Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Happy Birthday, Akos!

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Today was sponsored by Dorottya Alpek for Akos Kery-Nagy on his birthday! Dorottya shared this message about today:

“Akos is the biggest chimpanzee fan ever since he was a little boy. Since the 14th of February is his birthday, this is my birthday present for him! We start our day and end our day checking the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest page to see the furry little chimps. They brighten up our day. We would love to thank you for your endless work for the chimps.”

Dorottya, thank you so much for sponsoring Akos’ birthday for him and the chimpanzees! It makes us so happy to know the chimpanzees have so many wonderful friends around the world.

Happy Birthday, Akos! All of the primates at CSNW wish you the best celebration yet! Thank you for caring about the chimpanzees and making a difference in their lives by sharing your day with them.

Burrito:

Morning solitude

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We continue to experience what feels like spring, just a much a colder version. There are moments when, much to my delight, I think it’s autumn. Despite this morning being in the low twenties, the hillsides are greening up, vines are sprouting, garden plans are swimming in our heads, and the trills of the red-winged black birds have been dipping and swirling across the pond and into the fields as they reclaim their place in this corner of the world. And it’s all happening at least a couple months early. But neither chimpanzees nor humans are complaining.

When I opened the hill up this morning the chimps marched out with purpose, each seemingly with the intent to find their own spot of sun and solitude.

Annie was the first one out:

Foxie, her Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Jody and Burrito headed up the hill together:

Foxie peeled off from the group with her dolls to head in another direction:

Missy took her chow from breakfast and raced past everyone to enjoy some privacy on a structure. But it wasn’t long before Foxie decided to join her (though I think she invited herself):

You can spot one of Foxie’s dolls on the post above her. Foxie often likes to put her dolls in precarious positions and then rescue them:

Foxie eventually decided to climb higher and join Missy:

Missy didn’t seem ready to give up her solitude as she quickly relocated:

Jamie was busy inside preparing for a walk around the hill, but to my surprise even Negra ventured out with her pine tree snack to enjoy the sun for a few moments. I love that the chimpanzees can each find solitude within whole, a space to be with one another, but apart, knowing they have each other to return to as soon as they’re ready.

Happy Birthday, Judy!

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Today was sponsored by Kathy Sorensen in celebration of her sister Judy Ford’s birthday!

“This is in honor of my sister Judy’s birthday. She has appreciated the souls of chimps for a long time. Last summer I brought her to the sanctuary and she loved it! I wish her a wonderful birthday!”

Kathy, thank you so much for including the chimpanzees in celebrating Judy’s special day! What a lovely gift for all primates involved! We’re so glad you were both able to make it out for our summer visit program.

Judy, we hope you have a beautiful birthday and so appreciate you helping to make a difference in the chimps’ lives! May your day be filled with all the things that make your heart sing!

Soul sisters, Annie and Missy:

In memory of Susan

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Jen and James Douglas have graciously been sponsoring this date for the past few years in loving memory of their dear friend, Susan von Beck Turner. Today is Susan’s birthday and a beautiful day to remember her legacy of compassion and care and the difference she made in the lives of so many dogs and humans. Learn more about Susan here.

Jen and James, thank you for honoring such a lovely human and all the good she brought to the world. Our thoughts are with you and Susan’s friends and family and we’re sending you all good thoughts for memories of comfort and joy.

Beautiful, beloved Annie:

Annie chin hair

Mysteries of the heart

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Foxie’s love of her dolls is an endless source of heart-melting joy, fascination and mystery to us. If you’ve been following the chimpanzees for awhile you are probably aware that Foxie’s love of her dolls (that we’re aware of) began shortly after the chimps’ arrival to the sanctuary in 2008 with her subsequent discovery of “Trixie” the troll doll. For several years, Foxie lived and breathed troll dolls and showed little to no interest in other dolls or forms of enrichment.

Then Dora the Explorer appeared on the scene and for reasons known only to Foxie, she was utterly smitten. Dora quickly raised through the ranks to join the status of the trolls. While we’ll never know what mysterious criteria Dora met, we were happy to see Foxie branching out with her interests. She became particularly enamored with France Dora. She definitely has a certain “je ne sais quoi” and to this day I think she remains Foxie’s most treasured of all the Dora dolls.

Fast forward a few years and Foxie branched out even further to include Dora’s friends:

It’s hard to resist wanting to interpret Foxie’s behavior with her dolls and in our curiosity to make guesses as to Foxie’s doll criteria, we thought maybe it was the combination of big hair and big eyes. Most recently she’s incorporated the new Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Big hair: check! Big eyes: check!

And then…Foxie threw us a curve ball by falling in love with the new old-style Strawberry Shortcakes. Big hair: meh, not so much. Big eyes: no, beady!

When Foxie adds another doll to her collection that doesn’t mean her trolls and Dora dolls lose their status. Her comfort level just seems to expand allowing her natural curious nature to investigate new things. And it seems her heart feels increasingly safer to let new experiences in. And we certainly know that our fellow animals experience the same emotions we humans do. That said, it’s tempting to read too much into Foxie’s behavior and it’s emotionally appealing and comforting for us to think her love for her dolls is all about a chance to be the mother she was never allowed to be to her four children she gave birth to in the labs who were stolen from her. After such incomprehensible trauma, it’s clear the dolls bring Foxie enormous comfort and joy and I think it’s safe to say she does engage in mothering behavior with them, but at the same time she often beats them up. And I mean beats.them.up!

And so as curious as we are and as well as we know Foxie, just as with any other person, we can never know for sure what she is thinking. Nor would we be so species-centric if you will, to assume. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter. Foxie is Foxie and her happiness doesn’t need definition. Nor does our love for her. Her happiness and well-being, that’s the only thing that’s our business.

It’s been a few weeks since Foxie has received a new Dora and when we surprised her with one a supporter had sent, it was evident that Dora’s still got it. Whatever “it” may be.

Happy Birthday, Jody!

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Today was sponsored by Chad DeBree, one of our wonderful student interns, in honor of his mother, Jody Sanchez, on her birthday! Chad shared this pretty amusing message:

“February 5th is my mother’s (Jody Sanchez) birthday. When I was first just thinking about interning/volunteering at CSNW, she went straight to the internet to learn more. Through her research into the sanctuary, she learned there was a chimpanzee named Jody, as well. From then on, she refers to Jody as my second mom, and scolds me if I refer to Jody by her name or Jo. If I tell her any story about Jody, I have refer to her as “Mama.” So now I have a Mommy and a Mama, which, personality-wise, they’re not that far off from each other.”

Chad, thank you for sharing your mother’s special day with the chimpanzees! We really appreciate all you do for the chimps. Your hard work makes a lasting difference in their day to day lives and helps provide a safe, comfortable and enriching home in which they can thrive and that means the world.

Happy Birthday, Jody! Jody Chimpanzee would probably have a lot of suggestions on how you should spent the day, but whatever you do we hope it’s a day full of joy, celebration and a full heart!

jody smelling rose

Happy Birthday, Sherry!

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The chimpanzees’ good friend, Sherry Berman, is celebrating her birthday today by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for them! Sherry has been a long-time supporter of the chimps and has made a lasting difference in their lives and we’re so happy to share in her special day. Sherry shared this message about her lovely gift:

“It is a double duty day…my birthday and Superbowl. Time for some celebrating for the fabulous 7. They bring me such joy on a daily basis from across the country so I would like them to celebrate along with me.”

Happiest of birthdays to you, Sherry! We couldn’t be happier than to share in your celebration and hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you so much for always holding the chimps in your heart and for all you do to help us care for them. We’re so grateful to you.

I think Missy plays in her own Superbowl every day:

missy bipedal with food

Missy running