Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Picture of contentment

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It’s been a pretty quiet day in the chimp house today. We are having some incredibly beautiful autumn days and everyone seems to be enjoying them in their own way. Jamie has, of course, been busy walking Young’s Hill with all her available caregivers and almost everyone else has joined her for a lap or two, or to collect some bamboo for munching and nesting. But for the most part, there is a lot of resting, relaxing, and napping going on.

Earlier this afternoon I found beautiful Annie, dozing contentedly on her own from the top platform of the greenhouse as she gazed out at Young’s Hill (in between blowing an occasional raspberry at me):

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Happy Birthday, Adrienne!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by the chimpanzees’ (and the humans’!) good friend, Adrienne Armstrong! Adrienne, her family, and friends have done so much to help the chimpanzees and make their lives better. Her kindness and compassion are evident in all she does and how she chooses to live her life.

Adrienne, we are so touched that you chose to spend your own special day by making the chimps’ day special as well. Thank you! All of us here at CSNW hope you have the best of days, and that all the good you offer others comes back to you tenfold! Happy Birthday (with lots of food grunts and pant hoots)!!

Ever the charmer, Burrito:

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Happy Birthday, Alexis!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Carolyn Clarke in celebration of Alexis Jaggers’ birthday! Carolyn wishes to honor Alexis and her interest in primates by giving the chimpanzees a special day as well.

Carolyn, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees and including them in such a compassionate gift!

Alexis, thanks for caring about these amazing beings and we hope you have a wonderful day!!

Burrito is always up for a celebration. As long as it involves food, of course:

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Foxie flips

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Most people look forward to vacation. But as a caregiver I think I speak for most of us when I say vacation is a bit of a double edged sword. No matter how wonderful a holiday away can be, part of my heart is always with the chimpanzees, missing them and wondering what’s happening. And just as with any friend or loved one, it’s especially wonderful to greet them upon return.

When chimpanzees greet one another after a separation, their greetings can be strikingly similar to our own in posture, gesture, vocalization, and seemingly emotion. The chimpanzees understand much, if not all of what we say, but here at CSNW we use the chimps’ gestures and vocalizations with them as much as possible. And as part of their society and being good subordinate apes, we always try to greet the boss lady, Jamie, first. So on my first day back I walked into the chimp area to find Jamie and was surprised when she charged toward me, with her hair pilo-erect (standing on end). From her behavior (and well, Jamie being Jamie) I fully expected that she was going to skip the pleasantries and express her general displeasure about something with me and braced myself. But much to my surprise she stuck her lips out for a kiss!

And as if that wasn’t enough to make my day, Foxie was the next person to spot me and caregiver, Keri, was able to capture her greeting me on video. But while chimpanzee greetings are much like our own, this greeting bears no resemblance to anything I could do. It’s all Foxie. Which is, of course, why she is so endearing. And one of the best things about vacation. Coming home.

Snoozy afternoon

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We are having a warm, overcast end-of-summer day today and while the chimpanzees and humans are loving the perfect temperatures, everyone seems to be feeling on the snoozy side this afternoon. The chimpanzees spent a lot of time out on Young’s Hill today and shortly after everyone finished exploring I went to look in the playroom to see what they were up to. But everyone seemed to be squirreled away in their nests along the catwalks in the playroom, out of camera range.

So I went out to the greenhouse and heard nothing but the breeze rustling the bamboo. But just as I turned to leave, I heard a slight play thump and I looked up on the very top tier and spotted this sweet guy:

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With all the ladies resting indoors, Burrito appeared to be enjoying a peaceful napping spot while soaking up the warmth of the sun coming through the top tier of the greenhouse.

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Good old summertime days

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Missy and Annie are usually found on the go. Running, leaping, laughing, wrestling, and more running every chance they get. But with the first sudden hints of autumn in the air, I caught them both taking advantage of the lingering end-of-summer days and the warmth of the greenhouse.

Missy, just being her cool self:

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And right next to Missy, her best friend, Annie, of course. Relaxing in classic Annie style:

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These feet!!

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Unbelievably, we will be celebrating this beautiful chimpanzee woman’s 40th birthday on September 10th! Maybe she is resting up for the big party.

In memory of Bill and Ziggy

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Meg Lunnum in memory of Bill and Ziggy, the two chimpanzees who resided at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, for over 50 years. Meg is a long-time friend and supporter of all the primates (and bat population!) at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and does so much to care for, and educate others about, these special beings. Meg came to know of Bill and Ziggy while living in Eureka and she continued to follow their lives. She wishes to honor Bill and Ziggy today and share their history and memory with others.

Bill spent his childhood as a performer in a famous circus in Europe in the 1940’s, at one point performing for the Queen of England. At approximately the age of 11, Bill moved to the United States with his “trainer.” Bill became increasingly unsafe to handle and after a performance in Eureka, a discussion between a local reporter and Bill’s trainer led to Bill being purchased by the school children of Eureka for $300 so that he could retire at the Sequoia Park Zoo. Bill lived to be one of the oldest known chimpanzees in captivity and was believed to be at least 62 at the time of his death on June 26, 2007.

Ziggy spent his childhood performing in night clubs until he inevitably grew too strong for his “owner” to manage. In 1963, the city of Eureka rescued Ziggy from an animal shelter in the hopes he could live with Bill. Unfortunately, Bill and Ziggy were not able to be safely housed together and they lived in separate enclosures next to each other. Ziggy passed away in 1996 at the age of 40.

I could not locate a photograph of Ziggy, but here is handsome Bill :

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Meg also wished to share some information about the zoo’s tribute to Bill and Ziggy since their passing:

“Bill’s former exhibit has been converted into a tribute garden in honor of Bill and Ziggy. The garden features two fountains where their night quarters once were and a bronze statue of Bill stands between them along with his rope swing above.  The paths of the garden are lined with bricks inscribed with special messages to Bill and Ziggy and to other loved ones within the community and Bill’s ashes were placed under the engraved bricks.

On the walls are the stories and photographs of the lives of these remarkable chimpanzees as well as the 100-year history of the Sequoia Park Zoo.  Bill’s Garden is a special corner of the zoo where patrons reflect, reminisce and appreciate the story of these two animals who shared their lives with the community.”

Meg’s gift of sanctuary for the chimpanzees is one that is particularly dear to my heart. While their heartbreaking histories are not particularly unique to apes in captivity, Bill and Ziggy were the first chimpanzees I had the privilege to meet and I grew up visiting them throughout my childhood. Even as a very young child, as special as it felt to visit Bill and Ziggy, it was so clear to me that they were meant for different lives and I felt helpless witnessing the lack of human understanding that surrounded them at the time. I couldn’t be more thrilled to see their memory honored today. And I am so grateful for the growing awareness of the amazing individuals chimpanzees (and all animals) are and the progress and understanding we all continue to gain so that they may all one day live the lives they are meant to.

Meg, thank you so very much for remembering these special guys and for giving the chimpanzees a special day in their honor!  We are so grateful to you for all you do to make the world a better place for the special beings we share it with.

Learn more about the lives of Bill and Ziggy in this article and about apes in entertainment through our advocacy program, Eyes on Apes.