Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Summer’s exhale

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The lush green of summer has melted into a golden reverie. Days are still warm, but early mornings and nights are decidedly cool, sometimes even goosebump inducing. Blooms have turned to berries, seeds are scattering in the wind along with feathers from empty nest boxes, and the remaining wild families are growing, juveniles bouncing between parent and independence. Summer’s exhale.

The chimps spent a long time exploring on the hill this morning after breakfast. Longer than I’ve seen for awhile. Climbing old haunts and investigating nooks and crannies. Annie and Burrito traversed the shaky bridges and just spent time enjoying, well, their time.

Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake:

Jamie:

Jody returned from her wild foraging adventures and sat in the raceway to Young’s Hill with her wildflower treat:

Meanwhile, back in the chimp house, Foxie!

Taking a break from cleaning:

Happy Birthday, Arlene!

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The celebration continues today of a weekend of sanctuary for the chimpanzees from their good friends, Michael and Arlene, in honor of Arlene’s birthday! It’s a good month to be born, right inbetween Foxie and Missy (who turns 43 this coming Thursday the 23rd)! We couldn’t be happier than to celebrate three such special souls.

Thank you again, Michael, for sponsoring this special weekend!

Arlene, we hope you have the most wonderful of days! From our tiny sanctuary in the Cascades, all the primates here are grateful knowing your beautiful heart is in the world. Happy Birthday!

The August birthday ladies, Foxie:

and Missy:

Happy Birthday Weekend, Arlene!

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The chimpanzees have the best friends! Michael has sponsored the entire weekend for the chimpanzees in celebration of his beloved wife, Arlene, for her birthday! He shared this beautifully touching message for her:

“To my best friend and my soul mate I love you dearly! Have a great birthday weekend! 

All my love forever, Michael.”

Michael and Arlene have wrapped their hearts around the chimpanzees and over the years have included them in their lives, celebrations and honoring of loved ones. We’re so grateful for all the love and compassion that surrounds these seven special beings and we’re thrilled to be part of a weekend of celebration of another special being.

Thank you so much, Michael, for including the chimpanzees in such a special time for your family and for the lasting difference you and Arlene make in their lives, expanding their lives and horizons more than they may ever have imagined.

And from our hearts to yours, happiest of birthdays yet to you, Arlene! All of us here are wishing you a weekend full of joy, beauty, and all that you most love. Exactly as you bring to the chimps’ lives.

Missy:

Negra:

Burrito:

Jamie:

Annie:

Foxie:

Jody:

The Rescue

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Foxie likes to place her dolls in precarious situations and then rescue them. Typically this has looked something like placing them in really high places and knocking them off and catching them, or tossing them in pokey bushes and reaching in to quickly pull them out. Of course she has to feel comfortable venturing to where they are and she doesn’t want any help from the humans. I remember watching her a few years ago when she discovered a couple troll dolls had been placed in a cardboard tube by the humans who thought she might enjoy it. She absolutely did not and was rather incensed that her dolls were in there because she wasn’t comfortable enough to reach in and get them out. Point taken, Foxie! Humans mind your own business!

But all of a sudden, for the first time we’ve seen, Foxie has been repeatedly sticking her dolls in a large cardboard tube the chimps currently have and then seemingly “saving” them. I watched her for some time in the greenhouse this afternoon as she repeatedly shoved the dolls in, gave the tube a good chomping (notice the end) and then pulled her dolls back out, hugging them close to her before inspecting to make sure they survived their ordeal. Whatever the reason Foxie chooses these activities, it’s another big step in comfort and courage for her after all years in her sanctuary home. And as she grows more and more courageous, I guess her dolls do as well.

Everyone was exhausted after that:

A bonus Jody photo! I’m not sure how this is exactly comfortable, but it’s classic Jody style:

Happy Birthday, David!

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Louise Burns sponsored today in honor of her boyfriend, David Prowse, on his birthday with the message that there is no better gift, than sponsoring the chimpanzees!

Louise, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees and making a lasting difference in their lives as a way to celebrate David on his special day! We so appreciate your support!

David, all of here at CSNW hope you have the best birthday yet! Thank you for adding to their lives by sharing your day with them!

Missy:

Jamie:

Jamie and Foxie:

Thank you, Amy!

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Amy Moore is sponsoring today in honor of the Pearl Jam “Home Shows” in Seattle today and Friday and wanted to include the chimpanzees in her celebration! Pearl Jam’s time in Seattle will be about even more than their much anticipated shows. They are known for taking a stand and lending their voices to increase awareness and support social justice projects and non-profit organizations all over the world and their time back home comes with the goal of banding together in a community wide effort to fight Seattle’s homelessness crisis. Pearl Jam and other community members are matching donations for the Home Fund up to $960,000. Over $11.5 million has already been raised which will be distributed to a variety of organizations working to help people move into stable housing and prevent homeless in the Seattle area.

Amy, thank you so much for sponsoring this special day of sanctuary! And afterall, who knows what the gifts of Hope, Love, Home and Sanctuary make possible for every individual better than the chimpanzees? Just as all living beings should be able to experience.

While many humans are migrating to the westside of the state for the shows, we’re here at the sanctuary celebrating Foxie as she turns 42 years young today! She spent the morning hanging upside down, laughing, playing chase with her doll and her caregivers, and slurping up her breakfast smoothie, the first of many today as Foxie LOVES smoothies! Friends of Foxie have also ensured that there are so many new dolls who will be in attendance at her party today so be sure to check back later for the festivities!