Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Debbie

Taking in the view

by

Negra spends a lot of time in front of windows. She has a few spots that she seems to have claimed as her own, all with great vantage points for watching the goings-on of the sanctuary property.

Her usual spot is in the catwalk in the playroom—from that window she can watch the cows, horses, goats, and elk wander about, the humans walking around the hill with Jamie, the cars drive along the highway, and the train go through the river canyon below. It’s a pretty great view so I understand why she spends a big chunk of time watching from there. Another spot she has claimed is in the corner of the greenhouse by the Young’s Hill raceway, which is actually the same view as her catwalk spot.

To get a look at the other side of the property she has a spot in front of the highest window in the loft area, and the same view can be seen from the window immediately below the loft, in one of the front rooms. This is the first place the chimpanzees had a chance to look outside when they first arrived at the sanctuary.

When I found these photos below on our computer from a couple weeks ago, the look in Negra’s eyes as she gazes out the window is all I could think about. And it made me think about the day the chimps first arrived. Though I wasn’t here that day, I anxiously waited for this very special blog post announcing that the chimps were in their new home (with a picture of Negra at the same window) and one from the next day including a video of Negra leaving her transfer cage, entering her new home, and greeting Sarah.

web_negra_portrait_studio_fr4_kh_IMG_5036

web_negra_portrait_studio_fr4_kh_IMG_5037

We can’t ever know what must go through Negra’s mind as she’s gazing out at the valley below, or watching staff, volunteers, visitors, or delivery people come and go from the other side of the building. Whatever it is she’s pondering, I would imagine it’s much different than when the chimps first arrived. Those first few days I’m sure it was thoughts of wonderment, curiosity, and even fear of the unknown. I hope now that her thoughts are more about what she might see Ellie up to today, or who’s walking up the driveway to visit, or how long the train will be this time.

Happy chickens, food, and thanks!

by

We have been very fortunate lately to receive some awesome food donations—Darwin pet food company has donated cases and cases of fresh produce the last few months which has certainly reduced our food bill every month! We are so appreciative, and so are the chimpanzees. Just check out one of the hauls:

web_Volunteer_Lynn_Annie_Darwins_produce_food_donation_jb

And here’s some of the celery they donated being enjoyed by Annie and Negra:
web_Annie_hold_celery_food_lunch_GH_ek_IMG_4590

web_Negra_hold_celery_chow_food_lunch_look_at_camera_GH_ek_IMG_4586

And Missy snacking on a beet:
web_Missy_forage_eat_beet_in_mouth_look_at_camera_YH_ek_IMG_3488

Part of our food philosophy is that the chimps have a primarily plant-based diet, which is why we’re so thankful for the Darwin’s donations! Recently we thought about seeing if the chimps like eggs, which would be a great source of protein for them in addition to the nuts they already eat and protein powder in their morning smoothie. It just so happens that I’m the proud caretaker of a few happy chickens who roam around my house (which is seated on a large family farm just outside Ellensburg).

web_debbies_chickens_clementine_victoria_maisie_gertrude_free_roam_coop_in_background_IMG_9972

web_debbies_chickens_victoria_clementine_maisie_free_roam_IMG_0368

I’ve always been thrilled to share the ladies’ eggs with friends and family, giving them the opportunity to have eggs from free-roaming chickens. So I decided to bring in some hard-boiled eggs for the chimps to see if they would like them! It turns out that they were no stranger to having eggs before. Though we expected that they would be weary of eating such a strange item, and it might take a few tastes to decide if they liked them or not, we were surprised to see their reaction—they definitely know what eggs are and they definitely like them. Negra was absolutely beside herself when she saw me walking out with the eggs, food squeaking with delight. The other chimpanzees quickly came over to get the exciting snack.

