Katelyn

In honor of the Cle Elum 7!

December 24, 2016 by Katelyn

This Christmas Eve was sponsored for the Cle Elum 7 by friends and advocates of not only the chimps, but all our fellow animals, Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor! Kery and Terran give so much of their time and hearts to advocating for the well-being of animals and creating a compassionate world community. We are thrilled to start off almost a full week of sponsorships and celebration with their generous gift for the chimpanzees.

Kery and Terran, thank you so much for all you do to make the world a kinder, gentler, safer sanctuary for us all, especially for those who are most in need of it. Thank you for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts:

Annie (bottom) and Missy (top):

Burrito:

Foxie and Dora:

Master Forager, Jody:

Negra picking wild lettuce:

And Jamie, Queen of her world:

Staff and volunteers have been like elves in the chimps’ workshop these last weeks processing all the incredibly generous and compassionate gifts pouring in for the chimpanzees, not only for the holidays, but for an even brighter future. From our hearts, thank you. Thank you. You have all given the gift of sanctuary and we are profoundly grateful to you.

However, you choose or don’t choose to celebrate this time of year, all of us here at CSNW wish you holidays and a season full of joy, hope, comfort, kindness, beauty and gratitude. Be sure to check in for the chimpanzees’ Christmas extravaganza tomorrow and have a magical Christmas Eve!

Happy Solstice!

December 21, 2016 by Katelyn

With an entire day of sunshine and at least “warmer” temps in the forecast on this first day of our winter solstice, we started the day with the plan to get the chimps onto Young’s Hill! J.B. fired up the plow and made pathways all around the chimps’ outdoor enclosure and Anna shoveled her heart out in this wet, heavy snow to create connecting pathways:

Jody was the first to venture out and you can see by sneer on her face, it was still pretty chilly. But she was content to spend quite a bit of time just sitting in the bright sun, taking in the winter wonderland her home has become:

Foxie ventured out next and grabbed a snow snack before heading back inside the greenhouse to enjoy it:

Beautiful Annie just sat serenely in the sunny raceway (the tunnel that connects the greenhouse to Young’s Hill) seemingly taking in this beautiful first day of winter in awe:

Later in the morning after it warmed up a bit, several of the chimps decided to venture out and head up the hill on their snowy paths. They made it all the way to Twister before heading back down! Jody, Missy, Annie and Jamie (at base of Twister):

Missy, Annie, Jamie, Jody:

Annie follows bipedally behind Missy and Jody:

Jody foraging for snow on the way back inside:

Jamie, looking so happy to be back in her element, patrolling her beloved hill:

The other girls headed back inside, but Jamie wasn’t done checking out her territory. She ventured down every path that J.B. plowed, eventually climbing up Negra’s cabin to take in the view:

Once at the top, she had the smart plan to avoid the snow and check out the neighboring structure by attempting to walk the tightrope across:

She quickly reassessed her plans and decided to brachiate (swing arm over arm) across the snow instead!:

The chimps spent the rest of the day peaceful and seemingly content, luxuriating in the warm sun, napping and grooming. I didn’t see Negra go outside, but I did see her come in with a mouthful of snow. She spent hours gazing out across the valley at the bright landscape from the windows, her hand held against the warmth of the sun, silhouetted by the bright blue sky.

Happy Solstice everyone, be it your winter or summer!

It.is.cold.

December 14, 2016 by Katelyn

In the years I have worked at CSNW I have yet to have a day where I was unable to get at least one somewhat decent photo of one of the chimps. Until today. We haven’t had a lot of additional snow since last weeks storm, but it’s remained below freezing for days. It hovered in the teens today without even a glimpse of blue sky or sun. And for the majority of the day the chimpanzees have been gathered together in the loft area of their home, nesting, grooming and staying warm and cozy. This is also an impossible area to get photos of.

We had the grand idea that today would be the day we shoveled paths to a couple of the nearest structures for the chimps and we did this, but when I opened the door to Young’s Hill, it was like a ghost town. Late in the afternoon Jamie did make one attempt to go for a walk and made it down the pathway to the gate and then decided that was enough of that.

