charming, independent person.
I was thinking about this when I was playing with Burrito today (safely, with mesh between us, of course). His charm, energy, and silliness were turned up to eleven this afternoon. In between headstands and other acrobatics, I captured these images of him:
I would never dream of playing with Jamie the way I play with Burrito. I’ve tried it a few times. Sometimes she allows raucous play for a few minutes, clearly indulging me until she can quickly redirect our time together towards activities that she enjoys, like grooming my boots or walking outside, as we did today:
Jamie was a bit distracted on our stroll. She kept her eyes on The Bray habitat. I’m not sure who, if anyone, she was hoping to see or avoid. There was no one outside as we sauntered around the entire perimeter of Young’s Hill. I had my hood pulled tightly over my head to keep my ears warm from the sharp wind, but Jamie didn’t seem bothered by the gales.
When she got to the Raceway / the entrance to return to her Greenhouse, she paused and looked towards The Bray again. When I noticed Terry walking into the Chute, I thought perhaps that’s who Jamie had been waiting for, but I turned around and she was gone. Was she intimidated by Terry? Maybe she was being bashful? Or perhaps she had hoped to catch the eye of someone else in Terry’s group.
Whatever the reason for her avoidance, it left me with just Terry. So I followed his lead. He walked almost to the top of The Bray and stopped. He sat down, looking at the view below. I do the same thing when I’m hiking. I get to a spot, stop, and turn around to take in both the view and to have a sense of the distance or elevation I’ve gained. Maybe Terry was experiencing awe in that moment. I certainly was.
In today’s blog video, see how George is navigating the complexities of social life in his new group.
As the weather has been warmer lately, we have been giving Jamie chimpanzee’s group access to their outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill, first thing in the morning. Today, Jamie sprinted out of the greenhouse, ready to patrol her territory. Foxie, Missy and Burrito were hot on her heels! They know that, after breakfast, we spend time cleaning their playroom. Which is the perfect opportunity to take off to explore the hill, looking for young spring grass to graze on (though it might be a little early, yet).
But they always seem to know when it’s just about time for us to finish up and open the doors back up to their playroom. They know that there will be a leafy green forage waiting for them, as well as fresh blankets and enrichment. Today, they even had hanging raisin boards, which they love! So it wasn’t a surprise when we heard breathy chimpanzee laughter coming from the front rooms. There, we found Burrito and Missy finding ways to pass the time, while waiting for their playroom.
Soon, almost all of the chimps were waiting patiently.
Lately, in Central Washington, it has been cold and windy, the perfect weather conditions for continuously dry, chapped lips. Unfortunately, most of the chimps suffer from the same affliction so caregiver Kelsi brought in a coconut oil lip balm to give them some relief!
The chimp house is a busy place! It’s fun, energetic, and can tend to get a little noisy. From the start of the morning we are on the go- prepping food, serving meals, shifting doors, cleaning enclosures, cleaning toys, making enrichment, washing dishes, doing laundry, making chow bags, making night bags, doing more laundry, staff and interns coming in and out throughout the day, all the while chimps are playing, laughing, grooming, maybe screaming, and nesting!
I know, it’s a lot! That is why when Jamie asks you to go on a walk, it’s really nice to slow down and be in the moment with her. So, if you have had a busy day like we had, join me on a walk with Jamie and Burrito.
Of course, there are some bonus photos too!
Honey B being silly, while eating an apple:
Annie:
Rayne:
