Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Diana

Items of Comfort

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I saw someone recently ask, I think on Facebook, about why Burrito often has a small piece of enrichment with him, either in his mouth or a hand. The truthful and simple answer to that question is we have no idea. It’s just a Burrito thing, like dolls are a Foxie thing, books and boots are a Jamie thing, and magazines are a Cy thing.

Maybe there’s something you have that just makes you feel more you or gives you a sense of comfort. Maybe you have a signature color or a certain style of clothing or a collection of raccoon figurines that people identify you by (no judgement here).

Why are we drawn towards the things we are? It’s a question for the ages (whatever that means).

It’s also a question that an exhibit a few years ago at Central Washington University’s Museum of Culture and Environment attempted to tackle, with the inclusion of “artifacts” from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. If they do a similar exhibit in the future, perhaps they’ll include an artifact left behind by Burrito too.

This phenomenon of signature “things” also points to the benefit, I would argue necessity, of having a large variety of enrichment that we give to the chimpanzees.

After rejecting all of the other enrichment objects that we offered when she first came to the sanctuary, Foxie found her thing (troll dolls). Now, it’s hard to imagine her without a doll of some sort. How wonderful that we were able to give her objects that have provided her with 15 years worth of joy that only she can truly understand.

Foxie gazing at troll

The following photos are from today of Burrito lounging in a windowsill with one of his more recent favorite things to carry in his mouth – it’s a piece of wood that he found when the Young’s Hill outdoor area was shifted and expanded.

You’ll often see Burrito with a toy hammer that has a plastic head and wooden handle or with a block of wood. I thought it was special that he found something on his own, rather than something that we chose for him to carry.

The photo at the top of the blog post is Burrito watching some drama unfold this afternoon amongst his neighbors. Enrichment comes in many forms, and watching the live “soaps” through the window is probably Burrito’s favorite enrichment activity of late.

 

 

HOOT! Excitement

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As you can see in today’s video, Jamie loved her HOOT! shoe book from 321 Foto!

And YOU are going to love this year’s HOOT! Fundraising Soirée and Mission Fair!

The event committee has cooked up fun and informative activities plus giveaways (like the tote bag below) for in-person guests.

There will also be appetizers a-plenty at the Sodo Park event in Seattle on September 9th.

If you are in the area, you will definitely want to attend in person event for all the goodies and to connect with fellow supporters, but this year we are putting a lot into the live streaming for virtual attendees at a distance who will be able to watch our HOOT! videos, hear from J.B. and myself, and donate in real time during the paddle raise.

We reduced the price of the event to make it more accessible to more people, and there’s just one week left at the early bird ticket price, so get your tickets now or reserve your virtual spot if you haven’t already!

Thanks to Concord Construction for being the HOOT! 2023 Soirée sponsor!

Thanks also to Martha Faulkner Real Estate for her booth sponsorship

and to Kathleen Corby for all of her graphic design work and problem-solving.

Life

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I’ve had this thought for awhile that is really just a vague notion in my head. More of a feeling, really. I haven’t been able to articulate it even for it to make a lot of sense to me, but I going to give it a try. Maybe someone who reads the blog can take the notion and form it into something more solid and eloquent.

Our sanctuary if fortunate to have loyal and long-term supporters. People who have been following the stories of the chimpanzees for years. People who feel a genuine connection to the individuals in our care. This blog, as we’ve said many times, is a labor of love. It helps us process events, articulate feelings and ideas (sometimes poorly, like now), and share the personalities of the sanctuary residents in a personalized way. It’s been a gift for me, and I’m so grateful for those who tune in – whether on an everyday basis or just from time to time.

I often wonder what it is that keeps people engaged, including myself.

I think it’s because what we really write about and share is just… life. Life, with it’s ups and downs, challenges and celebrations. In life you never know what the next moment will bring.

We have the unique privilege of seeing and sharing life through the lens of these amazing beings who are so incredibly resilient, who surprise us every day and help us grow and understand our own lives from a different perspective.

That’s it. It’s a simple idea, but somehow profound in my mind.

Here’s Rayne climbing to the top of Ryan’s lookout with Gordo below early this morning:

 

Today, we put out a few buckets with watered down Gatorade as part of the forage on the hill. Foxie went right for a bucket and drank it in one sitting:

Missy did the same:

 

While Foxie, Missy, and their group were foraging on Young’s Hill, Rayne, Lucky, and Gordo were hanging out watching them on the Bray:

Faces and Stories

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First, a story. Or, rather, a continuation of a story about the budding at-a-distance relationship between Foxie and Gordo that Kelsi mentioned the other day.

