Kelsi

Unwind

August 12, 2018 by Kelsi

We had a nice relaxing day here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest!

Burrito was following Jody around a lot today (on the Hill, in the Playroom, and laid close by her side in the Greenhouse):

But Jody was still able to make sometime for herself:

Annie, Burrito, & Foxie all went off to venture out on the Hill. Everyone eventually went on a walk with Jamie, except Neggie who stayed in her nice warm bed:

Annie did quite a bit of solo walking on Young’s Hill (maybe taking in the nice view or the gentle breeze):

Afterwards Annie was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open:

Jamie was watching the volunteers clean the Playroom in the utmost comfort:

However, Jamie also became so sleepy she couldn’t keep her eyes open:

Mornings are some of my favorite times at the sanctuary. Usually everyone is happy and playful (playful can also lead to excitement, which can lead to displaying), however, there is lots of breathy panting and kissing which can just make your heart melt with happiness. Most mornings I can hear Missy ripping around on the second level of the Playroom with Annie – or she puts a blanket over her head (ghost Missy) and wrestles with Annie – Jamie throws a boot for you to put on and then breaks into chase, Negra is often still in bed enjoying the warmth of the Greenhouse, Foxie is stomping around or can also be found soaking up the warm sunshine in the Greenhouse, and Burrito bursts into games of chase that turn into grooming and kissing. There is often a lot of grooming and silly play going on with all the chimps. Sometimes I love when I come into the Chimp House and they don’t even know humans are there yet and it’s calm, quiet, and you can see some sleepy chimpanzees still in bed, though most really already do know you are there, but are too tired to get up quite yet.

Negra this morning:

Burrito engaging in some morning chase:

Annie enjoying some morning grass:

Jody was the first on the Hill this morning:

Missy grooming herself:

Burrito grooming Negra:

Jody:

Annie lounging in the Greenhouse:

Lounging turned into grooming Missy:

Beat the Heat

July 29, 2018 by Kelsi

The chimps were proactive this morning to beat the heat! First they got all their strenuous tasks out of the way. For example, today was a whopping 96 degrees and tomorrow is only going to get hotter. So Jamie decided to get her walks in right away in the morning:

Second we kept everything closed off to keep it cool all day, but before we crawled into our dark den (we have all been there on a hot day) we got some grooming done:

Missy, Annie, and Jody thought they should groom in the Greenhouse early:

Annie grooming Jody:

Missy:

And Burrito decided to have a lazy day and just watch the volunteers clean:

In the playroom we set out water in buckets (the chimps always have access to water but sometimes drinking water out of buckets is fun!) and in between cleaning areas I would serve water out of the hose or spray our handled mister/fan (really only Jamie like that…).

However, as our third way to stay cool we had a vote and the chimps decided to have watermelon shaved ice boats. So that’s what we did!

Staff caregiver Katelyn was kind enough to help me with this task (Foxie observing closely):

Jamie:

The watermelon was so juicy:

Burrito:

Burrito was so excited you can see how pilo his hair is:

Annie:

I don’t think anything is more refreshing than watermelon shaved ice!

Chimp Friends

July 22, 2018 by Kelsi

Going on vacation can be bittersweet, you are so excited to go, but you are so sad to leave… Or that is at least my experience. I was so pleased to come back home and be greeted so warmly by such good friends aka my chimp friends. The chimps spent their day laying on barrels, grooming, foraging, and playing silly games with silly people. Now that is a good day!

Jody surveyed the land for snakes and any other unwelcome foes before the other chimps went on the Hill:

I caught Annie play punching Missy in the Greenhouse this morning:

Annie and Missy were breathy panting and were being very silly:

Later I found them lounging and grooming together:

Annie in her happy baby pose:

Jamie was making sure the humans were doing what they were supposed to, look at that serious face:

Negra was very sleepy this morning:

It was so hard to get out of bed, she decided to go back to bed:

Foxie was cruising around the Hill this morning, enjoying the weather before it got too hot:

Jody did a bit of foraging as per usual:

She found the good stuff:

Burrito just being the ham that he is:

Negra was being silly before lunch, she was holding a troll doll, then she walked over and started breathy panting wanting kisses. We did kisses, knuckle rubs, tickling, and than some more kisses. After a bit Negra got tired and had to lay down to tickle, tickling turned into napping.

Negra with her doll:

Bakin’

July 9, 2018 by Kelsi

Oh my gosh guys, it is HOT. The chimps are so toasty the only thing they could do today was lay down and groom. That was seriously all we did today… well we also ate some shaved ice too!

Annie and Jody laying on the platform in the Green House (Annie in happy baby pose) (Jody relaxing by her side):

Annie:

Jamie watching the volunteers clean the Playroom…

And then she caught me taking a photo of her…

Missy came to join the being a lump party:

And why not groom while you’re there:

In the other corner Burrito was grooming Foxie and Negra was taking in the view:

When She Says Jump

July 8, 2018 by Kelsi

Jamie is truly an amazing person, there is a lot to her. She is always surprising us, for being a more “serious chimp” a lot of the time, I kept catching her doing silly little things throughout today. For example, we had a donor visitor group this afternoon, during which she proceeded to make each visitor try on her favorite boot. (This is not something she normally does. Normally Jamie might give them some attention, look at some shoes, and then get back to foraging.) I never know what to expect from her, which is the best part about her! But, what I can usually expect is a fierce and fearless Jamie.

Jamie wearing her boot and foraging for nuts: