Young’s Hill is a magical opportunity for the chimps. It is a place to feel free, it is a space they can protect, a place to escape to be alone, and a place to play and have fun with friends. And to me that is sanctuary. I have a collection of photos of all the ladies on the Hill from the past week. I can’t explain how it feels to watch these 7 chimps go out on to Young’s Hill and that it’s just part of their every day life. That for some chimps like Jamie they get to do what wild chimps would do; patrol their perimeter. If they can’t be wild I hope all chimps get this experience.
We Like to Have Fun!
If you needed something to make you smile or a good laugh, you have come to the right place!
We had a very silly Burrito:
A Jamie full of mischief:
Negra wasn’t quite ready to get out of bed this morning:
But Foxie and Burrito were grooming up a storm:
Negra did venture out to the Hill later in the morning:
Foxie wanted to play a very lazy game of troll toss in the green house:
Annie and Missy could be found lounging all around the chimp house today or rippin’ around Young’s Hill:
And the wonderful miss Jody spent her day quietly foraging on the Hill and napping in the green house:
A Spotlight on Annie
Annie Chimpanzee, AKA Annie Bird or Annie Bananie
Age: 44
Favorite foods: Green onions or fresh kale
BFF: MISSY!
Special talents: Making bird noises, playing games with Missy, and drinking smoothies through a big straw.
Favorite place to nap: By the bridge next to the big window on the second floor of the playroom usually not far from Missy or on a blanket in the greenhouse
Favorite activities: Playing with best friend Missy and tickling human bare feet with a tool!
Favorite food puzzle: Annie really likes dipper tubes with peanut butter
Biggest fear: Snakes
Burrito Wants to Play
Burrito was laying in what we sometimes call the portrait studio, because it normally has great lighting and we can get stellar close-ups of the chimps. I went over to snap a few photos, but Burrito had a different idea. All Burrito wanted to do was play! Which I could not blame him! When you look into his Burrito eyes you would never deny him the simple joy of playing! So as you all will be able to tell it was hard to get a still photo of Burrito today.
Here is a Burrito photo montage:
There were so many amazing photos leftover from Jody’s 44th birthday bash , so I thought I would share just a few more!
Annie munching on a leek:
Jamie and Negra seeking some reassurance for this overly exciting forage:
The birthday girl Jo laying down enjoying all the snacks she gathered from the forage:
Negra surround by corn husks and lettuce:
The Boot Book Fiend
As you all may know, Jamie has quite the collection of boots and a pretty broad library. Jamie started her morning in a big comfy nest surrounded by some educational reading material and a few good boots. What she didn’t know was that there were a pair of boots coming to her in the mail! Jamie has been intrigued with this style of boot for some time, so you could say she was thrilled to find out they were hers.
Say hello to Jamie’s newest addition, Vegan Dr. Martens (photo taken after we already wore them around the Hill):
Jamie this morning with a bonobo book:
Jamie with her new Vegan Doc Martens:
And some bonus photos because I mean just look at these chimps!
Bring on the Warm Weather
Today is one of those days that gets you excited for the warm weather season. It is a comfortable temperature outside, there is a nice breeze, a few clouds in the sky. This warmth feels so good that a few Greenhouse panels came off today! Which means summer is right around the corner! But that’s enough chit chat! I got a lot of good photos over the last couple days and thought I would let them do the talking!
Missy & Jody:
Jody:
Missy:
Burrito:
Annie:
Foxie:
Jamie:
A Little Piece of Jamie
Jamie has many sides to her. One side that not everyone gets to see is her silly, playful personality. Though, don’t get me wrong – Jamie is mostly business. I mean she does have to run the whole Sanctuary and it’s not going to run itself! However, it is really fun to watch Jamie let loose, be goofy, and maybe even be a tad bit vulnerable. Today was one of those silly, carefree, read a book, walk around, lounge around days. You might not be able to tell in these photos how goofy Jamie was being, but Jamie let me take tons of photos today almost as though she was really enjoying the photo shoot. I would show her the picture after to see if she liked it; Jamie would nod her head and then we would take some more!
Before the photo shoot Jamie did have to make sure the volunteers were cleaning:
There is a page from Jamie’s boot book in her pelvic pocket:
Jamie:
Days like today make me feel very blessed to be a friend to the Cle Elum Seven.