Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Endearing Annie

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I don’t think there is anything about Annie that isn’t endearing. She is a beautiful and special chimpanzee woman. I love the way the chimp house is filled with “Annie bird song” throughout the day and just hearing her makes your heart swell because you know she is happy and content.

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I love times like this morning when we have to call her for breakfast because she is sitting on Young’s Hill by herself watching the sun come up over the hill. And it’s a joy to find her in the greenhouse so at peace as she soaks up the sun’s warmth. And I love Annie’s feet! The wonderful way she holds them, crosses them, claps them together when she’s particularly content, or just stretches them out in front of herself.

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I love how much she loves her best friend, Missy, and how much joy, curiosity, and courage she approaches each day of her life with.

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Annie is a gentle soul and even though she is a “chimp’s chimp,” meaning she prefers the company of her chimpanzee friends to that of humans, she only looks at us with kindness in her eyes. It takes a special person to be able to do that after all she has been through. And makes it all the more special when she decides to spend time with us, or run over and offer us the rare gift of a kiss.

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Annie brings so much joy to our lives. But most importantly, we couldn’t be more grateful that she gets to spend the rest of her life choosing how she will spend each day, with whom she will spend it, and being loved for exactly who she is.

Today is in honor of “Team Humphreys”

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Jennifer Humphreys in honor of her family, “Team Humphreys.” Jennifer is a former volunteer of ours and helped us and the chimpanzees out a lot while she was here attending Central Washington University. She shared that she wants to sponsor this day as a gift for both the chimps and her dad, Jan, her mother, Carol, and her siblings, Kelli, Elizabeth, Heather, Geoff, Greg, Brian, and Kyle. Today also happens to be her mother’s birthday!

Jennifer, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees and continuing to make a difference in their lives in honoring your family today!

bunch of chimps on a structure

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And Carol, we hope you have the happiest of birthdays surrounded by loved ones and doing all the things you most enjoy!

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Happy Birthday, Vicki!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Vicki Hadley! Today happens to be Vicki’s birthday and as a gift to herself, she chose to make a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives.

We are profoundly grateful that the chimpanzees are surrounded by so much love. It is an immense gift for them to be happy, healthy, and safe in their sanctuary home. Vicki, thank you so much for celebrating your special day with so much compassion and generosity! From all of us at CSNW, we wish you the best birthday yet and hope it’s full of all the people and things you love most!

Missy getting to do one of the things she loves most:

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Winter’s morning light

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Our days here at the sanctuary couldn’t be sunnier or brighter. But Lady Winter is still reminding us she’s around for a little while longer with some extra cold temperatures during the night this week. If the temperature is predicted to drop below 20 degrees, we close off the greenhouse before we leave at night just to help conserve heat in the chimp house. With the mild winter we’ve been experiencing we haven’t had to close it very often this year, but this week has been in the teens at night. The chimpanzees wouldn’t be out there in such temperatures anyway, but this morning when we opened it up again during breakfast they were particularly excited.

The door to Young’s Hill was already open for them and the chimps decided to take their chow bags to go after breakfast and raced outside into the chilly morning. Well, Negra wasn’t about to race outside, but she did run up and peek out the door with a hopeful look on her face so it was a bit like our version of Groundhog’s Day, Negra style. Everyone else quickly came back and chose to sit in the raceway to Young’s Hill together where they could enjoy their chow with the sun on their faces.

This is often a favorite spot of Negra’s where she can luxuriate in the morning sun streaming into the greenhouse and this morning she seemed particularly happy:

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Annie looked so serene as she enjoyed the sun coming up over Young’s Hill and spilling into the raceway:

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Foxie:

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And Jody:

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Jody was one of the first onto the hill and enjoyed the sun on her shoulders and the view of the valley as she ate her chow:

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Today is in memory of George Hendry

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Pat Cattolico, in memory of her father, George S. Hendry. Pat is a long-time supporter and friend of the chimpanzees and shared the following message: “This day is in memory of my Dad. He loved and respected animals, and I learned that from him.” 

Pat, thank you so much for all that you do to contribute to the chimpanzees’ lives. Your support and dedication to their well-being means so much to us. What a wonderful gift of compassion your Dad shared with you and we are honored that you would share your special memories of him with the chimpanzees today.

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Today is in memory of Leonard Nimoy

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Eric Dodge in memory of Leonard Nimoy. Eric has been a long time supporter of chimpanzees and a friend to the Cle Elum 7 for many years. And today he wanted to make a difference for them while honoring the many contributions of Mr. Nimoy.

As many of you are probably aware, Leonard Nimoy, perhaps best known for his role as Spock on “Star Trek,” passed away on February 27th. As an actor, director, writer, musician and artist, Mr. Nimoy leaves a lifetime of accomplishment in the arts and humanities and used his position from a creative, progressive and inclusive standpoint, often at a time when social issues were not directly addressed.

In honoring Leonard Nimoy’s many contributions in life, Eric also aptly noted the worldwide appeal of his character, Spock, to so many of us who struggle to fit into our communities. This brings to mind the chimpanzees who, having been raised in captivity, in some cases to include human homes, often find themselves struggling with a cultural identity of their own.

While nothing replaces the natural lives the chimpanzees were meant to live with their families, we are so grateful that they can now spend their days in a sanctuary all their own, finally getting to call the shots and be loved and cared for as the unique individuals they are. Every day we see how life in sanctuary allows them to more easily integrate their conflicting natures and just be themselves. Whatever that means to each of them.

Eric, thanks so much for thinking of the chimpanzees and continuing to make a difference in their lives!

Jamie:

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Jamie looking over Young’s Hill:

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Jamie, Foxie, and Dora:

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In memory of Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Joan O’Flaherty in memory of her parents’ birthdays. Ned and Noreen were both born on March 1st, though two years apart. Joan shared that Ned and Noreen greatly loved animals, the environment and conservation. For the past few years, Joan has generously sponsored this day in Ned and Noreen’s honor, as well as their anniversary, and feels they would have loved the chimpanzees.

It’s amazing to see the difference caring and compassionate people make in the world, even when they are no longer here with us. Joan, thank you so much for choosing to honor your parents by making a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives. We are always so touched and wish you much joy, comfort and love through your memories of them on this special day.

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