Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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animal rights

Lessons from chimpanzees

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When I am feeling down, I think about the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees at CSNW and everything they have been through in their lives.

I am amazed and humbled that Jody, after decades of living in a small cage in a medical laboratory, after having seven babies taken from her, can still enjoy relaxing in the February sun, holding her feet:

Jody outside in the sun, holding her feet

and Foxie, who endured research protocols, five babies being taken from her, and periods of social isolation, can greet each day with the desire to play with her caregivers and her chimpanzee friends

Foxie with playface, tickling Jamie

and Missy and Annie, who spent years without each other, can decide to sleep in together, napping in the side-by-side nests they created in the playroom

Side-by-side nests made by Annie and Missy

When I think about my chimpanzee friends and their lives, I realize I have little to complain about. And, if I can remember to live for today as they do, each day should include relaxation, happiness, play and companionship.

Tragedy of keeping chimpanzees as pets

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We prefer to keep things focused on the positive and love sharing the daily lives of the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. But the fact is that it is a shame our sanctuary has to exist at all. The Cle Elum Seven never should have been used in research or entertainment. Chimpanzees simply do not belong in biomedical research, entertainment or in people’s homes as pets. Period. And yesterday there was evidence for some of the reasons why this is true.

On Monday afternoon in Stamford, Connecticut a 15 year old chimpanzee “pet” named Travis attacked a woman he had known for years, leaving her in critical condition. When the police arrived at the scene, they fatally shot Travis. There are now numerous stories with greater detail about this incident all over the news, including NBC.

Travis was bred in captivity to be used by humans. He reportedly appeared in commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola. His owners drove him around town. And this was not the first time the authorities of Stamford had to be called in to try to contain him.

For those of us who care for chimpanzees, it is difficult not to be angry about this incident. We know that chimpanzees should not be kept as pets – we’ve seen tragedies like this before. We know that chimpanzees should only be kept in secure enclosures. We know that chimpanzees in entertainment are usually discarded after a few years because they become too difficult to “handle.” And we know that chimpanzees are intelligent, social, amazing, and, yes, sometimes violent beings.

There should be laws in place in every state banning the keeping of chimpanzees as pets. Hollywood by choice or by being forced through legislation should never use a chimpanzee in entertainment again. Our hope is that this tragedy will create action to make these things happen, and we will do our part to help.

More on the Valentine’s Day happenings

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Lest you think that the chimpanzees had too laid-back of a day, they also had a romp outside before dinner.

Jamie was sporting a new look

Jamie wearing headband around neck

Jody climbed up to the cargo net outside and discovered a pecan in the shell, which she brought back down with her

Jody climbing back down after finding a nut in the cargo net

At dinner, we set up yet another forage, which included the strawberries Pam made

Peanut butter Valentine's strawberries

Pam even packaged them in these cute take-out containers

Jody with "take out" strawberries

I guess Jody was the star of the day. This is her in her typical super-relaxed pose. Ahhh – Valentine’s Day

Jody on Valentine's Day, just holding her feet

Valentine’s Day video

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That is Foxie (yes, Foxie!) going through the enrichment bags full of goodies in the first part of the video. The day went like this: Fresh fruit & smoothie for breakfast (and the crepes that Negra went crazy for!), big cleaning and disinfecting of the playroom, then setting up the party which consisted of new toys, decorations. treats, and, of course… love!  Then an early dinner after a mid-day romp outside.

Dinner was very exciting. Keith visited and passed out the first course – green onions. (Keith has moved to the other side of the mountains and was visiting for the first time since leaving a couple of weeks ago, so the chimpanzees were very happy to see him). In anticipation of the Valentine’s Day dinner, we bought some great produce that we don’t always have and Pam brought some over from Seattle too. Elizabeth, our new staff member, cooked up beets and added them to brown rice. And we set out a forage of snap peas, rhubarb, coconuts, fruit salad with blueberries, pineapple and banana, and of course the peanut-butter dipped strawberries rolled in nuts that Pam made.

Thank you to all who donated for the day and made it possible!!! I have never experienced such a Valentine’s celebration before. I have more photos which I hope to post tomorrow.

What a wonderful day.

KIMA story

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Visit KIMA for the written story and to comment!

Check out that shed, in the above segment, that Jim built and Audrey and Brian helped put together 🙂

*Note that the Sippin’ for the Seven wine tasting event is in Roslyn at the Masonic Building. Vintage Vine, wine and antique shop, is organizing the event and has managed to get 22 wineries and at least one brewing company to participate! It is going to be so much fun.

Jamie has something to remember… her red tutu

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Last week Jamie took a small piece of cloth mesh  (it may have been part of a troll costume), and tied it around her toe, then her finger. Jamie really likes shoes and feet, so I often show her my own toes. I have a toe ring, so maybe she was emulating that, or maybe she had something remember 🙂


Today she spent much of the day wearing her new red tutu, courtesy of her friend Tamela.

Foot gloves – more sanctuary fashion

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Last week, the same day that J.B. hung the mirror, Jody was wearing a striped glove on her foot. She wore it ALL day. Occasionally she would take it off and put it back on. She made a point of putting her toes into the fingers of the glove (at least some of her toes in some of the fingers), as you can see from the close up below. She wore the foot glove while inspecting the mirror as you can see in the second photo. That’s Jamie next to Jody half standing in the box. You just never know what the chimps will find appealing. It’s a good thing they receive so many great gifts – there’s always something for everyone in their daily enrichment! Thank you all so much for sending your care packages that are always full of fun gifts and warm sentiments. You make a difference in the lives of the Cle Elum Seven everyday.