Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Diana

Burrito in Recovery

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Today was Burrito’s big dentist’s appointment. A month ago, after we noticed he had fractured a lower canine tooth, he had an initial exam to help determine the course of action and his ability to withstand anesthesia. You can read about that exam in this blog post written by J.B.

The echocardiogram from his first procedure showed some cardiac disease, as expected, and confirmed that the treatment we have had him on for the last three years was appropriate.

Today, we owe a debt of gratitude to the chimps’ local veterinarian Erin Zamzow and tech Amanda Carner, veterinary dental surgeon Loic Legendre, his intern Adriana Regalado and veterinary technician Barbara Boyle, nurse anesthetist Kurt Smudzinski, CSNW volunteer Rebecca Smudzinksi, and the staff and volunteers who came as support crew. And we are so grateful to everyone who helped us fundraise for the clinic, allowing the chimpanzees to receive medical treatment at home.

One thing that we’ve learned about Burrito with these past two procedures is that he can tolerate A LOT of sedative and anesthetic drugs. Once he was finally completely sedated, he was in the skilled hands of the veterinarian team. The canine tooth that was recently fractured was extracted, and a front tooth that had been broken for some time was also pulled after reviewing x-rays taken on the spot.

Burrito tooth extraction

Right now, he has a whole circle of compassionate people watching over him (we feel your concern and caring too!)

compassion circle

Based on his quick bouncing back last time, we have no doubt that he’ll be back to his usual self, toy in mouth, with the girls in no time… just with two fewer teeth.

Burrito with toy in mouth

Burrito with blue stick in mouth

Burrtio with toy in mouth

Burrito with block in mouth on YH

If you’d like to add your support for Burrito and crew, we have a wishlist full of a variety of needed things that you can gift to the sanctuary, and / or you can make a donation in Mr. B’s honor. Thank you for all of your support!

 

Chimpanzee Tool Use and Jamie’s Smartness

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We all know by now that chimpanzees are really smart. And, if you are familiar with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, you know that boss Jamie chimpanzee often shows off her intellect. Sometimes she even impresses those of us in the know, however.

Case in point: the other day I was doing a perimeter walk with Jamie and she turned back to gather two big tumbleweeds. At first I wasn’t sure what she was doing – she doesn’t usually pick up tumbleweeds on our walks. Plus they were rather awkward to carry. They kept slipping out of her hand as they scraped against the ground, but, each time, she would pick them back up and continue the walk.

Jamie gathering tumbleweed

At one point she stood up bipedally and put one of the tumbleweeds in her mouth for easier carrying. She also took a good long look at the boots I was wearing, and I became clued in to her plans.

Jamie bipedal with tumbleweed

When the walk was complete, I met her and her tumbleweeds in the greenhouse. Jamie pulled up the big black tub to sit on.

Jamie altering tumble weed

And then she proceeded to alter one of the tumbleweeds to her liking:

Once she was satisfied with her tool, she pushed it through the caging and began to groom the boot I was wearing (which, of course, she had picked out prior to our walk).

Jamie grooming boot

Imagine the forethought that it took for her to go through the process of seeing an unruly tumbleweed well before the walk was finished to the grooming session that she imagined would happen minutes later. She’s one smart cookie!

The inevitable march of time

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The summers at the sanctuary begin with the grass and plants an almost unnatural neon green. The plant life boastfully emerges from the earth looking impossibly fresh. The photos we take during this period are beautiful with the chimpanzees’ dark hair contrasted against the bright green of the grass on Young’s Hill.

Foxie:

Foxie in the green grass

 

Jody with some wild plant she’s harvested:

Jody in the green grass

 

This period of lush green that comes on so strong, holding the promise of electrified life, sometimes feels like a fleeting moment. As soon as summer begins, the precipitation seems to come to a halt. The grasses release their seeds and begin to fade, but they remain tall and the chimpanzees can hide and explore in this more wild landscape.

Jody:

web_Jody_sit_tall_grass_profile_yh_dg_IMG_2354

 

Missy:

web_Missy_stand_bipedal_tall_grass_hidden_yh_dg_IMG_2426

 

Annie:

Annie walking in the tall grass

Annie profile walking in tall grass

 

Jamie in the foreground, Missy in the background:

Jamie and Missy walking in the tall grass

 

Jamie:

Jamie in the tall grass

 

With the threat of wildfire that arrives each summer, and to allow the chimpanzees to navigate the hill a bit easier, we (meaning J.B.) mows pathways that turn to amber streaks across the fading but stubborn green grass.

