J.B.

Dora’s Got a Crush

July 9, 2021 by J.B.

Willy B must be feeling pretty good about himself these days, as he seems to be setting some of the new girls’ hearts a flutter. The first time they laid eyes on him, Dora and Rayne pant-grunted towards him and then turned to each other and hugged. And now, each time Willy B goes outside, Dora rushes to the greenhouse bench overlooking the courtyard to watch him.

For now, we are trying to regulate any close interactions between the groups, even ones that are consistent with our quarantine protocols, so that none of the chimps are able to direct dominance displays at any other individuals in particular (which could complicate potential future introductions if allowed to go on too long). The windows directly between the two areas they are currently separated into have been semi-permanently covered with thick plastic sheets and we’ll do the same to the cage walls dividing the playrooms and the greenhouses before quarantine ends and the groups live side by side. But there’s one area where two windows sit across a small mechanical room from one another and in there we simply covered one over in paper, meaning we can easily give the groups a peek at one another. So today we tried that. It was surprisingly mellow!

Mave, Willy B, and Honey B all came down to Front Room 7, the medical enclosure, to see what was going on.

They were greeted at the opposite window by Rayne, Gordo, and Dora.

As soon as Willy B approached the window, Dora stood up, smiled, and swayed back and forth. She had never been so close to him before. Terry joined her as well.

Cy then strolled in carrying one of his magazines.

Now we see what he’s been so interested in.

Lucky somehow missed out on today’s excitement but she’ll get a chance to see them soon enough!

The Terry and Cy Show

July 2, 2021 by J.B.

For their first 30 days here, our new arrivals will be in quarantine to protect the health of the chimps already at the sanctuary. In addition to keeping the groups physically separated, the staff must change scrubs, gloves, boots, and masks anytime they go between groups in order to prevent cross-contamination. To make life easier, we dedicate two staff members each day to work with the new guys while the rest of us care for everyone else. You can imagine how badly those of us not working with the Lucky Six want to pop over and say hello!

As it was not my turn today to work with the new group, I’ll have to share some photos I took the other day. I’ve been reminded a lot this week of when the Cle Elum Seven first arrived back in 2008. We were all so eager to get to know them, but whenever we tried to spend time with them there was one chimpanzee – Jamie – that hogged all of our attention. Likewise, as much as I’m dying to get to know Rayne, Lucky, Gordo, and Dora better, for me this whole week has been The Terry and Cy Show.

Terry enjoying some chewing gum:

Fun fact: Terry really wants to lick everyone:

Cy, the alpha of the group:

By the way, if you haven’t noticed already, Terry and Mave are brother and sister from another mother and mister. They even do the same “smoosh face”, wherein they greet you with their faces pressed up against the caging.

While Willy B has been putting on some of his best displays to make himself known to the chimps on the other side of the wall, Mave has offered up only the occasional recumbent pant hoot to back him up.

Thankfully, our record-breaking heat wave is over and we’ve returned to a seasonally appropriate level of too hot. But it is a relief in comparison and the chimps have been spending a little more time outside.

Foxie:

Missy and Annie:

Burrito:

Honey B’s Birthday Party

June 11, 2021 by J.B.

A very Happy Birthday to the one-and-only Honey B! As Orwell didn’t quite say: All animals are unique but some animals are more unique than others. And no one is more unique than Honey B.

And a very Happy Animal Sanctuary Caregiver’s Day, as well, to our friends and colleagues around the world and especially to our very own dedicated and caring staff and volunteers. The chimps and bovines couldn’t ask for a better crew.

Jamie tests the limits to see how far her caregivers will go to make her happy.

Don’t forget to join us for the Queen’s Brunch this Sunday!

Scenes From the Day

June 4, 2021 by J.B.

Sometimes I curse the invention of smartphones, but there’s something to be said about having a camera in your pocket at all times – especially when you spend your days with chimpanzees. So here’s a random collection of clips I recorded today.

While we’re at it, here’s a smartphone photo of Mave from last week.

The Many Uses of Fire Hose

May 28, 2021 by J.B.

Nicolas Santos, an 8th grade student at St. Luke School, recently collected fire hose for the chimpanzees. Nicolas’ parents, Erica (a former CSNW board member) and Enjay (a former CSNW volunteer), gathered up the family to help deliver it to the sanctuary.

The response to his project was so overwhelming that they had to rent a U-Haul trailer.

Already, Chad and I have began to hang some of it up in the new greenhouses, which are just weeks away from completion.

By the way – we’re very grateful to the donors who purchased the safety harness and lifeline from our wish list. Look at the view from up top! Just don’t look down.

As Nicolas mentioned in his flyer, chimpanzees use fire hose in a number of different ways.

They walk across it:

They climb across it:

They sit on it:

They swing on it:

They lounge on it:

They…do whatever this is:

Occasionally, they even wear it:

Thanks, Nicolas, for helping us enrich the chimps’ home! Honey B, Mave, Willy B, and the “Lucky Six” are going to love it.

In Between Storms

May 21, 2021 by J.B.

We’re enjoying another day of much-needed rain showers here in Central Washington. As I write this, the chimps have retreated into the playrooms to build nests or groom with friends while they wait out another storm. This morning, however, was sunny and warm and the chimps took the opportunity to get some exercise on the hill.

Foxie (in the lead), Jody, Missy, and Burrito

Missy with freshly picked goat’s beard dandelion

Table for One

May 14, 2021 by J.B.

As we opened up the hill this morning, the chimps scampered off in different directions.

They harvested plants from across the hill and stuffed their mouths with grass, dandelions, and prickly lettuce.

By the time breakfast was ready, the chimps were nowhere to be found.

With the exception of Negra, that is. So as we called and food grunted in vain to notify the others, Negra enjoyed her own private breakfast service in the greenhouse. I’m pretty sure she has been waiting for this moment her entire life.