Diana

Today is for Mitzi

April 2, 2016 by Diana

You have to read this. It warmed my heart when Arlene made a sponsor-a-donation yesterday to honor the memory of “Gram Mitzi.” Here is the message she included for the day:

Last Monday, my husband’s Grandmother passed away. She had just turned 100 at the end of January. Mitzi was a beautiful woman who had an amazing life. She traveled the world with her husband, assisted him with several businesses, took flying lessons and even rode a dirt bike. Their life was not without hardships however, but she continued to persevere. She had a big heart and a great love for animals. She supported many animal causes. That is why I would like to sponsor today in her memory. She was the matriarch of the family. In many ways, Queen Negra reminds me of Mitzi. She was a strong woman who had no problem letting you know where she stood, but she had a softer side as well, under that tough exterior. Gram Mitzi – you are missed!

Here are a few photos of Negra to honor Mitzi and to thank Arlene for sharing a bit about her larger than life personality with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters by sponsoring today in Mitzi’s memory.

A Study in Annie Chimpanzee

March 26, 2016 by Diana

Chimpanzees are not known for being delicate, but Annie somehow manages to be graceful and elegant, particularly when she is having a quiet moment to herself.

Missy’s Green Pepper Play

March 19, 2016 by Diana

The chimpanzees have had many bell peppers donated from a local grocery store lately, so today we did an exciting whole pepper forage on the hill!

Missy made a play for two of the peppers:

Jody made an attempt to force a turnover:

But Missy drove to the end zone:

Once the play was complete, she checked for injuries:

And then sat back and enjoyed her touchdown:

This post was inspired by one of the new personalized stones that is part of the Dr. Mel Richardson Memorial Walkway!

Thanks Jordan Hill!

Chimps and Dolls

March 12, 2016 by Diana

Chimpanzees are powerful, intelligent, adaptable, and sometimes aggressive wild animals. They do not belong in people’s homes as pets. They do not belong on training compounds used for television shows, music videos, movies and advertisements.

They belong in equatorial Africa where they live in large social groups, foraging and hunting their own food.

When that’s not possible, when where they belong has been taken away, and when they have been born into and grown up in captivity, a sanctuary is the best option for them. And sanctuary means taking the individual chimpanzees on their own terms and letting them find things they enjoy – things that may be very far from the image of the wild animals who they are.

For Foxie, that means dolls. It’s not that she is like a human child, or even that she’s using the dolls as substitute children (though maybe that’s part of it, given her history). Foxie has found something she likes, something that entertains and comforts her.

Foxie is still very much a powerful, intelligent, adaptable, and sometimes aggressive chimpanzee.

And Jamie too. I can’t imagine too many things more silly than a troll scarf, but Jamie manages to wear a troll scarf while at the same time projecting the strong chimpanzee that she is.

Guest Photographers

March 5, 2016 by Diana

Today is GORGEOUS at the sanctuary! I went up to take a few photos from on top of the visitor observation deck while the chimpanzees were traveling to the top of the hill, and I remembered that I had not yet shared photos taken by last year’s Photograph the Chimps winners from the HOOT! gala!

Before I share some of those photos, I have two questions for all potential HOOT!-goers this year:

1st – do you have your tickets yet?!

2nd – would you like a chance to bid on a photograph the chimps experience again this year? We’ve had it for two years in a row, and I’d hate for things to get old, so let me know! Maybe there’s another kind of experience at the sanctuary that you would like to bid on instead?

Professional photographers / photojournalists Karen Ducey of Animal News Northwest and Dean Rutz of the Seattle Times generously donate their expertise and equipment for these experiences.

The first winners last year were Jim Keller and CeeCee McCray:

It was difficult to choose among the many great photos that they took, but here are a few. The three below were taken by CeeCee.

Annie:

Foxie:

Missy (this is probably my favorite, because it’s just so Missy):

And the three below were taken by Jim.

Annie:

Jamie:

Jody (just checking to see if there was any food up there – you never know!):

Big, big thanks to Karen & Dean, Jim & CeeCee for giving generously and being all around great people! Kathy & Alice Rose were the two other winners of this experience, and I will share some of their photos soon too.

To Be Known

February 27, 2016 by Diana

This blog is a true labor of love.

It is satisfying, on a frivolous and somewhat shallow human-level, to have people like our posts and make comments. But in the world of the chimpanzees in our care, it’s a big part of their second chance in sanctuary.

To be known and respected and loved is what they deserve; what they’ve always deserved.

Sharing posts and hitting that “like” (or now maybe the “love” emoji) on Facebook may seem like a small act, but this is what allows more people to grow to understand and appreciate not just the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, but chimpanzees as a species. It’s what allows hearts to grow and minds to change.

Sharing this post, these photos of Jamie, and taking the time to learn about the amazing and interesting person that she is, gives Jamie power.

Even though there’s no way to explain it to her, we know she would appreciate that there are people out there who have never met her who truly admire who she is, as she is. She would expect no less.