Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

In honor of Denise and Richard

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Janet Mattox is sponsoring a day of sanctuary today for the chimpanzees and bovines: “In honor of my wonderful friends Denise and Richard Edelson. Denise introduced me to the chimpsnw.org blog, and it has brought me so much pleasure, especially welcome just now when the news is bleak. Thank you, everyone, cows, chimps, and humans!”

Denise and Richard, thank you for your support and sharing your love of the chimpanzees! This makes a huge difference in their lives.

And Janet, thank you so much for celebrating Denise and Richard and the shared joy the chimps and the bovines have brought to your life! To all our lives. 🙂

Today is a pretty big deal here at the sanctuary as we honor the ten chimpanzees and four bovines who call this their home. It’s the 12 year anniversary of the arrival of Jamie, Jody, Annie, Missy, Burrito, Foxie and Negra, whose honorary 47th birthday we’re also celebrating today! And you can join in all this amazingness with our first ever virtual event, The Queen’s Brunch (live via FaceBook at 11:00 AM PST)!

Negra:

Willy B:

Honey B and Mave:

Jody:

Meredith, Honey, Nutmeg and Betsy:

Jamie, Foxie, Missy, Annie and Burrito:

Happy Birthday, Donna!

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A day of sanctuary was sponsored for the chimpanzees by Donna Dinsmore who shared this sweet note: “This is my birthday and I would love to have the chimps celebrate it with me!”

Donna, thank you so much! We so appreciate your inspiring and generous heart and the lasting difference you’ve help make in the chimpanzees lives. All of us here hope you have the happiest of birthdays!

Miss Jamie:

Burrito:

Jody:

Mave and Honey B:

Being Honey B

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Miss Honey B (amazing photo generously shared by Chad!):

When Honey B first arrived it was hard not to hold onto the anticipation of her meeting her mother, Missy, for the first time since she was mere hours old to the world. As you may recall, they were separated within hours of Honey B’s birth in the lab. We often shared that it would be highly unlikely they’d remember one another. But we all hoped they would eventually grow to have a wonderful relationship of their choosing.

But to be honest, back when we were attempting to integrate Honey B, Willy B and Mave with the seven, Missy and Honey B weren’t too keen on one another or their new found circumstances. At all. Missy became an uncharacteristic ship lost at sea without her familiar harbor of Jamie (who hadn’t yet been introduced into the equation at the time). I remember her once anchored to a corner of the catwalk in the playroom, Annie tucked behind her with her head resting in dismay on Missy’s shoulder as they looked out with uncertainty over what must have felt like stormy seas. On the other side of the playroom, Honey B seemed to vacillate between rocking anxiously in the corner, and randomly launching provocations and attacks upon her new roommates, seemingly in a get-them-before-they-get-you tactic at self-preservation in a flood of sudden changes with what probably felt like no life raft. But outside of a few hopeful, immensely endearing interactions, Missy and Honey B largely avoided one another during their brief time together. And that’s okay. It was their choice and their comfort level. After all, they were strangers to one another. And that seems like yet another lifetime in some ways.

Honey B’s been here, along with Willy B and Mave, for going on ten months now and she’s an entirely different person. The “Californians” as they’re sometimes known, by all measures seem to be growing in leaps and bounds in comfort, joy and courage, settling more and more into their lives here, as well as showing us more and more of their amazing personalities with each passing day. I recently realized how much I used to think of her in terms of being Missy’s daughter. She’s kind of a longer, stretched out version of Missy (who has an amazingly compact and athletic little bod). And as you’ve probably gathered by now, they are both extremely intelligent and definitely share their skills of athleticism. Though when Honey is sitting just so, oh she looks like her mama. But really, they aren’t particularly similar to one another personality wise. And while Honey is her mother’s daughter, if you only see her through that wonderful aspect, or scenarios that are emotionally appealing to us, it’s faulty metaphor that risks eclipsing the incredible light she is. Because Honey B is entirely and magnificently her own amazing person. Honey is unique, intense, quirky, creative, surprising, highly intelligent and entirely endearing. She delights us on the daily.

