Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Many of us are aware of how much we have in common with chimpanzees. But even as caregivers who get to spend our days with the chimpanzees, we often do a double take when we see them exhibiting behaviors or postures we see as particularly human. It has been a hot and easy going day at the sanctuary today and the chimpanzees have spent most of their time lounging in various positions in the greenhouse. Diana caught Annie looking as though she wished she had a pool to dip her toes into.
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching the chimpanzees eat. They chew as if no one is watching.
Everyday, Jamie goes on walks around the perimeter of Young’s Hill. Her day is not complete until she surveys the boundaries, checks to see what the neighbors horses are doing, and pokes a stick into a ground squirrel nest or two. From the top of the hill, she can view the entire canyon and even the mountains in the distance.
Missy often tags along with Jamie for her daily walks, but she tends to get distracted halfway through. Jamie is too slow, too methodical. Missy can only walk for so long before she needs to climb something and jump off it.
I consider Annie an involuntary member of the explorer’s club. She’s just along for the ride because she can’t let her best friend Missy out of her sight.
Jody loves to pick and eat wild plants. There’s a great patch of prickly lettuce and mustard at the top of the hill, and that’s all the motivation that Jody needs.
Young’s Hill is only two acres, but the top of the hill can seem like a world away from the safety and security of the building so not everyone is comfortable spending a lot of time up there. Foxie, Burrito, and Negra all tend to stay in the lower half of the enclosure. But we’ve already seen them push the boundaries of their comfort zones this year, so maybe one day we’ll find all seven of them looking down on us from the top of Young’s Hill.
It’s a warm, quiet afternoon in sanctuary and the chimpanzees are spending time each according to her(or his) nature. Jamie and I took some new footwear for a walk around Young’s Hill after lunch. Missy accompanied us for part of the way and then we all returned to the greenhouse to escape the heat. The greenhouse appears to be the place to hang out on a hot summer afternoon!
Providing options for individual choice is one of the many perks of working at the sanctuary and it makes me proud to be able to share quality time with each chimpanzee in the manner that most appeals to them.
Here is Jamie, ready to groom the now traveled boot.
Missy, enjoying the relative cool of the greenhouse after the eastern Washington summer sun.
Annie stayed put in the greenhouse. Here she is gazing in the direction of the helicopter overhead.
Burrito, playful as ever!
Annie is beautiful inside and out. She is a sweet, gentle chimpanzee who seems to become more and more comfortable in her own skin with each passing day. It makes my heart happy to see her appear so at peace and relaxed on Young’s Hill.
The Cle Elum Seven are celebrating freedom today! Not long ago, they spent their holidays in lab cages. Today they foraged on Young’s Hill, lounged in the warm greenhouse, and played with friends.
We kicked off the day with a party in the greenhouse this morning. Volunteer caregivers Denice and Patti brought food and decorations. Fruit smoothie was set out in tiny plastic shot glasses, and we put out paper trays of apples, grapes, berries, and melon.
Burrito:
Negra:
Jody:
Annie:
Missy:
Jamie:
Later we served a special holiday lunch of vegan hot dogs, dill pickles, and bell peppers stuffed with pasta salad. We do our best to keep the chimpanzees healthy by limiting their diet almost entirely to fresh produce, but we thought we’d splurge a little today.
Everyone gathered as Patti got ready to serve:
Foxie:
Negra:
Annie:
Missy:
Burrito:
Thanks again to Jody Maxey for thinking of the chimps and sponsoring today. Happy 4th, everyone!
Today was sponsored by Kerrie Wooten, in memory of her friend, Lassen Pig. Kerrie shared a very touching story about Lassen:
“I first met Lassen Pig on July 1, 2004 when I interned at Farm Sanctuary in Orland, CA. He was a young, happy, sometimes cranky, spoiled pig and I grew to love and appreciate his personality. In 2006 I began working at the sanctuary and I was thrilled to be helping to take care of Lassen every day. Last year, on October 4, 2012 (the day after my birthday) we said goodbye to Lassen – he was a little old man, but I still saw the young, spry pig I’d first met years before. My wish is to honor the memory of my dear friend by helping the chimps, who deserve to have a joyous, fulfilling, carefree life the way Lassen did.”
Kerrie, this is such a sweet and generous gift! Thank you so much for helping to give Lassen, and the chimps, wonderful lives.
