Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Anthony

Veterinary Clinic Tour

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The sanctuary’s upgraded veterinary clinic has come up quite a bit lately.

We have utilized this area frequently over the past year, and it recently gave us the ability to respond to an unexpected emergency. Thanks to its impeccable usefulness and immediate relevance, the clinic was also mentioned several times during last night’s virtual auction: HOOT! 2020. As we explained to the event’s participants, your generous contributions have built this on-site clinic for the chimpanzees and will help us to add additional equipment and vital supplies in the near future. We caregivers are all comforted to have such a modern and secure facility located just across the hallway from the chimpanzee enclosures so that any necessary procedures can be done safely and effectively.

Because we are so grateful for all of the support and we love to teach people about our work, Dr. Erin and I thought it would be fitting to take you all on a virtual tour of the veterinary clinic! In the video, Dr. Erin also explains some of our protocols and we would love to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you once again for making all of this possible!

 

Putting Out Fires

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This is the time of the year that the inland regions of the Northwest dry out and burn.

Wildfires are a natural and necessary process in the grasslands and forests of the American West, but that doesn’t make them any less daunting. The flames can turn forested hillsides to ash, drive people from their homes, and engulf any structure left in their path. The resulting haze can block out the sun for weeks and make it dangerous for many people to go outdoors. We know more about the role that such infernos play in our ecosystem, but decades of fire suppression have left abundant fuel laying around. Climate change has brought higher temperatures and drier summers, population growth has brought more people into the woods, and development has placed more anthropogenic structures in harm’s way. It’s no surprise that wildfires have grown more intense, frequent, and economically impactful in recent years.

Right now, almost a thousand personnel are fighting a wildfire that has crossed into Kittitas County and descended into its namesake valley. This agricultural hub contains the towns of Ellensburg and Cle Elum, Central Washington University, and Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. The sanctuary is not threatened by this blaze (although some past fires were way too close for comfort and led us to develop a mitigation and prevention system), but the plume of smoke was visible from the sanctuary and the valley was covered in a thick blanket of haze for a couple of days (below).

The firefighting crews of the Pacific Northwest spend lots of time preparing for events like this, and their main goal is always to protect human lives and homes while allowing for nature to do its thing. The Evans Canyon Fire, as it is now called, has incinerated over 75,000 acres of land (an area 1/10 the size of my home state) and is still only partially contained. Even with diverse experts, mathematical models, state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated firefighters, one unexpected breeze could drive the fire past the breaks and into new territory. Containment depends on preparedness and insight, of course, but it also depends on luck. For now, the conditions have been forgiving enough to get us through.

This is where we found ourselves this weekend with Burrito Chimpanzee. You can do lots of things to prepare for a scenario like this, and of course we have discussed the possibility of a chimpanzee being bitten by a venomous snake. Ultimately, though, we were grateful that luck was on our side.

The snake only bit one chimpanzee, not any of the others who mobbed it. The chimps retreated, allowing the team to close off the enclosure and carefully remove the confused rattlesnake. Burrito voluntarily isolated himself in an indoor enclosure, permitting immobilization. We obtained the necessary antivenin, and a little extra, quickly. Our entire staff rushed in to help on a weekend, and Dr. Erin was able to wrangle difficult circumstances to get the life-saving treatment into Burrito. Bubba, despite his initial bad luck, once again proved his resilience and strength. There were so many ways that this situation could have unraveled, but we’re glad it didn’t.

Now, the blaze is mostly contained but the fire is not out yet, and we’re still working around the clock to make sure we can respond to any setbacks. Most importantly, the team is monitoring Burrito’s clinical signs 24/7. Diana and J.B. set up a makeshift bed in the foyer of the Chimp House (above) so that people can be around all night, and we have a supply of emergency drugs loaded and ready-to-go on the clinic counter (also above). We have charts covered in hastily scrawled observations and checklists, and we were ready to give him food, meds, and liquids as soon as he was feeling well enough to sit up. Everyone whooped when he first sat up and urinated, and the atmosphere grew even more exuberant when he reached out and took a grape. We all exhaled in relief as Burrito, our resident phoenix, rose from the proverbial ashes and began to play the “poke” game with caregivers from the comfort of his blanket nest (below). J.B. recently remarked that veterinarians never get to eat dinners in peace, but that also seems true for the rest of the sanctuary staff lately. All day, we’ve been sending texts back and forth regarding Burrito’s status, and we’ve been doing our best to keep the greater CSNW community in the loop. I’ve never been so grateful to work with such a supportive, cohesive, dedicated group of people.

With the consultation of veterinary experts, led by our own Dr. Erin, we’re taking every precaution to give Burrito the best chance at a full recovery. He’s a popular guy, overflowing with charisma, and helps us to know that his loyal fans are also supporting our efforts. We look forward to sending you all some more good news very soon. For now, though, all we can do is continue to monitor Bubba and enjoy tonight’s beautiful sunset- one that only a horrific wildfire could paint.

Hype for HOOT!

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It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year. At times, it’s felt more like a haunted house full of people who have all taken hallucinogenics (or something that is equally chaotic, confusing, and concerning).

