Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

The arrival of summer

by

Summer has arrived! We find ourselves suddenly in the mid-eighties today which is typical in that we don’t get a lot of working up to the heat, it just goes from cool to hot. The chimpanzees are pretty endearing when the temperatures soar. Much like humans you’ll find the chimps spread out as if melted into a puddle, legs in the air, hoping to catch a breeze.

Jody propped herself up on the platform to check out Young’s Hill:

When she needs a break from the heat, she’ll often come into the shaded front rooms to rest:

The chimps have been lounging around in the heat and enjoying ice cube treats and summertime berries. They have a currant bush outside that greenhouse that is just ripening and Jamie wasted no time whatsoever letting me know they were ready and she needed some immediately. The other chimps seem to take them or leave them, but Jamie LOVES them! I have no idea why, straight from the vine they will make you pucker right up.

That said, here is Missy trying out a handful:

Our neighbor swallow family right outside our front gate have welcomed new hatchlings and the parents have been extra busy today fiercely protecting them by dive-bombing the silly humans:

Anthony captured these sweet bovine moments of Nutmeg sunbathing:

His mama, Betsy:

Mother and son moment:

In exciting news for Mave, Willy B and Honey B, with these warmer evenings, they now have overnight access to their chute! While we don’t think they are sleeping out there at night, when I came up the driveway this morning, I found Mave snoozing in the top of the chute and she didn’t even bother to turn over to see who was coming. And Honey B has been requesting her meals be served out there when possible. She has a little shaded area that she loves to sit with all her blankets, paper and of course, her skateboard. I did capture a photo of Honey B in her shaded spot enjoying the award winning book, “The Chimpanzee Chronicles” a just released book by Debra Rosenman (which includes a story written by Diana!). And notice the handsome cover model. 🙂

It’s been too hot for much walking today, that is, until now. As Chad and I have wrapped up things in the chimp house, and all the other chimpanzees are in bed, Jamie has decided we should enjoy the evening now that the sun is going down and a nice breeze is coming up. Wishing you all a lovely, Jamie-style, evening!

Happy Summer!

by

Dylan Most is sponsoring this wonderful day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees to wish them “a great summer!”  Dylan, thank you for helping the chimpanzees (and humans) celebrate this season of light, growth and abundance!

Like every year, in some ways it’s hard to believe it’s already summer here in the northern hemisphere. But with many of us having slowed down some, or most of our lives during these past months due to the global pandemic, we’ve also hopefully found moments to be more present with time making the arrival of summer seem, well, right on time. As it always is. It’s definitely a season when we humans here at CSNW relish watching the chimpanzees enjoy their days full of sun, lush scenery, adventure and the ease that only summertime brings.

Jody and Negra (background):

Negra:

Jamie:

Burrito and Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake:

Missy:

Annie:

Mave and Honey B:

Willy B:

Happy Father’s Day, Robert!

by

Sharon Langone is sponsoring this day “in honour of my Dad, Robert Kelly! Happy Father’s Day, Dad!”

Thank you for celebrating the chimpanzees and your Dad on this special day, Sharon! We so appreciate you thinking of the chimps in this way.

Happy Father’s Day, Robert! The two chimpanzee men at the sanctuary, Burrito and Willy B, aren’t fathers, but we suspect they might have some suggestions on how to celebrate today:

Willy B taking in the great outdoors:

Being doted on by family and friends:

Napping in a sun puddle:

And Burrito, well, if you know Burrito you’ll know he thinks no day would possibly be complete without an abundance of #1) Food:

And #2) Being wild and laughing a lot:

In memory of Ashley

by

Today, Cynthia McCloskey sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in memory of Ashley McCloskey:

“This day marks six months of missing Ashley. Ashley loved animals and we’d like to honor her memory today by sponsoring a day for the chimpanzees. She would love this, doing something for animals in her name. We love you and miss you Ashley! Hope all the chimps have a great day today. We love following their stories.”

Cynthia, we’re so sorry for your loss. Our hearts are touched by your choosing to honor Ashley in this way for the chimpanzees, thank you. We hope some of the comfort and joy you’ve helped provide the chimps surrounds you and all of Ashley’s loved ones as you hold her in your hearts today, and always.

