J.B.

Power

February 7, 2014 by J.B.

It’s impossible to overstate just how much power Jamie has over the staff and volunteers at CSNW. Sometimes, as I walk up the driveway to the chimp house in the morning, I find myself saying a silent prayer to the chimp gods that she is in a good mood. And if she isn’t, I pray that her attention will be directed at someone other than me.

But the chimp gods don’t seem to hear me, because this is the face that often greets us.

Or worse, this:

This is when you know it’s going to be a long day.

My love and admiration for Jamie is limitless. She is brilliant and creative and brave. But she also possesses a thirst for power and control unlike anyone I have ever known.

In the normal course of life at the sanctuary, Jamie and I sometimes find ourselves disagreeing about what should be done. I think Foxie should be given a banana, Jamie does not. I think I should open the chimps’ door to the greenhouse, Jamie does not. I think I should be able to stand at the sink and quietly scrub the chimps’ toys, Jamie does not.

When Jamie disagrees, she makes sure she is understood. In fights with the other chimps, she usually wins simply by screaming louder and longer than anyone else, but she’s not afraid to get physical if need be. She makes her opinion known to her caregivers with a mouthful of water or a handful of feces. And let me tell you, I don’t care how strongly you believe in doing something…flying feces always has a way of making you reconsider.

This particular character trait is not something I would look for in a human friend (especially the feces throwing). But with Jamie, it makes me admire her even more. How on earth did someone so in need of control and power, so determined to be respected by humans and chimps alike, ever survive life in the laboratory?

There needs to be a chimp equivalent to the word “dehumanizing,” because that’s what life was for her. You could see it in her eyes when we first met her in the lab.

And if you couldn’t see it in her eyes, surely you couldn’t miss it tattooed across her chest.

When the chimps first came to the sanctuary, I was so excited. But I can barely look at those photos of her now. She looks so powerless.

I always wonder what the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees would be like if they had lived in the wild. If they had been raised by their mothers. If they had raised their own children. How much of the chimpanzees we know and love would we recognize?

I have a feeling Jamie would still have been a force to be reckoned with. I think it’s in her bones. But she would have been able to play by chimpanzee rules in a chimpanzee society, without ever knowing the indignity and humiliation of life in captivity.

To us, sanctuary is all about finding what each individual chimpanzee needs to be happy. And for Jamie, that’s easy…total and absolute power.

So if being grumpy makes her happy, that’s cool with us.

Happy Lunar New Year!

January 31, 2014 by J.B.

The CSNW party planners were at it again today, helping the chimps celebrate the first day of the Year of the Horse. Volunteers Patti and Stephanie brought decorations and food, as well as a special new toy for Burrito, and interns Larkin, Julie, and Whitney helped prepare for the party.

The festivities began in the playroom after cleaning. Jamie went right to work opening the “firecracker” gifts, and Missy inspected the decorations.

At lunchtime, the party moved to the greenhouse. Annie gathered snap peas from the party boxes.

Negra filled her mouth with eggplant, then added a crayon for good measure.

Thankfully, she saved a little for Foxie.

Jody seemed to enjoy the lemongrass. We weren’t sure if the chimps had ever had it before.

And Burrito was in his element. There is no purer form of happiness on this earth than Burrito with a mouthful of food. He started with the party boxes.

Then he foraged for chow in the straw.

He ended up with more food than he could hold on to. This made him even happier.

For Burrito and the rest of the Seven, it doesn’t matter what holiday they are celebrating. Any day is an excuse for new toys, good food, and the company of friends. And lucky for them, our volunteers provided all three!

A different view of the forage

January 17, 2014 by J.B.

We put the GoPro camera out on Wednesday to film some of the forage. I shouldn’t be surprised by anything the chimps do anymore, but I’m still amazed at how quickly they notice that the camera has been placed in its housing. You can’t get anything past them.

Another beautiful day

January 16, 2014 by J.B.

Today was yet another unseasonably warm day, and the chimps enjoyed another lunch forage on the hill.

Once they had found all the food, Missy and Jody went on a mission to find ice in the tire swings. Despite the warm weather, temperatures have been dropping to just below freezing overnight, leaving icy treats all over the hill in the morning.

Jody was the big winner.

Missy didn’t seem to mind too much – she had better things to do.

Later, part of the group spent time at the top of Young’s Hill, soaking in the sun and enjoying the view of the neighbor’s farm, the train tracks, and the river.

Lending a hand

January 10, 2014 by J.B.

We joke about Jamie being the boss of the sanctuary, but behind the scenes, it’s Jody that keeps this place running.

As I was putting this video together, it dawned on me that I has posted a similar video a few years ago. Just goes to show that some things never change.

In Memory of Dr. Mel Richardson

January 3, 2014 by J.B.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend, Dr. Mel Richardson.

Dr. Mel is and will always be part of the heart and soul of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. He joined the Board of Directors in the spring of 2008, prior to the chimps’ arrival, and was instrumental in developing the philosophy of care that guides us today. He continued to oversee the care of the Cle Elum Seven for the next five and half years with boundless love and unwavering dedication.

During his visits to the sanctuary, Dr. Mel won over the chimpanzees and humans alike with his southern charm. He welcomed phone calls from worried staff at all hours, which he handled with patience and understanding. His calmness and reassurance during uncertain times is something we will always appreciate. And his vast knowledge and decades of experience – from zookeeper to veterinarian to activist – made him one of the most trusted members of the organization.

If his easy smile didn’t immediately win you over, his countless stories surely would. He seemed to have lived multiple lifetimes, soaking up every bit he could, and he never stopped planning for the next adventure or the next opportunity to offer his expert but humble assistance.

Dr. Mel dedicated his life to helping animals, and he was especially committed to seeing formerly abused and neglected captive exotic animals thrive in sanctuaries. Remarkably, the health and happiness of the Cle Elum Seven are but one small part of his amazing legacy. From Rwanda to Cle Elum to Bolivia, he traveled across the globe to help animals in need.

The chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest are fortunate to have an amazing team of veterinarians dedicated to their care, and you can rest assured that they are left in good hands. But we will all feel the void that Dr. Mel has left, as we mourn the loss of a kind, courageous, and compassionate soul.

Thank you, Dr. Mel.