Still, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate and we have much to be hopeful for. The chimps’ lives have been largely unaffected by the public health crisis and we’re working hard to keep it that way. Despite the economic uncertainty and logistical hurdles, we’ve managed to keep the residents happy and healthy, sustainably expand our staff, make upgrades to our existing property and facilities, and begin constructing new areas that will hopefully provide a home for more rescued chimpanzees.

All of this progress would be impossible without the financial support that comes from generous supporters, and we’re getting ready to host our biggest fundraising event of the year: HOOT 2020!

Unlike previous years, this edition of HOOT! will be a virtual celebration so that you can all participate from the comfort of your home (or office… we won’t tell anyone if you choose to spend your work day bidding on items). Of course, we’d love to be hosting you all in Seattle for a big ole’ shindig, but the “virtualness” of this year’s party has some benefits of its own. As always, there are some amazing items and experiences up for auction (bidding starts September 2nd!) and the itinerary also includes a happy hour and a pant-hoot contest.

The preparations have been underway for quite some time, but some aspects of the event are still developing. Burrito witnessed something that excited him today, but you’ll have to tune into the event to see what it was…

To get started, you can go to the HOOT! 2020 website hosted by Auction Frogs. Seriously, go to the website! I’m not going to post too many spoilers here, but we have a lot planned for this big event!!!

P.S. Here’s a little spoiler. Saxophone by Tobi Stone.

Burrito Takes Over The Live Stream

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Today, we let you all watch one of the most exciting events that takes place at the sanctuary every day: lunch.

For those of you who were busy during the live stream or were unable to connect via Facebook, you can watch the recording here. (Unfortunately, it’s not possible to embed Facebook videos directly into the blog post.)

Despite some early technical obstacles, I was eventually able to broadcast a live feed that showed the Seven foraging on Young’s Hill, their outdoor enclosure. I then brought my phone to the Greenhouse so that the chimpanzees could join in on the chat. Burrito, of course, was interested in playing chase and seemed intrigued by the Facebook video being sent to all of you from the palm of my hand. As usual, he stole the show.

It was great to see so many viewers join in on the broadcast, despite the short notice and connection troubles. I tried to answer some questions during the stream while Diana typed out additional responses from the sanctuary’s office. I wasn’t expecting so much engagement (170+ comments in 24 minutes!), so I will do my best to address any additional inquiries throughout the day.

Thank you all for your patience, interest, and support!

Here are some still photographs to accompany the today’s events.

Annie:

Negra:

Honey B:

Burrito:

The Neighbor’s Horses:

And, finally, an intimate moment shared between Honey (one of our resident cattle) and one of the neighboring mares:

 

Celebrating Missy

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Today, we had the honor of hosting yet another birthday party for the sanctuary’s resident sparkplug: Missy Chimpanzee.

Missy spent 35 years in a cycle of exploitation before finally being transferred to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest with her companions in 2008. During those lost decades, her and hundreds of other chimpanzees were utilized as breeders and research subjects. Missy now has 45 years under her belt (which is only a couple fewer than Negra, the sanctuary’s oldest chimpanzee). Despite her age, which would lead her to be classified as “geriatric” by primatologists, Missy is known for her youthful athleticism, persistent energy, and fierce independence.

The first thing you may notice about Missy is that there’s a lot of chimp packed into that compact little body, and she often appears to be propelled by explosive bursts as she zooms around the Hill. She’s the type of action hero who would walk away from an explosion without turning to look at it. Missy is a rebel who surely has plenty of cause, but I find her most admirable quality to be the way she regards the process of senescence with cool defiance. The rest of us can only hope to delay aging and enjoy retirement with a fraction of her success. We should all throw out our self-help books, shut off our podcasts, and instead look to Dr. Missy for advice.

You can imagine how daunting it must be to throw a birthday bash for such a unique and enigmatic individual. Fortunately for Chad (the Enrichment Coordinator), Missy has not been shy about her love for the red berries of a Central American flowering vine, Solanum lycopersicum, which are widely known by their Nahuatl name: tomatoes. Missy loves all cultivars of these things unconditionally, and doesn’t seem to ever grow tired of seeing them on the serving tray. As soon as she spies us take those waxy red orbs out of the refrigerator, Missy turns into a ravenous lunatic whose sole objective is to ingest as many tomatoes as quickly as possible. Given this knowledge, Chad obviously had to organize a tomato-themed party to celebrate Missy’s 45th trip around the sun.

While the chimps waited in the cool Playroom, today’s crew spread a forage of fresh veggies and chow in the Greenhouse and Young’s Hill. The cornucopia included whole beefsteak and wedged Roma tomatoes, small piles of grape tomatoes, chunks of sweet corn on the cob, and zesty red onions. One of our volunteer caregivers also prepared Gatorade cups with orange slices to wash it all down.

When we carried this feast out to spread in the chimps’ enclosures, the Seven erupted. The chimps were so raucous with excitement that Diana and J.B. heard their hoots and screams from the other end of the property. Foxie, who is also a fan of tomatoes, screamed the loudest. Because our hands were full of vegetables and other treats, we didn’t take any photos of the chaotic moment. Fortunately, J.B. and Jamie recently posted this demonstration so that you can all imagine what a chorus of pant-hooting chimpanzees sounds like. Eventually, the craziness subsided enough for the chimps to gather around the windows as we distributed small caches of food in their outdoor enclosures.

