Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Anna

Rebuilding the Village

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It’s been a bit of a wild ride at the sanctuary these last 5 years. When COVID hit in 2020, we sadly had to close our doors to the majority of our volunteer population to limit the possible exposures to the chimps and staff.  At the same time, we spent the “COVID years” expanding the sanctuary to welcome Cy’s group of 6 chimps. As we clawed our way out of the pandemic, we were very eager to open our doors back up to a larger population of volunteers, now with an even greater need for help since our facility and chimpanzee population had grown. Understandably, many of our pre-COVID volunteers (and all of our university interns) had moved on to different phases in their lives and were no longer able to volunteer.   Now we have entered a bit of a rebuilding phase of our volunteer program as we focus on recruiting and training new volunteers to bolster our sanctuary. It’s been a joy seeing new faces start to come through the door and join our “OG” volunteers in helping the staff provide quality care for our beloved chimpanzee friends.

Here are just a few of our volunteers, both seasoned and new. Please join me in giving them a heartfelt thank you for all their hard work and dedication. If you or someone you know is looking to join our volunteer team in 2025, please visit our website for more details.

Art, re-imagined

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To continue our Comfort and Joy celebrations, today  we gave the chimpanzees 2 different pieces of artwork that have been reformatted into enrichment items! First off, we gave Negra’s group a new cozy blanket with the famous Negra in the Sun painting printed on it.

I carefully hung it on the railings next to Negra’s nest in anticipation of her snuggling up in it:

Even the best laid plans go awry. After the chimpanzees entered the playroom, Burrito playfully poked the blanket until it fell down over a firehose below. Here’s Jamie foraging for cabbage next to it. You can still see the magnificent artwork that Margaret Parkinson originally painted!

During lunch, Negra did end up pulling her blanket over and using it as a seat cushion:

On the other side of the building we handed out this fantastic silky Lucky scarf (original artwork by Thyra Rutter from Arte for Elephants):

Cy commandeered the scarf for a game of tug-o-war!

Thanks go to our amazing artists Margaret and Thyra, as well as Heather S and Heather H, who purchased the items so the chimpanzees could enjoy them!

 

Burrito climbs a Tree!

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This morning, while on a walk with Chad, Burrito took it upon himself to climb one of the trees at the top of Young’s Hill. We’ve seen this at least one other time before but this might be the first time we’ve been able to capture it on video. It’s a very quick video, but totally worth the watch. Go Bubba go!

In other sanctuary news, Kathleen, a wonderful and long-time CSNW supporter, generously wrote us a beautiful testimonial about her experience winning the Behind-The-Scenes Pass in an auction a few years ago. Thank you so much to Kathleen and happy bidding to everyone bidding on this year’s backstage pass!

“I was the very fortunate auction winner of the behind-the-scenes at CSNW back in 2013 (if my memory serves me correctly!). It was such an incredible experience that it is hard to describe. Even as the day unfolded before me, my experience felt like blur. An emotional system overload of wonder and joy! Keep in mind, that during my visit, the sanctuary had not expanded yet. I had the privilege of entering the home of the original Cle Elum Seven. And I met den mother Jody, making my memories all the more special to me now.

Meeting Diana and J.B. in person was such a pleasure and being able to ask them questions and learn details about the chimps, as well as their plans and dreams for the future of the sanctuary (I believe all of those dreams have since come true and perhaps they even surpassed them.), gave me insight and a new appreciation into this “little” sanctuary I supported full heartedly.

I shadowed Anna in the kitchen, the two of us working hard to prep a very large produce delivery that had just arrived when I did. It might sound silly, but there’s a lot of work and time involved in cleaning, drying, cutting all the produce to the exact size needed so the caregivers can pass each individual vegetable or piece of fruit through the squares of their mesh caging. Once the food is prepped, it is stored in their commercial sized refrigerators. I have a photo of Anna posing in front of the fully packed and ready to burst refrigerator, in a “Ta-daa” pose! But I knew it was just another day for her. For me, wow! Preparing their food, was an undescribable joy, because nothing makes me happier than watching them enjoy their meals—food grunts and squeaks soooo much better in person!!!

The other thrill was being able to recognize each chimpanzee. Even from afar. The blog had taught me well. I had the privilege of a lifetime when Jamie, after staring at my footwear and deciding black sneakers with white rubber toes were not acceptable, selected boots for me to wear on a patrol around Young’s Hill. I waddled and clopped around the outside of their perimeter with one boot on while carrying the other because that is what Jamie wanted. The boot I wore may have been four sizes too big. The best walk ever! J.B. was at my side sharing so much information my heart and my mind were having trouble keeping up with all magnificence!

I saw the one and only Queen Negra clap for her night bag…..she did this as soon as meal service began! I saw charming Burrito with a little toy wooden block in his mouth, play a cheeky game of chase with J.B. And while I was preparing food, little Foxie, who was the first one to come and check me out, came up to the glass window of their downstairs room and spied in to the kitchen and spit water on the glass. Just what I anticipated! She did not disappoint!

It is hard to recall all the details from that day, there are far too many, and as I said in the beginning, it all becomes this wondrous blur. But the one thing I will never forget is the beautiful earthy scent of the chimpanzees. They smell wild. They smell like the forest. They smell like the earth in an ever so subtle way—only if you are almost close enough. This is a once in a lifetime experience. I’m considering bidding on it again! I apologize for being greedy in advance.”

To build a nest

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Our two washing machines have a full time job here at the sanctuary. Almost every day we run both machines from the moment we arrive at the sanctuary to the moment we leave, all in the name of a good nest!

Exhibit A (a few good nests):

 

Our hardworking volunteers and staff are well-acquainted with the laundry process at the sanctuary. There’s a lot of behind the scenes laundry that goes on to make just one clean nest. Keeping the machines going and folding all those blankets can be a daunting task. As you might imagine, it’s never fun when we have a washer that goes out of commission.

Good news though, you can help support all of our nest formation efforts by contributing to our commercial washer fund during our Comfort and Joy Auction, happening now! Thank you all for helping the chimpanzees create those big beautiful fluffy nests!