Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sofia Castro-Loza

National Burrito Day!

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Today is National Burrito day!!! I wanted to shower everyone today with Burrito photos but he had other ideas. I went on two walks around Youngs Hill with Burrito and Jamie before 11AM. Burrito was in from the get-go but Jamie had special requests. She required me to wear one size smaller boots, and also requested that I drive the Gator both times. During those walks Burrito took the opportunity to climb the Twister structure to try and get a better look at the construction happening outside the perimeter of the hill. Once he came back in, he spent most of the day asking caregivers to play chase with him and wanting to play through the mesh while actively running away from the camera. Totally understandable because it has been a beautiful day out, perfect to keep everyone very active and moving.

Burrito eating an avocado during lunch

Burrito climbing the Twister structure during one of our walks around the hill

A play and groom session between Burrito and Caregiver Chad

On the other side of the Chimp House, the chimps in both Honey B’s and Rayne’s group spent most of the day in their green houses enjoying the nice day.

Willy B

Honey B looking as flawless as always

Gordo

Lucky

Green House Naps

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Today was a warm, sunny, and windy 56F degree weather day, perfect to enjoy from inside the green houses. All three green houses were packed with chimps napping and relaxing all afternoon. Jamie and her six friends went on multiple walks around the hill only to come back and relax again. Willy B, Mave and Honey B got access to the Courtyard where Willy B spent a big chunk of time basking under the warm sun. He did not seem to mind the Spring wind at all. The girls remained in the chute enjoying the day. Lucky, and the other five members of her group spent almost the entire day in the green house as well. With optimal napping spots up in the platforms, and raisin board enrichment as extra enticement, it was no surprise that it was just the place to be all day. Even the cattle and Barn Kitty were spotted enjoying this day in the most relaxing ways.

Gordo using a chopstick to get raisins from the raising board enrichment his group got today

Rayne napping…until she heard the “click” of the camera…sorry 🙁

Lucky resting but watching my every move from the platform in the green house

Dora napping

Jamie on the top platform of the original green house, next to a boot…of course!

The cattle in their most relaxed form courtesy of Caregiver Chad who took this photo today while on cattle care.

Even Barn Kitty was into the sun’s warmth for some nice resting time

Sunny Tuesday

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Sunny days are always great, specially after some days of non-stop rain. Today, the clouds scattered away and the rays of sunshine made an appearance. To say the least, everyone, including the caregivers were very happy to catch a break from the Pacific Northwest gloominess. If only there were away to turn OFF the wind!!! But regardless of the wind, the chimps in Jamie’s group went on countless walks around the hill and spent most of the day in their warm greenhouse. Cy and his friends also spent the day in their greenhouse and every so often you could walk by and someone would pop their heads off the edge of the platforms for a subtle “hello”. Willy B and his friends were very into the raisin boards they got for daytime enrichment, although it is very likely that Willy B got every single raisin.

Annie looking over at the neighbors before sprinting over to catch up with Jamie, who was going on a perimeter walk with caregiver Grace and her sweet new boots:

Honey B sitting on a wooden chair

A Cy close up

Dora was very interested in the mechanics of a phone camera

Jamie observing my every move while I squeegeed in the play room

A sequence of Foxie with a doll in her mouth making her way over to the greenhouse window to meet up with Jamie

Gordo in the platform of the greenhouse very much aware of the display Willy B had going on on the other greenhouse

Jody resting in the greenhouse

Willy B securing ALL the raisins in the raisin board enrichment that his group got today

Double Date With a Side of Bubbly

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Introductions with the hope of merging the two California groups continued today. Starring a double date scenario involving Willy B and Mave, and Cy and Dora. It went overall very well. What goes best with a Saturday night double date? Some bubbly. The chimpanzees got soapy buckets as day time enrichment and it was a HIT. Jody and Annie were the first ones to dig in into the soapy pool that caregivers prepared for them and their friends in the play room. Missy took her time coming down to join in the pool party but did not miss out either. In the green house, Burrito made sure to hog the water bucket and then grabbed a cup to facilitate the drinking.

Jody

Annie

Burrito

Dora getting groomed by Mave

Cy and Willy B grooming each other

Twosday

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The weather over here went from full blown Winter, to false Spring, and then back to cold with a chance of snow very quickly. We did not get any snow today, but the day has been chilly, windy, and gloomy. The sun made a brief appearance during the morning and the greenhouses got packed with chimps enjoying their warm spaces. Between the Oakwood and Riverview greenhouses, Cy and Willy B displayed back to back through a viewpoint where both groups can see each other. The displays lasted a few minutes and then they both joined their groups for grooming sessions.

Once the sun hid behind the clouds, most of the chimps went inside to rest in cozy nests. Burrito, though, did not mind the weather and requested two non-stop runs around the hill with caregiver Chad. Jamie felt the same way and made me sprint the entire way around the hill. Cardio for the day: Done.

Last Friday our very own Barn Kitty AKA B.K. made his way back to the Sanctuary grounds! During the Winter he tends to leave for an unknown amount of time and it is always very exciting to see him come back to us. Here he is:

Dora high up in the platforms of Oakwood greenhouse

Mave soaking in the few rays of sunshine that made it through today

Willy B on the platform across from Mave in Riverview greenhouse

Cy going through some magazines

Rayne nesting while wrapped in a pride flag

Gordo mid-inspection of a magazine

Bananas for Kongs!

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Today all three groups got food puzzles as daytime enrichment. The puzzles were Kongs filled with oats and mashed bananas and they were a hit to say the least.

Annie

Cy

Rayne

Willy B

BONUS: Mave looking good and relaxed in the green house