Today, I was in charge of shifting on the original side of the building where Foxie’s group lives.

Volunteer Patti was on top of her game, and we were done cleaning with time to spare before lunch. Volunteer Ryan and I set up a lunch forage on Young’s Hill.

Ryan was very ambitious and climbed on top of Jamie’s lookout to put some food up there. Burrito, Missy, and Annie had a lovely picnic atop the lookout. Here’s Burrito:

As I was taking photos and watching the chimpanzees gather food, I kept hearing Foxie start to pant hoot. It seemed like odd circumstances for her to be pant-hooting, though not unprecedented. She finally did a little display and let out a loud pant-hoot, all the while still gathering food.

A few minutes later, Ryan pointed out that someone had come out onto the Bray. I’m still not used to both groups being out at the same time, since we’ve only been doing this for a few days. Foxie seemed quite aware that there was someone in the adjacent outdoor habitat.

Then I heard Grace on the other side of the building calling for Gordo. She and Patti were serving Gordo’s group inside, and Gordo had evidently disappeared before getting all of his lunch. All alone, he had climbed up on the Escher structure and was looking towards Young’s Hill. I can’t say for sure, but it’s possible he had heeded the call of his new love interest.

 

Now for some faces in familiar expression.

Rayne:

This is a very familiar Rayne pose, with her hand supporting her chin:

Mave:

Mave often has asymmetrically pursed lips:

Terry, looking uncharacteristically intimidating?:

Here’s his more familiar relaxed expression:

I don’t know if we’ve mentioned it before, but Terry has a bit of a tic or habit of turning his head from side to side. It’s hard for me to describe in words. Maybe you’ve seen it in previous videos of him. I happened to catch a photo of him in mid head turn:

I really enjoy knowing the chimps and their quirky mannerisms so well.

Good Advice from Burrito & Honey B

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There are times when Burrito and Honey B take themselves very seriously, maybe Honey B more than Burrito these days, but they both have a lightheartedness that is admirable and contagious.

My takeaways from these clips:

Burrito doesn’t need an audience – he can crack himself of up at any moment.

Just look at the delight that Honey B’s friends/family react with when she is showing the jovial side of her personality. Everyone was on board!

It’s a good lesson for all of us.

 

Honey B’s 34th Birthday Party Celebration!

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Happy 34th Birthday to Honey B! We are so delighted to be caring for and celebrating Honey B, a mischievous chimpanzee who always keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh. She had a good day today filled with her favorite things.

Thank you to Paulette for sponsoring Honey B’s birthday!

This is how Honey B ended her day, all tucked in the cubby:

for the caregivers!

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Today is Animal Sanctuary Caregivers Day – a day to honor the hard work that sanctuary caregivers do every day.

J.B. and I would like to give a huge thanks to all of the caregivers at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, including current staff caregivers (all of whom contribute to this blog among their other varied duties!): Katelyn, Anna, Kelsi, Chad, Grace, Jenna, Sofía, and Sabrina; current Level III volunteer caregivers: Lizz, Keri, Elizabeth, Patti, Lisa, Anthony, Courtney, Krissy, and Dusty, and to all of the interns, volunteers and former staff and volunteer caregivers!!

Since expanding the sanctuary and welcoming the Wildlife Waystation chimpanzees over the last few years, we have also expanded the number of paid caregiving staff. This was necessary to properly care for the chimpanzees, but has also been a boon to the sanctuary because each person who has worked here brings their own unique ideas, experience, and perspective that help improve the care of the chimpanzees and bovines and advance the sanctuary in so many ways.

Caregiving is not an easy occupation physically or emotionally, and it takes a special kind of person to do this work. Burnout and compassion fatigue are serious issues amongst sanctuary caregivers, so it’s important that they know how valued and appreciated they are.

We are incredibly lucky to have this crew of talented and caring humans that have chosen to work for the sanctuary and have embraced the difficult aspects of the job along with the joyous moments.

Thank you all. We love you!

 

Katelyn with Dora:

 

Anna with Foxie:

 

Kelsi with Negra:

 

Chad with Burrito:

 

Grace with Cy & Lucky:

 

Jenna with Jamie:

 

Sofía with Nutmeg:

 

Sabrina with Lucky: