Sofia Castro-Loza

Today has been a very tranquil Saturday at the chimp house. Chimps are grooming, interns are interning, caregivers are preparing enrichment, and the sun is OUT. While doing this mornings perimeter check around the expanded outdoor enclosure, I found myself enjoying the rays of sunshine and thinking of how lucky we are to know these 16 chimpanzees. I think of what they went through before being able to touch grass, or climb trees, or live in huge enclosures where they can be themselves and make decisions for once. I have to admit, my heart still breaks whenever those thoughts make their way in. And I have to admit, it doesn’t get easier. The more you learn about their past and also the past of other chimps living in sanctuary care around the USA, the more it hits you: they are who they are because they have been through so much, that they DESERVE to be themselves. They deserve to show us whatever side of themselves they are feeling like showing, whether it is a gentle moment like getting an elusive hand kiss from Negra or accepting the fate of getting hit with poop by Jamie.

Without going into too much details, last week I was talking to another colleague who had worked with other groups of chimps and I learned about how different the groups of chimps were in that sanctuary depending on the laboratory they were in. While some groups are bold and confident, other groups from other labs exhibit more abnormal behaviors like rocking and self harming. For some reason last night that’s all I could think about before bed, how did we get to the point in society where this was allowed and justifiable in the name of science? And why is this something still allowed to happen to other species? I think it all comes back to how humans have a false sense of superiority and until that changes I don’t think our species is going to be able to make the reparations needed to compensate for harm caused.

Now that we are all in our feelings, please enjoy some photos of chimps thriving in sanctuary care 🙂

Gordo

Don’t worry Jamie, no body can see you!

Negra eating corn!

Nothing kales Terry’s vibes!

The chimps at CSNW have their own ways of greeting us when we are opening up the chimp house in the mornings. This morning, I hadn’t turned on the lights yet on Cy’s group side of the building when I noticed he had already spotted me and was impatiently waiting for me to play chase with him. Honey B then came forward for a gentle hello and a kiss on the hand. On the other side of the chimp house, Burrito was also waiting for a morning game of chase. He was ready to go, while Jamie preferred to calmly groom my new Xtratuf boots. Shout out to the amazing donor that purchased them for me!

On the video you’ll notice that I greet Cy’s group in Spanish. Spanish is my first language, and is also a familiar language to this group of nine chimpanzees. Right after I was hired at CSNW, and before the group of six made their way over from California, I was contacted by a CWU Primate Behavior program colleague. Emily is a former caregiver at Wildlife Waystation and she messaged me to say that the chimps coming over from California used to be cared for by Hispanic caregivers that would communicate with them in Spanish. While the extent of their language comprehension remains unknown, I can only hope that it brings the same feeling of familiarity and comfort that it gives me.

Almost ten years ago our blog featured a video from former staff member and current volunteer, Elizabeth. On that day, the Cle Elum Seven had access to the hill and took advantage of the nice weather. Missy and Burrito could be seen very content running around the hill and enjoying the rays of sunshine. With a Winter Weather Advisory in our afternoon forecast that extends through the next few days, Young’s hill is looking quite different today. This year, winter has been snowier than before and the snow accumulation is significantly higher on and around the hill. Before we give them access to the hill the lead caregiver has to do a perimeter check. This is to make sure the fences are looking and working appropriately. These past few days perimeter checks involve bundling up and snowshoes. I had personally never snowshoed before, but this caregiver born and raised in a tropical island finds it very, very fun. Highly recommend as a winter activity.

Last week us caregivers went into the hill to shovel paths for the chimps to wander around the hill with ease, only to receive more snow a couple days later.  Snow accumulation doesn’t stop the chimps from going out, climbing structures, and grabbing snow to snack on in the comfort of the heated indoor enclosures. But today the chimps opted to stay in, nest, play with caregivers, and groom each other.

Sweet, sweet Dora

Honey B’s big yawn while nesting in her favorite spot, the mezzanine’s cubby

Sir Willy B

A Cy close up

Jamie in action, about to swing off the top platform of the green house