Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Kelsi

Sanctuary Livin’

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Well, today Jody decided she couldn’t leave the Greenhouse for us to clean because she was REALLY comfortable. I mean, I couldn’t agree more…

It was pretty hot today and even Jamie thought it was too hot to walk around the Hill. So she napped and stayed on patrol around the Chimp House…

Jamie even built a fort in the Playroom so that she could have her privacy, but still be able to watch what everyone was doing…

Burrito was trying to be on his best behavior with the ladies…

And Foxie and the rest of the chimps were really excited for mid-day shaved ice! It was almost too hot to play with dolls, but rest assure Foxie found a way!

Celebration of 10 Years!

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Can you believe it, these chimps have been at the sanctuary for 10 years. Over the years whether it was by donation, volunteering, or following the blog we have seen tremendous change in their lives and well-being. In the beginning Foxie didn’t want to have anything to do with enrichment and now Foxie has found love in her dolls. Annie was reserved and had very little confidence and now she is more independent, bold, and confident. Negra was afraid of Young’s Hill and now she adventures to forage all by herself. And not to mention how they have been aging in reverse. It has been a privilege to watch the growth in these seven amazing chimpanzees. But really Negra says it best….

In addition, here are some photos to give you a sneak preview of what tomorrows blog might look like!

Burrito taking a breather from partying:

Foxie swinging with her new France Dora:

Negra searching for some mini bananas:

Negra enjoying some forage she found in a coconut:

Jody was the first to venture out to find what was hidden on the Hill:

Jody was very committed to foraging out there:

Jody got to take full advantage while everyone was preoccupied in the Greenhouse:

Foxie also went out on her own, well France Dora accompanied her of course:

This was just the start, there are more photos to come from our BIG celebration!

On a Day Like Today

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Gosh these chimps were busy today! We had a few lovely people visit the sanctuary and donate some amazing stuff for our 10 year anniversary party (and Negra’s birthday) coming up! So it is easy to say the anticipation is definitely building. Today was obviously not a “normal day”. The chimps always keep us on our toes, but today Jamie was really keeping things interesting. Instead of her carefree, go with the flow mantra 😉 she was shaking things up. For example, this morning I was trying to close off the playroom for cleaning, but Jamie stayed back and didn’t want me to shift the doors. We eventually came to an agreement and she went to have breakfast. It was very good human enrichment! However, these were her choices and though it may have thrown me off she got to choose. Though these chimps had a full and busy day, rest assured they had time to play too.

Annie (left) & Missy (right) making sure the Hill was clear of snakes (don’t worry – there were none to find):

Annie had to have a moment to herself:

And then it was time to play again:

Jody was keeping a close eye on everyone on the Hill (also wadging a chow bag):

Missy stood bipedally before running into a full sprint:

Along the way Missy found some of her favorite things to forage for:

Jamie got to go on quite a few walks today:

Negra was living her best life today (napping, eating, and spending quality time with good friends):

 

 

 

Follow the Leader

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After the chimps received access to Young’s Hill this morning, almost everyone went out! Missy and Annie were playing a fun game of what looked like, follow the leader. I am sure we are all familiar with this grade school game, where one friend leads and the other friend has to copy what they do. Well, I observed the chimp version of that today! As we all know Missy is very good at running, climbing, balancing, and just basically being a chimp. So in this game, naturally Missy was the leader and Annie followed, however as you will see in the photos Annie will do her own variations and what she finds most comfortable for her.

Missy starts of by climbing up Negra’s Cabin:

Then Annie follows:

Missy then walks the tight rope:

Annie follows, but decides to do it her way:

And gracefully sticks the landing:

While this game was happening, Jamie went for a perimeter walk accompanied by Foxie and Jody:

Burrito kept a close eye on everyone from his view up top:

And Negra, well she was too comfortable to get up (I mean really comfy):

I also have some extra photos I thought should not be left out!

Jamie put a sock on this morning and was running around and playing chase (this is the only photo she would let me take of her and the sock):

Jody:

Burrito following Jody on the Hill:

Intensity

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What! Are you guys seeing this… Strawberries! These were thoughts going through Missy’s head as staff Katelyn discovered these gems in our garden. First strawberry of the year went to garden enthusiast Missy of course!