 

Annie (taken today):

Annie standing tall grass

 

Negra collecting her lunch from a forage set out on the hill (taken today):

Negra forage

Negra mouth full of food

 

While the rich and deep green of early summer imparts a contagious sense of renewed life, there’s definitely a beauty with the changing landscape of each season. Just as the grass turns gold, the established bamboo plants along the irrigation lines have produced ambitious shoots that leaf out and offer greenery for many more months, which Jody clearly appreciates:

Burrito and Jody with bamboo

 

There’s something for every season, and I think that the chimpanzees appreciate what this sanctuary environment has to offer year-round. Yes, even as the seasons inevitable progress into winter:

Jody eating snow

 

Fun on the 4th

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What a day! The chimpanzees had a terrific 4th of July, starting with a party in the morning, set up by caregiver volunteers Patti and Connie and new staff member Anna.

Here are just a few party photo selections.

Burrito licking a smoothie shot glass clean:

Burrito with shot glass

Jamie managed to get both of the piñatas:

Jamie rocket wreckage

Jamie with star pinata

 

But she shared with Missy:

Missy with star pinata

 

After we finished cleaning the playroom, Patti and Connie put some ice and pomegranate juice in the pool. Jamie dragged the pool around with her as she foraged for the kale that was also thrown about the room, then she and Jody settled in for some ice eating, with other chimps coming by once in a while. Jamie would pick up the ice with her hands, put it in her mouth, dry off her hands, then repeat.

Jamie eating ice and drying her hand

 

Today was our first summer visit day, led by J.B., so we put out a forage on the hill for lunch that included pea shoots from the sanctuary garden, harvested by caregiver volunteer Denice who dropped by just to say hello and do a little gardening. The pea shoots were a hit, as was the corn. It was another hot day, so most of the chimps gathered food from the hill and brought it in to the cooler greenhouse for leisurely snacking.

 

Jody:

Jody carry pea tendrils

 

Annie:

Annie eating corn and pea tendrils

Annie eat corn and pea tendrils

It wasn’t long before Jamie wanted to go back out on the hill to explore and look for more food, and she asked me to tag along after I put on her new pair of favorite boots.

She explored the hill as though it were an obstacle course, definitely appreciating the freedom she is able to have in her sanctuary home:

Jamie walking on fire hose bridge

 

This is the new shaky bridge that connects the two towers:

Jamie walking across the new tower shaky bridge

 

Meanwhile, Burrito took a nap in the playroom:

Burrito sleeping

 

Dinner included a pretty special treat for everyone – Field Roast frankfurters!

 

Foxie:

Foxie with hot dog

 

Jody:

Jody with Field Roast frankfurter

 

Missy:

Missy eat Field Roast frankfurter

 

I didn’t get any good photos of Negra today, but maybe that’s okay, since she was the star of yesterday’s blog post.

 

We hope you all have a great and safe 4th of July!

 

Jamie enjoying corn

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Unbeknownst to both me and Jamie at the time, together we produced some photos today that are worthy of advertising the Corn Growers Association of America (if there is such a thing):

Jamie profile

Jamie eating corn 1

Jamie eating corn 2

Jamie eating corn 3

Jamie eating corn 4

Jamie eating corn 5

Take Action Tuesday: Help Chimpanzees in Liberia

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Take Action Tuesday banner

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is part of a coalition of organizations working to help 66 chimpanzees who had been left to starve on a small group of islands in Liberia. Many of them were used for decades in biomedical testing by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), who suddenly pulled their financial support for their care this spring.

Some of the chimpanzees were captured from the wild and many were used for hepatitis testing just like the Cle Elum Seven went through. The NYBC financially benefited from the research they conducted using these chimps. After determining that the chimpanzees would no longer be used in research, they released them onto islands near the laboratory where they rely on a water supply maintained by humans and require food to be brought to them.

Our role is to help spread the word about this issue in order to ensure that the NYBC restores funding. Their actions have been unconscionable, and they have not communicated a plan to save these chimpanzees who are dependent upon humans for their survival. One of the few public statements they have made, via PR representative Victoria O’Neill in this New York Times article is, “We never had any obligation for the care of the chimps, contractual or otherwise.”

In addition to the hardheartedness of this statement, it contradicts previously made public statements by NYBC representatives that acknowledged their responsibility to these chimpanzees and their commitment to their lifetime care.

We, along with coalitions members headed by the Humane Society of the United States, are urging the NYBC to reinstate funding immediately and discuss a long-term solution with animal protection groups and chimpanzee experts.

The New York Blood Center is a nonprofit organization, however they are not hurting for funding. Their CEO makes $1.2 million per year, and they have $450 million in assets with a total income of $407 million last year alone.

 

There are three ways that you can help TODAY:

 

1. Sign this petition asking the NYBC to reinstate funding.

 

2. Donate toward the immediate care of the chimpanzees. These emergency funds will be distributed for food, water, and other supplies as well as to those on the ground working to ensure that these chimpanzees receive the care they deserve.

 

3. Spread the word far and wide! Social media is a powerful tool – please share this information with all of your networks.

 

Chimpanzees eating fruit
Photo from May of chimpanzees eating fruit delivered to them by a human caregiver. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal
Fruit on its way to the chimpanzees
Caregivers loading a boat with food to deliver to the chimpanzee islands. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal