Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Today is in honor of Lucinda Almy-Hamilton

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Michael Hamilton in honor of Lucinda Almy-Hamilton! Michael shares that Lucinda is an anthropologist with a keen interest in non-human primates.  Each year Lucinda shares her passion for the chimps with so many of her students and we truly appreciate her contributions to furthering the awareness of these special individuals and issues primates face with so many future generations of humans.

Michael, thank you for always thinking of the chimpanzees as you celebrate Lucinda! We appreciate all you both do to bring comfort, joy, and hope to the chimps’ lives.

Lucinda, we hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you so much for all you do for the chimps and to open the minds of so many others about the unique and special individuals they are.

Jamie is a woman of many interests. Her strong and beautiful mind is an never-ending landscape of possibility:

Who is that?!

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If you’ve been following the blog for awhile you’ve probably seen us frequently writing about various aspects of safety and security. Things like the fact that we never enter an area that the chimpanzees have access to, the importance of clearly identifying each chimpanzee and which areas they do have access to all, as part of our safety checks before we enter an area we need to clean. (Diana mentioned chimp ID in a recent blog post as part of the training our Level II and III volunteers and interns go through.)

Of course the chimps don’t give two hoots (no pun intended) if we can identify them when we need to or not. We often have to twist and turn and climb and crawl and contort into all manner of positions in an attempt to positively identify each person. Many times all we might be able to see is an ear, a finger – or maybe a bum and some toes – so it can be a challenge to gain a better view.

For example, any ideas who this is?

As a disclaimer and if you’re new to the blog you are going to see the chimps behind caging in some of the following photos and it may appear they are limited to a small cage. The chimps tend to seek out small, cozy corners to nest in (don’t most of us?) and are often up against the caging so we can’t always get close enough to get a photo or to get one safely. And the reality is, the chimpanzees are captive beings, no matter how much space and light we provide through the designs of their enclosure, it is just that, an enclosure. While none of us like to see the chimps behind caging, it’s a reality for their safety as well as ours. And keep in mind they have 1800 square feet of open enclosure with stairs, a catwalk, bridges, ledges, fire hoses, a green house with tiered platforms and their beloved 2-acre outdoor enclosure, Young’s Hill.

We never identify a chimpanzee based on what items they may or may not have with them, but they definitely give us some clues. Any ideas who the following people are?:

The chimp house was SO quiet and peaceful and the only sound in the greenhouse was the rain falling on the roof. It’s not super common to have everyone sound asleep at the same time so I tried not to disturb anyone with my photo taking. But as quiet as I tried to be, nothing, and I mean nothing, gets by chimpanzees so it wasn’t long before a couple people began waking up to see what I was doing (I would tell you who is in the next three photos, but I don’t want to give away the above photos!):

Foxie was sound asleep on the floor of the front rooms, but despite my tactic of lying on my belly and crawling to sneak up to her, well, you see how that went.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Elliott Sumers!

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Anne Sumers sponsored this day of sanctuary in honor of her husband, Dr. Elliott Sumers, to celebrate his birthday! Anne shared this special message about today:

“Dr. Elliott Sumers is very fond of all the chimpanzees at the Sanctuary, and enjoys reading about the enrichment activities of Annie, Burrito, Jamie, Jody, and all the others as they enjoy the outdoors, playing with each other, and food treats. It makes Elliott very happy that the chimps have such a loving, good place for them to live, and that they have each other!”

Anne, thank you so much for your generous and compassionate gift for the chimpanzees and for wanting to share your husband’s special day with them.

We made a cake in Elliott’s honor yesterday for the chimpanzees. It’s probably not the kind of cake most humans would enjoy, but we’re betting the chimps like it!

elliott cake

 

Dr. Sumers, all of the primates here wish you a wild rumpus chimpanzee kind of celebration! Thank you for helping to fill the chimps’ lives with the joy, comfort, and family they are thriving in. Happiest of birthdays to you!

 

Jamie and Foxie:

Annie and Missy:

Annie Missy best friends

Negra play-biting Missy’s toes:

Jody in forage heaven:

Jody close-up forage queen

Burrito in a blanket!

Together:

Foxie and Jamie:

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Happy Birthday, Stanley!

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by one of our wonderful chimp family members, Jamie Reagin, in honor of her dad, Stanley Friedman, on his birthday! Happy Birthday, Stanley!

It always makes us so happy to have the privilege to share in honoring our supporters and their loved ones. Each of our supporters contributes to the chimpanzees’ lives and well-being in a myriad of ways, all playing a vital role in making a lasting difference in the chimps’ lives. And Jamie is one of several generous souls who are akin to having Amazon Wishlist fairy godmothers, who generously keep the chimp house stocked with all the things (fun and not so fun) that the humans need to keep the chimps happy and healthy, and their home running smoothly.

Jamie, thank you for sponsoring today for your dad and for all you do to help care for the chimps! We are so happy to be able to celebrate with you all today!

Stanley, all of us here at CSNW wish you the happiest of birthdays! We hope you have a wonderful day! The chimps are pretty big partiers and celebrate life in a variety of ways so in case you need any ideas on how to spend your special day, here are a few from the chimps:

Boss lady, Jamie, putting her feet up and relaxing:

Burrito, of course:

Foxie enjoying a smoothie:

A Missy adventure:

missy holding snow

A Jody adventure:

Annie and friend, Foxie:

Negra nesting in the sun:

In memory of Susan von Beck Turner

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Each year on this date a day of sanctuary is sponsored by Jennifer and James Douglas, in memory of their dear friend, Susan von Beck Turner, on her birthday. Susan is held in the hearts of those who loved her and cherished for the difference she made in the lives of so many humans and dogs. We are so happy to celebrate Susan’s life here at the sanctuary each year and honored to be part of witnessing the difference she continues to make. What a beautiful legacy.

Jennifer and James, thank you so much for choosing to remember Susan by including the chimpanzees in all the lives she’s made, and continues to make, better. We so appreciate all you do to ensure such a kind and loving spirit remains in the world. Our thoughts are with you and Susan’s family and friends today and we wish you all a day of comfort, joy and love as you celebrate her life.

Beloved Missy:

Jamie above, Missy below:

Annie (left) and Missy (right):

Missy standing on bar

 

Remembering a friend

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Nicki Walters in memory of her husband, Bill Walters. Nicki and Bill have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we’re honored to celebrate Bill and the difference he made in life. In fact, we are privileged to celebrate the difference his life made here at the sanctuary every day. Nicki shared this special message about Bill:

“We lost Bill last year in July but not before he got to see in person the amazing Twister & the beloved Chimps playing on it. Missy was first up! It all started by sponsoring a day in honor of his Birthday, that ended up spreading to last more days. He loved animals and life and is very missed but knowing a tribute that benefits the magnificent 7 named after him with his nickname truly provides peace and happiness to all who loved him. This is a tradition that will continue on. He loved what all of you do, thank you for helping to give him so many bright spots on the dark days with your incredible posts and to all who made the Twister possible.”

Nicki, thank you so much for choosing to honor and celebrate Bill’s memory with the chimpanzees. All of us here at CSNW hold you and your loved ones in our thoughts and hearts.

I believe most of us have the desire to somehow say we were here, to mark our time and to know that our life made a difference – that we left the world a better place for having been here. The possibilities are as far-reaching and unique as each one of us. And I think all of us will leave having made differences we will never be aware of. But for seven chimpanzee people who live on a hillside outside a small town in eastern Washington, Bill and his loved ones made a difference which will continue to ripple throughout all their days forward.

The chimps’  first inspection of the Twister:

Missy, first to the top!

Bill and Nicki watch the unveiling:

Annie and Missy playing chase underneath:

Jamie keeping watch over her home from under her beloved crow’s nest:

Foxie and Dora on an adventure:

Burrito’s courage:

Jody:

Missy (top) and Annie (below):

Annie and Missy top of Twister

The Twister quickly became an important part of Jamie’s daily routine territory checks. Weather permitting, it’s the first place she heads each morning and the place she ends her day…or in many cases, her evening:

Jamie on Twister dusk