Annie and Missy grooming one another:

Missy and Annie:

Annie:

Happy Birthday, Julie!

by

Many thanks to Karen Olson who is sponsoring this day of sanctuary in honor of her sister, Julie Olson:

“Happy Birthday to the best sister anyone could ever have!”

As you may recall, we recently celebrated Karen’s birthday which was sponsored by Julie! It’s an incredibly uplifting and hopeful thing when we get to see those of you who are family and friends choose to celebrate one another by coming together to contribute to the chimpanzees’ lives, their well-being and happiness. To count them as part of your family.

Happy Birthday, Julie! We’re so grateful to you and Karen for all you’ve done, and continue to do, to ensure the chimpanzees and cattle have days full to the brim with the best we can possibly provide them. All of us here at CSNW send you wishes for the happiest of days!

Missy and Annie:

Where the Wild Honey B’s Are

by

We often jokingly refer to the chimpanzees as Pacific Northwest chimps due to their love of our often quintessential cloudy, on the cool side days. Though such weather is much less common here on the eastern side of Washington state, we relish our stormy springs. Well, most of us. Okay, maybe just me and the chimpanzees. 😉 Having been born and raised in the foggy coastal redwoods, I understand the chimps’ joy completely. And despite the rainy morning, the chimpanzees didn’t hesitate to rush out to Young’s Hill, hair standing on end with excitement, still clutching their breakfast, to head off on a walk or just enjoy their pineapple outdoors:

Burrito:

Missy and Jody conferring about their neighbors:

Missy wasted no time heading off to run around the perimeter in the rain, chow bag in mouth. She kept stopping to see who was joining her and finally took off at full zoom on her own:

Foxie and her apples:

Cuuuute!:

Burrito is not a fan of walking in the grass or walking in the rain. I mean, tall, wet grass?? Ugh. But he braved it all to come along on a walk with Jamie and Missy and I. Why on earth he took the route full of tall, wet grass vs. the cleared path, only he knows. But he’s just the most endearing guy, sneer face and all:

Burrito, Jamie and Missy:

Nutmeg, Betsy, Honey and Meredith chose to take cover under the Ponderosas in the rain and seemed to think the chimps were kooky for being out in it:

Burrito as it began raining in earnest:

Meanwhile, there’s Honey B. As an enrichment item for the big celebration on Saturday for Queen Negra’s birthday and the chimps’ twelve year anniversary in sanctuary, a knit crown was tossed in the mix of party stuff. The Queen didn’t take an interest in it, but who do you think we found sporting it around her neck today?! Of course! Honey B! Creative person that she is. It’s a little hard to make out as she had been ripping and running and zooming, but it really reminds me of the crown Max in “Where the Wild Things Are” wears.

Here she is enjoying a snack while sitting on her new birthday skateboard:

In honor of Queen Negra!

by

We’re so fortunate to have a second sponsor of a day on this very special day of celebration! Long-time friend and chimp family member, Kathleen Corby, sends this heart-lifting message about her gift:

“Happy 47th birthday to my dear Negra. This is one of my favorite days of the year. A day to honor and celebrate the one and only HRH, Queen Negra. I will be celebrating with you, munching on my StroopWaffels, sipping yummy pineapple spritzers with my special straw, wearing my CSNW pin, and popping my party cracker so I too can wear a crown and be Queen for a day with you. Oh what fun we will share during your Live (yippee!!) Queen’s Brunch celebration! May nut bags rain from the sky. Happy birthday Negra, I love you so. And Happy 12 Years of Sanctuary to everyone at CSNW. So much to be grateful for today. Let the celebrations begin…..”

Thank you so much, Kathleen, for sponsoring our Queen’s (and her family’s!) incredible day of celebration and for being right there with us all every step of the way. We’re so grateful to have you as part of our chimp family. <3

It’s finally here! The Queen’s Brunch! Be sure to tune into our live event on Facebook today at 11:00 AM PST to join in the festivities!

Happy Birthday, Negra! You are more loved than you may ever know.