And is nearly impossible for me to get a photo of because she immediately wants to get up close and personal (just another of her delightful qualities):

Not long after the start of the pandemic and our increased safety and health protocols for wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in the chimp house, Chad observed Honey B with a gift bag covering her mouth and the handles looped over her ears. She loves (in a very uncharacteristically chimpanzee way) to offer her food to share with her caregivers. Lately, she’s been trying patiently to teach us how to groom her “properly” by demonstrating and then passing us the grooming tool. If we don’t do it to her liking, she gently asks for the tool back, demonstrates again, and then returns the tool to us to try again. She loves to play wild games of chase, scoot (or skateboard) through her home on her scooter, flail about madly in heaps of paper, toss her enrichment items through doorways with wild abandon, and wear things around her waist like, aprons, blankets sarong-style, waist bands Annie-style, and fanny packs, purely Honey B-style. One of her favorites has been a sky-blue fanny pack with narwhals on it. Narwhals! I’m pretty sure she is going to single-handedly bring back the fanny pack.

This Thursday we get to celebrate Honey B’s first birthday here at the sanctuary. She’s going to be 31. How we ever got so lucky to have her here with us I’ll never know. We feel that way about Mave and Willy B, and well, each of the chimps of course, but I’m thinking of Honey B just now. What cosmic cards were dealt all these many years later that brought her here, of all places? Who knows. And my heart twinges at the thought of the wonderful caregivers whose hearts had to watch her go, who cared for her for so many years, who love her. I know she’s missed. How could she not be? An immensely special place has blossomed in my heart for Honey B. Because she’s Missy’s daughter and I love her momma so much. But increasingly so, so much so, because she is Honey B. Her own incredible chimpanzee person. I just love her and I’m so glad we get the privilege of knowing her.

And if you haven’t had a chance to check out all of the amazing items we have listed for our online auction and our first ever virtual celebration (in part) of Negra and Honey B’s birthdays, The Queen’s Brunch, you can head over tout de suite and see this endearing portrait of Honey B by Margaret Parkinson.

A goodnight smooch from Honey B, herself:

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Julie Olson, and her sister, Karen Olson, have been a such wonderful friends of the chimpanzees for years, and today, Julie is sponsoring a day of sanctuary in honor of Karen:

“I want to sponsor a day for the chimps for my sister Karen’s birthday. She is the one who introduced me to the fact that the chimps arrived in Cle Elum in 2008. She is a huge animal lover and I know this is more meaningful to her than any present I could give her.”

Julie and Karen, you’ve both made a lasting difference in the lives of the chimpanzees and we’re so grateful to have you as part of their family. We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate your special day with you, Karen, and hope you have the most beautiful time of celebration! Happy Birthday from all of us here!

Burrito, always the life of the party:

Spring snippets and bidding begins!

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As you may have seen over the last few days, we’ve been growing more and more excited for The Queen’s Brunch, our first ever virtual event celebrating the anniversary of the chimpanzees’ arrival to the sanctuary AND the birthdays of Negra (June 13th) and Honey B (June 11th). Naturally, I was unable to get photos of either of these two beautiful women, but! And as of today, online auction bidding is now open! Woot!! Hurry! Go look!

All proceeds will go to the direct care of the chimpanzees, as well as to our continued expansion so that we may bring more chimpanzees in need, home. Every single thing that makes it possible for these ten amazing chimpanzee people (and the family members to come), as well as our sweet bovine family, to live the lives in sanctuary they do is because of you. Every single thing is a direct result of your heart, your compassion and your dedication to helping ensure that their lives are full of joy, well-being, comfort, family and love. There are no words to thank you for all you’ve created here, for them, but from our hearts, we have the deepest gratitude for you.

In chimp house happenings, today was a bit scattered for the humans from the get go as Jody decided she wanted to make some changes to our daily routine. Of course, that’s one of many beautiful things about the chimps’ lives in sanctuary – the choice to make, well, their own choices about how their day will go and how they spend their time. As a result, I have some scattered springtime snippets from the chimps’ home to yours.

