So many things have changed for the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees in the last ten years since they moved from a research lab to the sanctuary.
One of the most striking is their new view.
Animal Welfare
Photobomber
Everywhere I turned my camera lens today, this guy was there.
Happy Birthday, Alisa!
Today was sponsored by Ed Brooks in honor of Alisa Lemire Brooks! Ed shared this beautiful and touching message about this gift:
“Today is Alisa’s birthday. Her deep love for animals and especially those who need our help is a cornerstone of her life. The family of chimpanzees at the sanctuary have been a part of our lives for a very long time now. A visit to the sanctuary of few years back is a treasured memory. Giving a donation to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest so that all the beautiful work there continues to receive support is a present directly to Alisa’s soul. These have been hard times, we have lost three elderly dogs, all rescued, all living long happy lives, and filling ours with their presence. Maizey, Ruby and Lil are all part of this gift to the chimps as well. Love”
Ed and Alisa, this is such a beautiful tribute and gift in so many ways and we’re so touched by your compassion. We all send our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your loved ones, Maizey, Ruby and Lil, and we’re so honored to celebrate them today along with you and the chimpanzees. The chimps are so fortunate to have you as part of their family.
Alisa we hope this day is filled with joy, comfort and love, just as you’ve brought to the lives of so many of our fellow animals. We’re so grateful to have hearts like yours in the world. Happy Birthday, from all of us at CSNW!
Joyous Missy and Burrito:
Comfy Jody and Jamie:
Foxie and Dora love:
Annie and her heart full of love:
And of course at the top, we have Negra, reveling in the peace all these amazing gifts bring.
HOOT! Success and Negra’s Aging Backwards
Last week at this time the chimpanzees were partied out, Katelyn was watching over the sanctuary, and the rest of the staff and a ton of volunteers and supporters were having the annual fundraising party in Seattle. HOOT! 2018 brought in more funds than any previous event. The night-of fundraising was over-the-top and many people who were unable to attend sent in donations from across the country. It was the eighth such event that we’ve had, starting in 2009 and skipping 2012. Each year the love seems to grow stronger!
Andy of Inland Networks TV created the highlights video below. One of the biggest moments was during the Give a HOOT! part of the evening where supporters raise their paddles to make donations. Overall, the event raised over $200,000, and a full half of that was just from Give a HOOT! It was nothing short of amazing! Big thanks to EVERYONE who donated with a special nod to Karen Emmerman Mazner, James & Jennifer Douglas and Ross & Karen Barde. Also thanks to challenge pledges from Kathy Cochran and Leah Roberts who were not attending but helped inspire others to donate.
Part of my talk at the event was about not knowing how long the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees would be with us when they arrived a the sanctuary on June 13, 2008. Negra was 35 years old at the time, which is considered elderly. But she’s still going strong and demonstrates the “aging in reverse” phenomenon that seems to have happened for all seven of the chimpanzees.
Here is the photo of Negra that we put on the home page of the website on the first day that the chimpanzees arrived:
Today, Negra climbed to the top of the new (still unnamed!) structure on the hill – the top! I didn’t get a good photo, but I took some others of her exploring.
We celebrate Negra’s birthday on the anniversary of the chimpanzees’ arrival because she is the epitome of what the sanctuary is all about and it was certainly a new beginning for her. Thank you for being a part of it, whether you have been following for ten years or ten minutes.
The Boss’s Day Off
As the self-appointed boss, Jamie rarely achieves total relaxation. Between monitoring all the humans coming and going from the sanctuary, and keeping her chimp family in line, she has a hard time letting herself go. But this afternoon caregiver Anna found her looking pretty blissed out.
It’s a hootin’ good time!
Tonight’s the night! It’s our annual gala and auction, HOOT! While staff, volunteers and many of our fabulous supporters are in Seattle gearing up for an evening of merriment and celebration, the chimpanzees, meanwhile, have been having a hootin’ good time in Cle Elum.
Our dear friend (and former staff), Keri, arrived with fresh rhubarb, chives and lilacs from her garden which added to the amazing Hoot! party extravaganza. Also on the chimps’ party menu were strawberries, purple cabbage, sweet potatoes, snap peas, leeks, watermelon, sparkling cider, and one pineapple top!
Jody, among the flowers:
Jody, Annie and Foxie enjoying the treats in Jamie’s kitchenette while she was busy gathering ALL the grab bags for herself. Maybe this is something akin to their version of the Dessert Dash we hold at the gala each year?:
Annie enjoying coconut:
The entire beautiful forage was scattered with lilac flowers and Foxie took it upon herself to “hoover”all of them up. Notice her trademark rubbing her toes together as she does this – the ultimate sign of a happy Foxie:
(Toes!)
Conveniently, the flowers happen to be stuck in coconut water, hence the tongue!
My favorite, with the petals on her lip 🙂
To each of you supporting the chimps in all the varied and generous ways you do, be it supporting HOOT!, attending HOOT!, volunteering your time with us and the chimps, following the chimps’ lives on the blog, sharing their stories with others, sending gifts and donations, well, the list of compassion and generosity is endless really, and from our hearts to yours, we’re so grateful to you! It gives us hope for humankind. It not only ensures the chimpanzees continue to thrive in their lives here, and thrive they do, but gives us all hope for the chimpanzees still awaiting their time in sanctuary, something all of you are helping to make possible through celebrating with us tonight, be it near or from afar.
We couldn’t have come this far for the chimps without you. And just imagine what we can accomplish together for so many others. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our chimp family!
Happy Birthday, Kayla!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Bernice Schick in honor of Kayla on her birthday!
Bernice, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees in celebration of Kayla! We are always touched when people so compassionately include the chimpanzees in their lives.
Kayla, all of us here at the sanctuary hope you have the best birthday yet filled with all that makes your heart happy!
Adventurous-hearted Annie:
