Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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220 posts adopted on this significant day

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Exactly three years ago today, the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees left their laboratory lives behind and began the journey to the sanctuary.

And today we reached our 3rd anniversary fundraising goal – all 220 fence posts on Young’s Hill have been adopted. We have a LOT to celebrate!

The seven individuals we have cared for these past three years have changed and grown so much, and we’ve been so happy to be able to chronicle these transformations.

As amazed and in awe of the Cle Elum Seven as we are, we are equally amazed by the supporters of this organization.

We are all so grateful to you – the people who read the blog, connect with us on Facebook, send donations, attend events, volunteer, and write emails and letters on behalf of great apes.

There would be no Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest without you.

Here’s the first chimpanzee photo we posted on this blog, taken from this June 10, 2010 blog post.

Jody in her transport cage on the way to sanctuary:

Jody in transport cage in trailer 6-10-08

and here are just a few of my favorite photos of Jody over the last few years:

Jody in profile

jody holding feet

jody smelling rose

jody blue paper

jody with stuffed dog

jody sandbox eyes closed

jody after 4 months

jody logo

 

Two months & a big announcement

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A few days ago we reached a milestone – the chimpanzees have been at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for two months. Decades in research, and now two months in sanctuary. So much has happened in that short time. We’ve learned so much about each of the chimpanzees, and they seem to be changing every day. Jamie has stopped plucking her hair, Foxie now handles enrichment and has displayed rudimentary nesting behavior, Burrito has been working on some really great displays in his expanded space, Jody’s hair is growing back in and she’s developing some muscle, Missy is playing all of the time, Annie is coming into ‘her own’ and standing up for herself, and Negra is enamored with the views out of the windows.

And now the big announcement – the chimpanzees will be in their outdoor area on August 26th!! I can’t wait to share photos and experiences of the chimps touching ground for the first time. Thank you all for you support – you’ve helped make all of this possible!

More party photos

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Negra looks on as Foxie opens a birthday gift

Foxie opening gift

Jody and Missy in a mess of wrapping paper. Missy with raisin board.

Jody and Missy in a mess of wrapping paper

Annie opening a gift

Annie opening gift

Missy and Jamie looking out window at horses in field. The chimps are still using a lot of the gifts, like the sturdy yellow table Jamie is sitting on, from the last party donated by blog readers through our Target and Amazon wish list; and the humans are very gratefully using all of the kitchen stuff we received! We’re still adding new items to the Amazon wish list (see link at right) – the latest items received include a Little Tykes wrench and a mirror so we can see the chimpanzees when they are on the second level in the playroom. A huge THANK YOU to all who have donated their time, talent, gifts and money in order for us to care for this very unique group of seven.

Missy & Jamie looking at horses

Five chimpanzees on catwalk resting in front of the windows after a terrific party.

Five chimp lumps on catwalk

Foxie’s party photos

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Happy Birthday sign from Robbi

Happy Birthday Foxie sign hung on stairs in playroom

Birthday banner from Margaret and Karen

Banner made by Margaret and Karen for Foxie’s birthday

Sarah sharing a special bithday card for Foxie from Syd – Jody looking on, Foxie with raisin board

Sarah sharing special card - Foxie with raisin board, Jody looking

Foxie with stuffed colobus monkey – birthday gift from a friend.

Foxie with stuffed colubus monkey

Foxie clinging to window cage – there were horses in the field the day of the party and Foxie was looking out at them. The way she is holding Trixie makes it look like she’s showing Trixie the horses 🙂

Foxie clinging, showing Trixie horses outside

Raisin logs

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Volunteer Pam made these raisin logs for the chimps – she drilled holes in the logs and stuffed them with golden raisins. With Jamie’s love of fruit, I’m sure you can guess who got most of the raisins, but the other chimpanzees managed to get some too.

Burrito with raisin log and Jamie pant-hooting in excitement:

Jamie with her collection and Annie looking on:

Here’s a photo of Foxie in front of one of the windows with a raisin log. She managed to get one right away and sequestered herself ‘upstairs’ as Jamie searched for more logs on the floor below (even though you don’t see Trixie in this photo, she’s there – right at Foxie’s feet. Foxie is still carrying her wherever she goes. If you don’t know who Trixie is, you are very behind in the activities of the Cle Elum Seven and you should read some previous posts 🙂

Foxie in window with raisin log