Missy uniquely sitting on the tire while she looks for strawberries:

While, Missy observed Katelyn in the garden, Jamie had other business to attend to. After our morning perimeter walk, Jamie and I hung out by the Front Rooms, mostly so she could keep an eye on the interns. Jamie isn’t always in the mood to have a camera taking photos of her; however, I asked Jamie if it was okay and proceeded to take some pictures. I often show her the picture taken so she feels included. She was pretty intrigued today so I continued to snap some photos and show her. I always love the intensity in her eyes. Jamie can be known to be a bit intense, whatever she is doing is with all her effort. As you can tell in our photo shoot today she was giving it all she had.

Jamie staring intensely:

Jamie relaxing in the Front Room:

Jamie smooshing her face (she was being pretty silly):

Jamie laid on a chair so she could get more comfortable, but still be able to watch the interns and self groom:

After a while she let me groom her head with a toothbrush:

Burrito had been quietly napping behind Jamie, once Jamie moved Burrito was ready to play!

In this photo Burrito was playfully shaking his leg and breathy panting quietly:

Then Burrito started shaking his legs and play slapping his head, Burrito later got up and we played a bit before Jamie wanted me to come back and finish grooming her head:

Bonus photos:

Negra enjoying the warm Greenhouse:

Jamie stealing Burrito’s smoothie while she drinks her own (don’t worry Burrito had some smoothie earlier):

Nice Day

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The chimps had a very nice day! Most of the day was spent out on the Hill or in the Green House. Everyone went straight out to Young’s Hill once it was opened, even Neggie ran out right away. Negra also lead the group out for the lunch forage today! However, it must be snake season because before anyone went outside some surveillance had to be done. Annie, who is terrified of snakes, looked out towards the Hill from in the race way, making sure her toes never touched the ground. Foxie, brave little Foxie, lead everyone out giving everyone the okay, but all the chimps made sure to keep their eye out.

Foxie:

Annie:

Negra wadging pineapple:

Miss eating chow:

Jody with a loose lip giving level 3 caregiver Jake some reassurance:

Annie bipedally walking and inspecting for snakes:

Missy, the good friend that she is, giving Annie some back up:

Foxie, Annie, & Missy going out to venture on the secure Hill:

Jody watching over everyone:

And enjoying the tall green grass:

Negra:

Missy (top), Annie (middle), Foxie (below) hanging out on the new structure:

Jamie doing her perimeter check:

Jamie and I also saw Jody and Negra along the way. They were foraging on some of the natural plants that grow on the Hill.

Jody:

Negra:

Foxie enjoying the sunshine:

Later, while cleaning was going on, we caught Jamie using a toothbrush to brush this dolls hair (It was a very sweet moment):

Days like today make my heart feel so full of joy, these chimps are simply amazing. Nothing makes you feel better than seeing happy chimps grooming and playing together all day.

 

Jody’s 43rd Birthday Celebration!

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Today is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Jody’s birthday! We had double to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate than to have a Green House and Young’s Hill forage, we even set out a whole coconut (I bet you can guess who ended up with it)! We love celebrating Mother’s Day, why not tell the strong women who helped shape who you are how much you love them! We do have a few mothers at our sanctuary including Jody. Jody is kind, nurturing, and always making sure that everyone is safe. For Jody’s birthday we set out lilacs because she loves to go on the Hill and find things like thistles, spruce trees, etc. Well, it turns out Missy LOVES lilacs and got most of them! Jody did get one of her favorites, which is the top of a pineapple (she was pleased)!

Missy eating all the lilacs:

Neggie had a nice relaxing day. She foraged on the Hill in the morning all by herself, attended the party, and napped for most of the day (it was pretty exhausting):

Power pose, Negra actually jump with all her might to get the enrichment, it was very exciting to watch:

Annie gathered some lilacs and then ventured out to the Hill to forage:

Burrito stayed pretty close to the birthday girls side, but found some opportunities to enjoy a drink and go on the Hill:

Foxie actually found the coconut and tried ever so quietly to sneak away:

Foxie eventually ditched the coconut and came back for it later in the afternoon, however Jamie heard Foxie trying to crack it open on the new structure and Jamie food peered her way into getting the coconut…

But Foxie did get to enjoy herself at the party:

Jamie enjoyed some cold drinks and some snacks as well:

Later when it was very warm Jamie and I took a few walks, when she got hot she would just hide in the shade:

Jody spent a lot of her day laying around, enjoying good company, and eating some of her favorite things. That sounds like a great 43rd birthday to me!

The birthday girl, Jody:

 

Cheers Jody! Happy 43rd Birthday (Missy is holding the drink):