web_Negra_egg_yolk_GH_jb

Foxie, however, is not so sure about eggs. She’s always been more hesitant to try new things (even if she ends up loving those things eventually). The first time we served the eggs, Foxie sniffed it and tossed it to the ground. She then went around and watched everyone eating their egg to see what was so exciting about it. The second time we served them, I peeled one for Foxie (while everyone else was happy to receive their with the shell and peel them on their own) and she took a quick bite before dropping the other half on the ground. Annie was very pleased to pick up Foxie’s leftovers, and Foxie very intensely food peered while Annie ate her eggs. This very uncomfortable looking behavior is a common act in chimpanzee culture, and Foxie especially likes to food-peer. Perhaps after watching the other chimps happily eat their eggs twice now, the third time will be the charm for Foxie!

web_Foxie_food_peer_annie_egg_GH_2__jb

web_Foxie_food_peer_Annie_egg_GH_jb

The relentless hawk

by

The hawk saga has continued this week and the chimps are still on high alert. Last week, J.B. posted about a hawk that caused the chimps to be somewhat apprehensive.

Here’s a couple shots of the hawk (we’re calling him Hank).

web_hawk_on_yh_post_hunting_jb_IMG_4391

web_hawk_on_yh_post_open_wings_jb_IMG_4399

Since Hank has been hanging out this whole week, the chimps are more used to his presence, but they are still very territorial. Today, Missy was still a little apprehensive and took cover inside the tunnel, and then ran back toward the safety of the chimp house. But Foxie, Jody, and Jamie were on patrol letting Hank know who’s in charge.

Missy emerging from the tunnel:
web_Missy_emerge_from_tunnel_YH_jb_IMG_4471

web_Missy_run_YH_jb_IMG_4461

Foxie, Jody, and Jamie on alert:
web_Foxie_Jody_Jamie_hawk_YH_jb_IMG_4431

And then on patrol to secure the rest of the territory:
web_Foxie_Jody_Jamie_patrol_YH_hawk_jb_IMG_4441

web_Foxie_Jody_patrol_YH_hawk_jb_IMG_4438

Jamie took one last look back to make sure Hank learned his lesson:
web_Jamie_bipedal_Jody_patrol_YH_jb_IMG_4444

It’s really great getting to see the chimps exhibit such a naturalistic behavior—patrolling the fence line and defending their home.

web_hawk_on_yh_post_stare_down_jb_IMG_4394

More ways to help the chimps!

by

One of my favorite things about our gala auction (and online auction, too!) is that people who bid on items not only give generously to support the chimps, but they get a nice tangible item too. Win-win! There are many different ways to help support the chimps, from sponsoring a day of sanctuary to becoming a pal to one of the Cle Elum Seven, to participating in our fundraising events, and even just in your everyday shopping!

Awhile back we posted about how Amazon’s program AmazonSmile will donate a portion of sales from everyday things you shop for on Amazon to the sanctuary (read more on how to set that up here). We also have a program set up through Fred Meyer, a northwest one-stop-shop store, and a way to help the sanctuary when buying or selling on eBay through eBay Giving Works. You also can apply for a credit card that helps out the chimps! All win-win deals. Check all those options out on this page.

One new thing we added to that page was our connection with Cars 4 Causes, an organization which takes vehicles, gets them prepped for sale, auctions them off and then gives a chunk of the proceeds to the sanctuary! My family actually recently took advantage of this opportunity and donated our boat that I remember taking camping trips in as a child. It went up for auction and did really well—but unfortunately, the high bidder backed out last minute for financial reasons and so the boat is back up for auction. Seattle-area friends, please spread the word about this auction! And if you or anyone you know is thinking about getting rid of a vehicle, consider donating it to Cars 4 Causes to support CSNW.

Here’s some pictures of the chimps, as a reminder of who you are supporting with all these fun and unique ways to donate:

Annie
web_Annie_look_at_camera_sit_in_door_X_look_out_GH_kh_IMG_5110

Jamie
web_Jamie_in_front_of_bamboo_YH_jb_IMG_4173

Missy
web_Missy_look_at_camera_tall_grass_YH_jb_IMG_4167

Foxie
web_Foxie_sit_doorway_X_hold_dora_doll_container_in_hands_look_out_GH_kh_IMG_5132

Chimp mothers

by

Yesterday was Negra’s son Noah’s birthday, and Save the Chimps posted a photo of the birthday boy which I shared today on our Facebook page. We’ve shared stories of Noah before (as well as Negra’s daughters Angel (also at Save the Chimps) and Heidi (she’s sadly still in a lab).