The mountain lupine that fills the sanctuary with the most beautiful, ethereal of scents:

Foxie decided to take her doll and brave the infamous spring winds rushing over the hill:

But quickly decided it was too much, hence the sneer face:

At which point she brought her doll back to the comfort of the greenhouse:

Missy loves a particular dandelion that grows around the sanctuary – the goat’s beard dandelion. She walked the entire perimeter of Young’s Hill with us this morning gathering armfuls and mouthfuls of the flowers which seemed to have bloomed overnight:

Sister honeybees busy at work on the blooming elderflowers:

Willy B continues to amaze and delight us in his growing comfort spending time in his outdoor enclosure. Today he could barely wait for me to open the gate and squeezed underneath it, heading out without an ounce of hesitation. And he even climbed up to the top of the climbing structure where he took a brief nap in the open air and sunshine! It’s incredible that he’s feeling comfortable enough to rest with ease in the most exposed location:

I was sitting outside eating my lunch today when I heard the loud chitter of baby birds being fed by their parents. I assumed it was one of the many swallow and wren families who typically take over the bluebird nesting boxes we have up. A supporter kindly made and donated these to us years ago, but I’ve yet to see a bluebird pair successfully hang onto one and they typically end up nesting in old woodpecker nests in the surrounding Ponderosa pines. Still, I can’t help but be happy to know any birds are using them to raise their families and so when I went to have a closer look I was THRILLED to see a family of bluebirds in the box! If you look closely, you can see one of the baby birds mouths wide open:

This spring the hillsides surrounding the sanctuary have been a literal sea of gold with the native balsamroot:

Burrito and Jody grooming quietly in the greenhouse:

Foxie and Jody enjoying their after lunch chow together:

And this! Staff caregiver, Kelsi, made this amazing book for Jamie! Almost all of the staff wear Salmon Sisters XTRATUF boots for cleaning and Jamie has decided they are THE boots de jour. This wonderful book is full of photos of all the boots, as well as each of us wearing our respective pair.

Because of the rubber, they aren’t safe for the chimps to have (in the event they were ingested) and while Jamie knows she can’t have them and doesn’t ask, she adores them all the same. She spends ages having us wear them in mixed variations, walking around the hill in them and just sitting with her so she can groom them. She knows every single pair we have and exactly which ones she wants to see at any given time (they each have different sea-themed linings). Let me tell you, she is CRAZY HAPPY about this book and it’s been the most amazing gift for her. She’s even figured out (of course) that she can use it as a guide for the humans. Today she turned to the page with the boots she wanted to see and shoved it under the door for Chad to fetch the boots and bring them on a walk.

From all of us in the chimp house to all of you out there, we’re hoping some of the ease and joy you make sure the chimps’ hearts are full of finds its way back to your hearts this evening.

The apple of his eye

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Today was another big milestone for our guy, Willy B! And it took so much courage! If you’ve been following along with Willy B’s amazingly brave progress in venturing outdoors for the first time (there are several posts in the past days and weeks), you’ll know we’ve been using food as a motivator to help him feel more comfortable outside and to challenge him to go just that little bit further each day. One of Willy B’s favorite things, a whole apple, was placed in the grass of the courtyard and while this wasn’t entirely new, it was placed quite a bit outside his comfort zone requiring him to not only let go of the safety of the boardwalk and climbing structure, not only to place both feet and both hands on the ground, but also to take many steps away from the comfort and safety the structure provides.

After foraging for a few veggies here and there, it didn’t take Willy B long to spot the apple:

He was beside himself wanting that apple, but just wasn’t ready to venture that far. It was asking a lot. A little more than we intended. He was so vexed he worked himself up into a small display about it. Then he proceeded to blow raspberries and clap his hands at me which was Willy B speak for, “Get me that apple!!” I sat out there with him for well over an hour watching his wheels turn, his heart grow braver, trying to balance remaining nonchalant with him, but throwing in the occasional pep talk. He’d place one foot on the grass, consider the distance, then return to the safety of the boardwalk. He went back and forth and back and forth, all the while looking at the apple, then to the firehose, the structure, and all the enrichment trying to figure out a way to get that apple and still feel safe. Knowing everything it’s taking for him to overcome his very understandable fears, it was equally exciting and heart-wrenching to watch his every amazingly courageous step.

And then…after numerous attempts, he did it. He DID IT!! I wanted to squeal out loud and cry at the same time

After enjoying his well-deserved reward, Willy B surprised me by not heading back indoors, but climbing to the top of the structure where he proceeded to LIE DOWN! Considering that a low-flying plane had gone over earlier prompting him to climb down, it was incredible to watch up go back up and have a relaxing moment. Who is this guy?! King of the Courtyard, that’s who.

And here’s a very blurry bonus photo of Mave popping her head out of the chute! She continues to touch the boardwalk and spent more time reaching out of the chute than we’ve yet seen, even picking some grass to snack on. But she continues to wait for the right time for herself. And that’s what sanctuary is all about, after all.