Keri

In search of the perfect snack

June 8, 2015 by Keri

Can we all agree that we love snacks? I mean, fresh fruits, vegetables, smoothies and primate chow is usually enough to elicit foot grunts and high pitched food squeaks from the Cle Elum Seven. But, come spring, the chimpanzees tend to head out to Young’s Hill specifically to find wild plants (and bamboo) to snack on.

In the wild, chimpanzees are known to spend between 6 to 8 hours foraging for food each day. The amount of time varies during the seasons, depending on when fruits are ripe and how far apart the food resources are. And although chimps are primarily frugivores (fruit-eaters), they do supplement with leaves, buds, flowers, bark, seeds, roots, insects and occasionally meat. JB’s blog in mid May describes in more detail some of the plants these chimps gather from Young’s Hill, their 2 acre outdoor enclosure.

This morning, Negra made her way out toward the middle of Young’s Hill before sitting down to snack.

Sometimes she is hard to find on the hill; disappearing in the tall grass and bamboo.

She did save one of the plants to bring back to the Greenhouse to enjoy out of the direct sunlight.

Missy ran to the top of the hill to gather her plant snacks to bring back to the Greenhouse.

Annie also harvested a wild plants from Young’s Hill today. This is the one she was after this morning.

Each of the chimps spent time on Young’s Hill today. And each time I saw them come back to the Greenhouse with more plants. It’s wonderful that these chimpanzees have the outdoor space to display some of their natural behaviors, including foraging for wild plants.

Heat of the day

June 7, 2015 by Keri

What do you do when it’s in the mid 90’s and there is not a cloud in the ski?

Jody demonstrates the perfect way to spend a day like today; lounging in the Playroom where it is cooler.

All of the chimpanzees spent a good portion of the hot part of today in similar fashion to Jody, but managed to stay just out of sight of the camera.

Captured Moments

May 31, 2015 by Keri

It’s the day after the 2015 HOOT! Gala fundraising event and we couldn’t be more thrilled! The event was such a huge success and we cannot possibly begin to thank all of you enough for your continued support for the Cle Elum Seven!! It is truly a blessing to know there are so many people that make up this sanctuary family! It’s clear that people near and far have fallen in love with these seven chimpanzees! I’ll leave the details of the event for Diana to write about on the blog later this week. Be sure to tune in for highlights from the big event!

Here are some moments we captured of each of the chimps from today.

Negra sat on the bridge in the Playroom looking toward the window that overlooks the neighbor’s farm.

Jamie photo bombed this picture of Negra, as she made her way down the railing to where I was standing taking photos (I didn’t notice she had done that until reviewing the pictures).

Jamie on her way down the railing.

Jamie checked out her surroundings on Young’s Hill.

Annie spent some time grooming her leg while in the Greenhouse this afternoon before walking in the tall grass on Young’s Hill.

Missy enjoyed a cup of water…

…and then groomed herself.

Jody took full advantage of the quite afternoon and warm temperature to rest before going back out on Young’s Hill.

Foxie lounged with one of her troll dolls on her belly before making her way up to the new climbing structure on Young’s Hill.

Burrito made his way back toward the Greenhouse from the newest climbing structure by walking bipedal in the tall grass.

Seconds, Thirds and Fourths…

May 24, 2015 by Keri

We put out a lunch forage on Young’s Hill this afternoon and everyone but Negra went outside right away to gather their favorite foods. Some of the chimps made their way back to the Greenhouse to enjoy their tasty morsels out of the wind, while others stayed out eating and foraging along the way. After they had their fill, most of the chimps stayed in the Greenhouse and either napped or groomed one another.

I went out a few times to check on them throughout the afternoon and each time one or more of the chimps was back out on the hill, foraging for the pieces they didn’t find earlier. I love lunch forages because they last all afternoon.

If you were given a choice between raw carrots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, onions, brussel sprouts, mixed peppers or mushrooms, which would you choose?

Annie seemed to really like the combination of carrots, sweet potatoes and primate chow (by the mouthful).

Missy bypassed the veggies and harvested some fresh green plants to eat on her second outing.

And on what may have been Missy’s fourth trip out onto the hill to look for left overs, she came back to the Greenhouse with a handful of raw mushrooms.

Negra did eventually brave the wind and spent time eating primate chow and grass before returning to the Greenhouse.

Celebrating Jody on Mother’s Day

May 10, 2015 by Keri

In honor of Jody’s “adopted” birthday, we chose to celebrate today with a party!! Parties are a great way of celebrating special days and the chimpanzees love them. This morning was full of excitement as staff and volunteers Anna and Jake set up the party in the Greenhouse, complete with many of Jody’s favorite things, including streamers, blankets, socks, toys and fresh lilacs and grass.

This morning’s breakfast included fresh pineapple and kiwi and a grapefruit and banana smoothie with protein powder. We supplemented the fresh fruit with peanuts and primate chow as well.

Fresh flowers for Jody’s 40th birthday!

Once all of the party pieces were in place, it was time for the celebration to begin. The lilacs were a huge hit with the birthday lady as well as some of the other ladies in the group. The smoothie cups were a close second, at least for the ladies. Burrito went straight for the primate chow.

Jody

Negra

Missy

Foxie

Jamie

Burrito

Annie

Today we honor Jody for the strong, intelligent, beautiful and independent woman that she is. We truly admire her for her ability to make the most elaborate nests with blankets, bamboo, paper and whatever else she deems necessary for maximum comfort. We also admire her foraging ability (being able to gather as many food items as possible in her arms and mouth and still be able to walk). And we love her for her enthusiastic greetings, helping us out by getting stray blankets out of the doorways when shifting the chimps and rounding everyone up for meal times.

Happy birthday Jody and happiest wishes for all mothers of all species everywhere! And thank you again Tracy for sponsoring today for Jody and the rest of her family!

A Place to Rest

May 3, 2015 by Keri

These photos of Annie really stood out to me as I was going through the photos taken of the chimpanzees from today. There is something about Annie’s utter relaxation that shines through. I mean, granted, I’m a sucker for watching the chimps resting and sleeping; I don’t know many people who wouldn’t be. But what really gets me, is the thought of them in their cages before they arrived at the sanctuary and the fact that most of them probably never got the chance to lie down and rest like you see in the photos below. There were no blankets or fresh air or even the space to be able to stretch out while they were in the labs. It’s truly heartbreaking to think about what it means to not have the space, both physically and mentally, to rest and truly relax.

For everything these chimps have been through, they deserve a place they feel safe and secure in, a place where they can lie down and close their eyes, relax and just be.

Annie enjoying a quiet moment in the Greenhouse this afternoon.

Fresh Picked Greens

April 27, 2015 by Keri

There has been a lot of talk these past few weeks regarding spring and the emergence of fresh green grass. Warm weather (minus the wind) and the appearance of the fresh grass signify the onset of spring here at the sanctuary. Most spring mornings the chimpanzees can be found lounging on the deck in the Greenhouse, where the morning sun shines on them.

This morning when staff member Katelyn and I walked up to the Greenhouse to greet the chimps, most of them lined up and gestured toward the grass growing just on the other side of the caging. We happily picked a few handfuls for them to enjoy as their morning snack.

After lunch, most of the chimps ventured out onto Young’s Hill, their 2-acre outdoor enclosure. Jamie and Missy set off on one (of many) walks around the hill, while Annie, Burrito, Foxie and Jody searched the ground for fresh grass and plants to eat.

Annie found a stash of fresh plants to forage on.