A question we almost always get is whether the chimps would recognize their kids should they ever have the chance to. For the kids that are no longer in labs (Negra’s kids Noah and Angel at Save the Chimps, Foxie’s daughter Angie at Save the Chimps, Jody’s kids Andrea, Bart, and Clay at Save the Chimps, Annie’s kids Mariah and Virgil at Save the Chimps and son Tobias at Chimp Haven, and Missy’s kids Josh and Honey B at Wildlife Waystation) that will likely never happen. It’s also not too likely that their kids who are still in labs would ever be reunited with them (Foxie’s kids Kelsey and David, Negra’s daughter Heidi, and Jody’s son Levi) because they are fully grown adults and it would be difficult to integrate them into our existing group.

But if at another sanctuary a mother were reunited with her children, would they recognize each other? My response to this question is usually simply: probably not. As is the case with most lab births, their babies were taken away from them within days (sometimes just hours) so the likelihood that they would recognize their fully grown children is pretty slim. I think of human births where the babies are given for adoption — would they recognize their biological child 20 years later? Probably not… but maybe. There have been stories of chimps being reunited with their mothers after being separated from each other very early on, who showed signs of recognizing each other. So, I guess the answer should be: probably not, but it is possible.

Here’s some recent photos of our chimp mothers:

Annie

web_annie_carry_bamboo_in_mouth_yh_dm_IMG_4408

Foxie

web_Foxie_walk_hold_Dora_doll_enrichment_in_mouth_look_at_camera_YH_ek_IMG_4894

Jody

web_Jody_forage_food_in_mouth_walk_YH_ek_IMG_3469

Missy

web_missy_relaxed_face_pr_dm_IMG_4415

Negra

web_Negra_sit_under_platform_eat_chow_GH_kh_IMG_4522

We are grateful to the sanctuaries who are caring for the Cle Elum Seven’s children, and hope that one day soon Levi, Kelsey, David, Heidi, and the hundreds of other chimps still in labs will find a sanctuary to call home.

Watching the sunset

by

Jamie has been really enjoying the slightly cooler fall evenings lately and has stayed out late pretty much every day this week! Staff (especially Katelyn and Elizabeth!) have been walking around the hill during these late evenings so much! Jamie normally heads in as the sun goes down, which this time of year is a quarter til 7 o’clock. However on Thursday night, she stayed out long past the sun went down and didn’t come inside until 7:30! Those walks were lit by just the moonlight. Thursday evening Katelyn got this photo from her phone which captured the moon shining down on Jamie.

Last night Jamie came in before it got really dark, but not before she contently watched the sun go down, while holding her current favorite boots.

web_jamie_late_evening_hug_boots_watch_sunset_sit_on_platform_forest_in_background_yh_dm_IMG_3898

web_jamie_late_evening_hug_boots_watch_sunset_sit_on_platform_yh_dm_IMG_3891

web_jamie_late_evening_hug_boots_watch_sunset_sit_on_platform_yh_dm_IMG_3892

web_jamie_late_evening_hug_boots_watch_sunset_sit_on_platform_yh_dm_IMG_3896

web_jamie_late_evening_hug_boots_watch_sunset_sit_on_platform_yh_dm_IMG_3902

Once the sun went behind the hills, she climbed down the platform and carried her boots in with her for the night.

web_jamie_walk_with_boots_yh_dm_IMG_3906

web_jamie_walk_with_boots_yh_dm_IMG_3907

But then she had to steal just one last glance at the sunset.

web_jamie_walk_with_boots_look_back_at_sunset_YH_dm_IMG_3910