In the chimp house, things are kept in the toasty 70’s and the chimps’ Christmas tree is making things feel more festive (this is the chimps’ view from a front room looking into the kitchen). Anna spent the afternoon roasting good things to eat as the chimps watched with enthusiasm from their loft area:

Sweet, beautiful Annie for a brief moment on Young’s Hill during somewhat warmer temperatures last week:

That’s all I’ve got folks! I will leave you with a funny story of the day though. Missy often asks to have us open up the barn doors that face the chimps’ garden area even when it’s freezing outside and we try to explain to her that it’s too cold. I am convinced the chimps think we are holding out and it’s secretly summer on that side of the building. Well, today Jamie AND Missy thought they wanted those doors open. So I said, “Okay, if you really want to see what’s out there, let’s do it!”

So for a brief moment I flung the doors open and you should have heard the excitement. Jamie was pant-hooting at the top of her lungs and running around the playroom, Negra looked at me from above as though I’d lost my mind, and Jody and Burrito ran over to look with their hair standing on end (pilo-erect) in excitement then quickly left with their “cold” grimace faces. Everyone had a quick peek outside and a bite of snow and then I closed the doors up. They continued to hoot and holler and chase each other around the playroom, raising a ruckus for several minutes. Maybe cursing me out in chimpanzee? Or maybe happy to have been able to feel the elements on their faces, breath the fresh snow air, and feel a moment of exhilaration from the safety and warmth of their home? Or both! Who knows, but it’s nice to be able to answer their requests even when it’s not what they had perhaps hoped for. And it was still a choice they got to make and explore. And really, isn’t that what we all want?

Sweet, beautiful juncoes in the chimps’ garden:

Today is in honor of Hope. Love. Home.

December 10, 2016 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Monica Best who chose to honor three people (ten really, if you count the chimpanzees!) and the hope, love and home they each give and receive. Monica shared this message about today:

“In honor of an Instagram stranger, who needed to feel a little Hope. Love. Home. What better way to show them than through the Cle Elum Seven.

And to Josh and Kathryn, who give Hope. Love. Home. to so many. Thank you for giving your voices to so many causes, that people may otherwise have never heard about. Congratulations on your recent nuptials. May the two of you spend many, many years of love, friendship, fun and lasting memories together. Thanks for all you do!!”

Monica, thanks so much for always holding the chimps in your heart and for all the amazing things you do for our fellow animals, both human and non. You have such a huge heart and the chimps are so lucky to call you their friend.

To the person on Instagram, we hope you enjoy getting to know the chimps. They inspire us every single day with what hope, love and home make possible for us all.

And Josh and Kathryn, congratulations on your special day from all of us here at CSNW! May your lives be filled with all the good you help make possible for others.

Queen Negra, discovering anew each day what hope, love, and home mean to her, thanks to the compassion of so many people:

Today is in honor of Carrie Miller!

December 8, 2016 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Sylvia Gandolfo in honor of Carrie Miller! Sylvia and Carrie are long-time friends of the chimpanzees and gift one another with the generous and compassionate support of the chimpanzees. The chimps have so many wonderful friends and we’re so grateful for the love and good they inspire in the world. Sylvia shared this message about today:

“Honoring Carrie to acknowledge her lifelong, passionate understanding of the importance of all living beings and the need to provide rescue and sanctuary for those who have been mistreated. Happy Anniversary!”

Sylvia, thank you so much for choosing to celebrate Carrie and your special day by including the chimps! We greatly appreciate how you both hold the chimps in your hearts and include them in your lives.

Carrie, we’re so happy to celebrate in your honor today! Thank you for all you do to make the world a kind and loving place and for us all. We hope you have a wonderful day of celebration!!

Your pal, Burrito, as his usual adorable self:

Sylvia’s pal, sweet Annie:

This one never gets old: Annie and Burrito hugging on the chimps’ first day on Young’s Hill (Negra foreground):

The things we do.

December 7, 2016 by Katelyn

We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.

One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:

Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:

Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):

After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:

So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:

By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:

When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!

A couple moments of goofiness

November 30, 2016 by Katelyn

The chimps have been pretty mellow today, enjoying the intermittent sun warming up the greenhouse and streaming through the playroom windows. So much so no one was even clamoring like usual to get back into the playroom after we had finished cleaning. Before I opened the doors to the playroom up, I caught Foxie and Burrito in the front rooms in a burst of lazy playfulness. So here are a few photos and a couple of moments with a couple of endearingly goofy chimpanzee people.

I asked Foxie if I could take her photo and she responded by making faces at the camera before finally swinging over to have me show her: