Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

J.B.

In remembrance of Pat Trotta

by

This day of sanctuary was also sponsored in remembrance of Pat Trotta by a wonderful friend of the Cle Elum Seven, Wanda Trotta, and her family:

“A day in remembrance of Pat Trotta who when we visited the “7” a couple of years ago was also taken by them.  He, like Jamie, was a leader –  in his field of optics. He leaves an enormous hole in our lives but fills our hearts with a 1/0 of love.  Enjoy being whole again, Pat and we’ll see you soon.

We love you 1/0, The Trottas”

We’re so glad that the chimps touched your lives, and honored that you chose to remember Pat in this way. In memory of Pat, here’s Jamie, as she so often does, leading her family on a walk around Young’s Hill:

web_Jamie_foreground_Burrito_background_YH_jb__IMG_2779

At the center of everything

by

If you were to diagram the relationships between the chimps at CSNW, Foxie would be the one point at the center that connects everyone together.

She is by far the best friend that Jody has. The two like to take morning walks around Young’s Hill together and play gentle tickling and wrestling games while lying on their backs. When Jody is upset, Foxie is there to comfort her.

web_Foxie_with_troll_on_back_jody_walk_bamboo_YH_jb_IMG_4654

She is one of Missy’s favorite play partners, and one of the few that can keep up with Missy’s breakneck pace.

web1_Foxie big playface sock around neck Missy standing up_MG_8225

And while she got off to a rocky start with Annie, the two have come to understand each other better in the last couple of years and these days it’s not uncommon for them to play together or spend time with each other surveying the valley below Young’s Hill.

web_Foxie_and_Annie_on_platform_pasture_in_background_trolls_YH_jb_IMG_6529

Foxie is one of the only chimps that can get Jamie to let down her guard and play. If it weren’t for Foxie, Jamie would never get a break from being bossy. And that, frankly, wouldn’t be good for anyone.

web_Jamie_Foxie_play_playface_wrestle_PR_ek_IMG_2108

To be Negra’s friend, you have to learn to go at her speed. Foxie can groom quietly with Negra, but she also gets Negra to let loose once and a while. She does this by inviting her to play with big, exaggerated play gestures, knowing that she has to be clear with Negra and ensure that Negra still wants to play along at every step of the way. This gentle and understanding approach has really helped Negra come out of her shell.

web negra foxie groom cute greenhouse GH IMG_9848

And I don’t know where Burrito would be without his 90-lb bodyguard. Whenever Burrito gets himself into trouble, she is there, trolls in hand, and ready to place herself in harm’s way to defend him.

web_Foxie_troll_Burrito_walk_YH_jb_IMG_4405

Primatologists often refer to a primate’s political skills as “Machiavellian intelligence.” Chimps with a high level of Machiavellian intelligence are able to work social relationships to their advantage. They form alliances and exchange favors in an effort to climb the social ladder. If I didn’t know her better, I might think that Foxie is a Machiavellian genius, the way that she has won everyone over. But I don’t think she has a cynical or manipulative bone in her body. She just likes everyone and wants everybody to get along. And they, in turn, like her. How could you not?

Nature documentaries tend to focus on the alpha males, and in many human societies, we deify the powerful. But behind all the brash, dominant types hogging the spotlight, there’s usually someone like Foxie holding everything together.

If anyone deserves our admiration, it’s her.

web_Foxie_close_up_FR3_jb_IMG_2996

When Jamie says it’s time to walk

by

Jamie is a walking machine. All day long, she asks – OK, demands – for her caregivers to put on some cowboy boots and join her on patrol of her two-acre enclosure. How does a chimpanzee who doesn’t know sign language make such a complex demand? Part of it is that we just know Jamie well – over the years, we’ve figured out what she likes through a lot of trial and error and we’ve settled into a routine. But as you can see in this video, she also makes herself understood through a lot of pointing, gesturing, and stomping. And if you’ve ever visited another country and were forced to communicate through gesture (and maybe some stomping as frustration set in), you know that you can actually communicate a lot of information that way.