Once the caregivers had secured the Hill and Greenhouse, we let the chimpanzees back out to begin foraging. Of course, Missy launched herself out onto the grassy hillside and immediately started gathering tomatoes. It was as if she knew the reason for the celebration, and she was clearly the guest of honor.

 

The other chimpanzees enjoyed their shares, too. Missy undoubtedly “won” the event, but nobody went without food.

Jody:

Foxie:

Annie:

Negra:

Burrito was more interested in playing, of course. This has been the norm for him this year. He eventually went outside and scrounged up some corn, but he made it clear that goofing around with a caregiver was the top priority.

At this point, you’re probably wondering where Jamie was. Did she hoard all of the corn? Well, she tried.

The magical aspect of widespread food is that it’s difficult to monopolize. In captive settings, resources are often provisioned in confined spaces that allow individuals with dominant personalities to, well, dominate. In ecological terms, this is known as contest competition and tends to reward those with brute strength and Machiavellian strategy.

Relatively large outdoor spaces (e.g. Young’s Hill) allow caregivers to distribute food over wider areas, which leads each group of chimpanzees to fission into smaller parties that then race each other to gather up the best available resources. This process, which more closely parallels the behavior of free-ranging chimpanzees, is an example of scramble competition. By facilitating this pattern of behavior, we can give subordinate chimpanzees a chance to get on the scoreboard. In such an environment, crafty and efficient chimpanzees can excel while those who usually rely on intimidation must fend for themselves. Today’s case in point was Missy, who proved herself to be the queen of the scramble.

Once the others had returned to the shade of the Greenhouse, Missy ventured out into the wilderness of Young’s Hill to continue searching. It was amazing to witness her scuttling across the wooden bridges and bushwhacking through the tall prairie grass. Her extraordinary effort reaped delicious rewards.

On the other side of the building, Honey B and her companions were treated to a similar feast. Honey B is, as you may know, Missy’s daughter. They have many differences, but Honey B was quite please by the tomatoes as well.

Willy B preferred the corn, and Mave was so engrossed with her lunch that we were unable to take any photos of her.

We usually avoid making assumptions about the chimpanzees’ experiences, but I feel confident that Missy made the most of her celebration.

Missy, I look forward to seeing you scarf down ten thousand more tomatoes.

Happy 45th, kid.

Tutorial: How to Clean an Enclosure

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The blog often shows the highlights of each day, but we don’t always show the less-glamorous aspects of our jobs. As caregivers, most of our work day is actually spent cleaning, securing, and maintaining the spaces that the chimpanzees live in.

Just confirming that an area is safe for humans to enter is a chore in itself, and then each enclosure requires daily attention so that the chimps can be healthy, comfortable, and entertained. On top of that, there are always dishes to scrub, toys to wash, puzzles to prepare, and paperwork to organize.

This evening, I chose to demonstrate our standard procedures for cleaning and sanitizing a chimpanzee enclosure so that you can all partake in the fun!

Moving Along

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This weekend, y’all were treated to a pair of vivid stories: J.B.’s about a quiet moment with Jamie and Diana’s about an unusual predicament involving a snake. If you didn’t read them, what are you waiting for?

Today’s blog post isn’t really a story. Instead, I’m changing directions and just providing a few unrelated updates.

As Jody heals up from her recent trip to the sanctuary’s clinic, we have begun to let her have socialization sessions with the other chimps in her group. These meetings are a standard practice for us;  controlled visits like today’s allow for the chimps to groom and play without a barrier. (Of course, the others can always see and interact with Jody through the steel mesh that separates their areas.) Since we’re concerned about Jo’s incision site staying clean, its safer for her to have just one companion at a time. This morning, Foxie darted into the front rooms and excitedly groomed with Jody for a couple of hours.

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the building, the second phase of the expansion project (Phase 2) is well underway. Although the construction team has not yet poured the foundation, one can already see the outlines of two new indoor playrooms, two new Greenhouse-style enclosures, and the central hallway. There’s obviously a lot to be done, but it’s encouraging to witness the steady progress and even more exciting to imagine multiple groups of chimpanzees hanging out in the area when it is complete.

Finally, the day ended with a rambunctious crescendo: Jamie’s delight at an area full of grab bags. Grab bags are one of Jamie’s favorite enrichment items, so she absolutely lost it when we let her group back into the Playroom to gather, process, and savor the valued puzzles hidden inside. As usual, she tried her best to monopolize everything and ended up sitting in the middle of the Playroom surrounded by the remains of ransacked enrichment (much as a dragon would sit on a hoard of gold that it had plundered from the charred remnants of destroyed cities). That’s Jamie’s style, sometimes. Fortunately, we always put out enough enrichment materials to give the other chimps more opportunities.

Even after we locked up the chimp areas, changed out of our scrubs and prepared to leave the sanctuary for the evening, Jamie was still sitting amid her mountain of grab bags, apparently content.