The chimps love forages. Rather than serving food hand to mouth or through the food chutes, we like to occasionally set out all of the food in the front rooms before the chimps come in for their meal. They get to watch us set everything up, and the anticipation makes the meal all the more enjoyable. When they are finally let in, they search through all of the bowls, buckets and boxes for their favorite foods. Here you can see (from left to right) Annie, Missy and Burrito munching on lettuce, frozen oranges and herbal tea (many thanks to the Cle Elum Safeway and Roslyn Natural Market for donating produce). Listen for the food grunts – a signal that they are enjoying the meal. J.B.
Buckshire
Missy and a tent
Some friends to the Northeast in Canada, sent a generous donation last week. We used a tiny bit of it for some fun toys like this Pirates of the Caribbean tent. Jamie, Jody, Missy and Annie all had their turn playing with it, then it ended up being part of Jody’s bed.
Tips from the chimps – How to build a better drinking fountain
One of the many reasons why I love caring for chimpanzees is that they continually surprise me. This morning, Sarah and I opened the front rooms for cleaning, and we discovered that someone had modified one of their drinking fountains overnight, using a straw from their breakfast smoothie. It works much better now than it did before. J.B.
Jody, Missy, Burrito and the Great Ape Protection Act
This is what I think about when I look at the below photos of our new friends…
the seven individuals who have a new home in Cle Elum are truly some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. They rely on me and their other caregivers to provide everything for them, and the truth is that we can never do enough to make up for what they’ve been through in their lives, but we will do our best to try. These seven people truly need all of us in order to provide them with a good life. That is why I am so eager to share their lives through this blog. I hope that you will continue to learn about them, laugh at their antics (especially when it involves me getting spit on), marvel at their intelligence, and contemplate their resilient nature.
When I look at these photos I also think about the chimpanzees who are still in laboratories. There are ways that you can help them too – one simple thing that you can do today is to contact your legislator and encourage their support of the Great Ape Protection Act. You can find more information here: http://ga1.org/campaign/gapa
Jody, Missy and Burrito (below) have been in sanctuary for 17 days. I would like be able to say that soon about all of the 1200 chimpanzees still in laboratories.
Opposable toes – why chimpanzees are superior
Tether ball – a new activity for Missy
Supporter Kathy Benson and friends have been doing some garage sale shopping for the chimpanzees. Check out Missy playing tether ball with a boat bumber!