Jamie doesn’t care if we’re in the middle of something else, like cleaning enclosures or washing toys, when she asks.  When she wants to walk, we’re expected to drop everything and comply. But hey, you can’t say no to the boss…

Annie

by

Annie and Missy have been best friends for years.

web_Missy_annie_sit_on_log_bridges_YH_jb_IMG_3858

In fact, their friendship was evident during our very first visit to meet them in the laboratory. But the relationship wasn’t always equal. Missy has very clearly always loved Annie, but for Annie, it was more than love. For a time, she was completely dependent on Missy. She would become visibly anxious if Missy even started to play with another chimp. And when Young’s Hill was built, it made it possible for Missy to go off on her own and not even be within Annie’s sight. When that happened, Annie would sit at the bottom of the hill, rocking, and waiting for her friend to return safely.

Thankfully, Annie has grown more confident since then. These days, she seems totally content to sit on the hill by herself while Missy is off patrolling with Jamie.

web_Annie_log_bridge_look_at_mountains_YH_jb_IMG_3876

web_Annie_log_bridge_mountains_background_look_at_camera_YH_jb_IMG_3882

web_Annie_sit_structure_bamboo_YH_jb_IMG_3961

web_Annie_top_of_hill_look_at_camera_building_background_YH_jb_IMG_3905

web_Annie_sit_log_look_camera_YH_jb_IMG_3949

It seems that Annie has learned to navigate the world on her own, even if it’s only for ten minutes at a time.

A beautiful day

by

There’s just something about a warm, sunny day in the middle of winter that makes you appreciate the great outdoors a little bit more. Last Monday, as people all over the Pacific Northwest were putting on shorts and flip flops and laying out in the sun, the chimps were enjoying the day in their own way.

Jamie, Foxie, and Dora the Explorer:

web_Foxie_dora_on_back_Jamie_YH_jb_IMG_3394

web_Foxie_Jamie_dora_YH_jb_IMG_3368

web_Foxie_dora_on_back_Jamie_YH_jb_IMG_3402

Missy and Annie:

web_Missy_smile_wrestle_annie_YH_IMG_3307

web_Missy_play_punch_annie_YH_jb_IMG_3308

web_Annie_come_at_me_Missy_play_YH_jb_IMG_3309

Foxie:

web_Foxie_sit_platform_look_valley_YH_jb_IMG_3266

web_Foxie_on_platform_YH_circles_bamboo_jb_IMG_3247

Missy:

web_Missy_look_out_at_valley_YH_jb_IMG_3314

web_edit_Missy_sit_log_valley_below_YH_jb_IMG_3346

Running around the hill

by

It’s cold and foggy here in Cle Elum, but that didn’t stop Missy, Jamie, and volunteer Becca from going on a few walks this morning.

web_Jamie_Missy_walk_volunteer_becca_YH_jb_IMG_3073

Jamie likes to walk slowly and steadily, while Missy tends to run full speed until she catches up. Then she waits for Jamie and Becca to get ahead so she can run and catch up again.

web_jamie_missy_walk_with_volunteer_becca_YH_jb_IMG_3081

But there’s something about the last downhill stretch that gets everybody running…even Jamie.

web_jamie_missy_run_YH_jb_IMG_3091

web_Jamie_missy_run_YH_jb_IMG_3097

Missy is smooth and graceful when she’s running, while Jamie lumbers along awkwardly.

web_Jamie_run_YH_jb_IMG_3103

In fact, I sometimes worry that she’ll just run out of control with her head down until she crashes into the fence at the bottom of the hill.

web_Jamie_run_YH_jb_IMG_3104

But she always manages to stop.

web_Jamie_run_YH_jb_IMG_3111

And then it’s time to go around again.

web_Jamie_run_YH_jb_IMG_3110

Let it Snow (just this one time, then we’re ready for spring)

by

We haven’t really had much snow here in Central Washington this winter. This is sort of a mixed blessing for the chimps. On the one hand, the lack of snow allows them to spend more time outside during the winter, which is great. But on the other hand, snow to a chimpanzee is like an endless supply of food falling magically from the sky. And who wouldn’t want that?

web_Jamie_lick_snowcone_PR_dm_IMG_2581

Today we had the best of both worlds. We woke up to some fresh snow, which kept the chimps thoroughly enriched all morning. By afternoon, the snow was gone, and the chimps were back on the hill getting their exercise.

So that was fun. Now we’re ready for spring.