Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sabrina

Jody’s Family Legacy

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Since I started working at CSNW in February I, unfortunately, did not get a chance to know Jody very well. I did get put through some hazing by her when I first was learning to serve meals to the group, she would occasionally try to poke me or she would have to spit some of her smoothie on me if I put too much in her mouth at one time. I always found her reprimands to be very gentle in contrast to another chimp I worked with in the past, Jody’s son Levi!

Like Jody, and a lot of chimps when they first arrive to sanctuary, when Levi arrived he was a little more rough around the edges. It was tough to even get a good look at him in person because he was well known for his penchant for throwing feces and he has impeccable aim. When I began working with him, a few years after he first arrived, I discovered how much Levi really loves to play chase and tickle with people and I convinced a coworker who worked with him in his early days at the sanctuary, to come along. When we arrived at Levi’s play yard he immediately came out to greet us and my coworker said to me “that’s him?” because she had never really been able to sit with him or have any positive interaction with him but now they have a relationship with a lot of positive interaction.

In the last couple weeks I have heard so many stories about Jody and how she used to haze people and would spit relentlessly on her caregivers but that she really came to accept and trust the people who cared for her. This really speaks to the difference sanctuary makes in the lives of the chimpanzees we care for and the capacity they really have to forgive humans for the things they’ve experienced in the past.

While Jody is no longer here with us physically anymore, she will never be truly gone. She lives on through her chimp family at CSNW, in our memories of her and in stories shared by those who knew and love her. But she also lives on in her children, like Levi, who not only carrys on her genes but remind us of her quirks and personality, and like Jody are getting to live out their lives in their chimp families in sanctuary.

Relationship Building

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Building relationships as the newest caregiver at CSNW is one of the most rewarding aspects of coming to work at a new (to me) sanctuary. Today I will talk about just a couple of my relationships in progress.

Starting with Burrito!

I think all the sanctuaries I’ve worked or interned at had one individual who welcomes new people with glee and invitations to play endless games of chase. I this it’s safe to say that Burrito is that person here at CSNW, his playful personality, love for walks and good natured mischief is definitely one of the the first things that made me immediately feel welcomed at CSNW and like I had come to the right place. It has been endless walks on Young’s Hill, where his favorite game is that of Misdirection – making me believe we are going downhill only to turn around and sprint back up, and of course I have no choice but to follow… not that I would have it any other way. Watching him run up hill while laughing is the best reward I can think of.

Next up, who else could it be but Jamie:

 

Jamie is definitely one of the more complicated personalities to get to know, she can be very strict in how she wants things done, am I learning. Individuals like Jamie tend to be some of my favorites to build relationships with no matter how long it takes. Lately I’ve been setting aside time most afternoons to find Jamie and see if she would like to hang out for a bit. She usually takes me up on it, possibly to keep an eye on me and study me more closely to learn my habits. So we have developed somewhat of a routine where I show up in the afternoon and she grooms me with a provided tool or one she finds herself. She seems to really enjoy grooming some of my tattoos, especially the one of my Bushbaby, and then she likes to inspect each of my fingers. For today this is good progress- Jamie decides what tomorrow will bring.

 

Hello from CSNW’s newest caregiver, Sabrina

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Hello all, my name is Sabrina and I am the newest caregiver here at CSNW!

As a Pacific Northwest native, I decided last year it was finally time to return home in order to be closer to my friends and family.  Fortuitously, CSNW was in need of a new caregiver soon after my return home – it’s like everything aligned perfectly for me so I can continue to work with chimpanzees in sanctuary.

Unlike the other caregivers at CSNW, this sanctuary is entirely new to me since I’ve never volunteered or interned here before being hired on as caregiver. The last couple months I have had the pleasure of getting to know the chimps, the cattle, the humans and getting a lay of the land at the sanctuary

Prior to working with chimpanzees, I spent many years working with domestic animals, mostly dogs, in shelters and veterinary environments. In my 30’s I decided to return to school and obtained my B.A. in Anthropology from University of Massachusetts – Boston, which led me to an internship at Center for Great Apes in Florida. This was my first experience with great apes and I was instantly hooked! I was offered a job at Chimp Haven as soon as I graduated. I have worked with over 300 chimps in Louisiana over the last five years and during my time at Chimp Haven I filled several roles including Caregiver, Pharmacy Technician and Positive Reinforcement Training Coordinator for the Veterinary department; I’ve learned innumerable lessons from the chimps I’ve cared for and built enduring relationships over the years built on trust and respect and I am thrilled to be able to continue my work here at CSNW.

 

One more thing! Don’t forget to sign up for next Saturday’s Virtual Visit about medical care. It should be a fascinating look at the sanctuary’s veterinary care process.