Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Portrait of a Pant Hoot

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The day started out on the warm side, considering that we are well into the month of December. The chimps’ greenhouse spaces were cozy all morning.

A storm came through in the afternoon, making the most delightful sound as the droplets hit the greenhouse roof panels.

Just as the rain began, Dora went into her greenhouse, looking up towards the sound:

glancing at me:

and then beginning a glorious chimpanzee response to the rain – a classic pant-hoot (for a classic video of pant-hoots, go here):

Her display was short-lived. She calmly retreated to a windowsill:

Play During Intros

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The video says it all. It was a relief to see Honey B with Rayne and Lucky today and with Dora yesterday. She was different with each one of them, and of course it wasn’t non-stop play, but the play was definitely the highlight!

Nothing’s Wrong

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Burrito was trying to convince us in earnest today that we was completely fine and ready to get back into the mix of things, despite his very recent ordeal.

Dr. Erin gave the okay for him to spend some quiet time with Jody, who was eager to check out his recovery digs and see if there were any uneaten treats lying around. They greeted each other with enthusiasm, did their own thing for a while, groomed a bit, and then had a tickle session.

No one bounces back like Burrito. He is a man with more than seven lives. A being whose love of life will not be quashed or tarnished. Every adversity he faces, he comes back with more energy. He is the inspiration we all need. I don’t know why he is the way he is, but aren’t we all so lucky to know him.

Be sure to catch tomorrow’s blog post about Foxie’s 45th birthday celebration!

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

 

Enrichment ideas wanted

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We know a lot of the people who regularly read this blog also support other great ape sanctuaries and zoos. And we know you all really enjoy seeing the Cle Elum Seven enriched, so we are seeking your ideas, perhaps things you’ve seen at other facilities, for what we have been calling “enhanced enrichment” – enrichment that creates a challenge and encourages exercise and/or tool use. Jackie put together a great video yesterday (see at end of post) that shows a few of the things that we do already.

Below is a photo of our enrichment calendar. We have themes for our regular enrichment (toys and such put out after cleaning in the morning) and projects for enhanced enrichment (usually set up in the evenings after dinner). The scheduled enhanced enrichment all began with a desire to consistently keep smart Jamie from getting bored. As you’ll see from the video, all of the chimpanzees can appreciate a challenge. Free-living chimpanzees spend hours each day traveling, looking for and acquiring food, so presenting food puzzles is a good way to keep those innate parts of their brains exercised.

enrichment calendar