Two simple moments of peace for you on this November day.
Annie:
Negra:
From blue cement floors below, to blue skies above
Just over eight years ago, the Cle Elum 7 were living in the windowless basement of the Buckshire Corporation in Pennsylvania. Their entire world consisted of four attached 6×6 cages.
Here’s a little perspective on just exactly what that meant for the chimpanzees:
Take a moment and imagine only being able to climb as high as that cage ceiling or walk as far as the beginning of one wall to the end of the other. It’s truly inconceivable.
A huge part of sanctuary means providing a new multidimensional expansive world for the chimpanzees to enjoy.
When Missy climbed to to the tallest structure on Young’s Hill this morning, she was around 20 feet in the air with an unimpeded view of a lush green valley and rolling mountains. The sun could warm her back and the breeze could tickle her skin. She had 2 acres of grassy hill to run and play on, with several comfortable indoor areas to nap and groom in.
What a difference 8 years can make.
The reason
“The reason we race isn’t so much to beat each other,… but to be with each other.â€
― Christopher McDougall
The struggles of blog photography
Each day of the week, sanctuary staff members trade off the responsibility of being the Lead Caregiver for the day. The Lead Caregiver is tasked with keeping to the routine of the day, moving doors to close off an area for cleaning, and taking photos and writing for the daily blog. Some days the blog photography can be the most challenging part of the day. There are often entire afternoons when the chimpanzees choose to spend their time off grooming out of sight from the camera. There are also days when the chimpanzees are right in front of you, but seem to have other thoughts on their minds besides holding still for a photo.
This video was taken a few months ago as staff member Katelyn tried to get a photo of playful Burrito.
Somewhere in between play bouts, Katelyn managed to get a few stills of this handsome guy. Maybe you recognize this particularly gorgeous one?
Four Seasons of Sanctuary
JB’s post yesterday got me thinking about how much the sanctuary really transforms each season.
In winter we have the always enriching snow.
Annie takes a moment outside on Young’s Hill before grabbing an icy snack:
In Spring we have bright green grass and thriving lush plants.
Negra forages:
In summer we have hot days and long cool evenings.
These evenings are often spent enjoying Young’s Hill with the determined night owl Jamie Chimpanzee:
And on fall days like today, we have picturesque views of golden aspen trees.
Jody exploring:
Relationship Status: It’s Complicated, with Jamie Chimpanzee
Jamie chimpanzee is a domineering individual and her good friend Foxie is well aware of it. During forages, Jamie pulls rank and controls a great deal of the space around her. She will gather her forage bounty together, sometimes in handfuls, often using a container to keep a hand free for foraging. The other chimpanzees know not to mess with the boss’s collection, but it’s not always so clear what she has staked a claim to.
Last Friday we put out a lettuce forage to entice the chimps into the playroom so we could close off the front rooms for cleaning. We also put out a brand new France Dora the Explorer Doll for Foxie. This particular doll is one of Foxie’s all time favorites. Watch the video to see Foxie test the boundaries of her and Jamie’s complicated relationship.
Foliage with Foxie and a friend
Each day this month, Autumn seems to get just a bit more vivid at the sanctuary. This morning dawned with a new icy snap in the air and thick frost on caregivers’ car windshields. After the chimpanzees ate breakfast, the inviting sun took the edge off the chilly air and Young’s Hill became a warm golden playground.
Foxie carried her “Kate” doll with her this morning as she explored. Kate’s red hair fits right in with the views of the fall foliage.
