Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Burrito

Moments Like This

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As caregivers, there is a lot going on all around us. We often catch quick glimpses of fun, sweet, or playful interactions between the chimps or even with caregivers. Today, I thought I would share just a few of the infinite special interactions we see throughout the day at the sanctuary or if we are lucky enough, get to be apart of.

Throughout the week, caregivers will often stumble upon a sweet grooming session, goofy play match, or someone being mischievous (aka Honey B). Last Saturday, something so funny and spectacular happened. It honestly might be one of my favorite moments with Honey B thus far, and there are a lot of favorite memories with Honey B. I was trying to to serve Willy B pudding, which was laced with meds, because well Willy B is a hard chimp to give meds to and pudding is usually a last stitch effort (a Hail Mary if you will). In attempt to increase my odds of Willy B taking his meds, I offered non-med pudding to everyone else so Willy B wouldn’t question his pudding (it worked like a charm). Sometimes if he knows we added meds to it, he will refuse. While I was offering Dora pudding, she swiped the spoon quickly and walked away. Honey B came over to me right as Dora walked away because it was her turn for pudding! I asked her if she could get the spoon from Dora because I had no other way to serve it. Honey B had no problem kindly taking the spoon from her friend Dora’s hand and returned it to me promptly so we could continue :).

There are so many amazing moments, I hope you enjoy the video 🙂

Bonus photos from Foxie’s party yesterday!

Jamie very proud of her collection of pineapples bowls:

Annie’s sweet face full of pineapple:

Missy enjoying her pineapple:

More bonus photos!

Missy watching her friends go out on Young’s Hill this morning:

Negra holding one of Foxie’s new dolls in her pelvic pocket:

Negra nesting this morning:

Foxie with her new orange blossom:

Items of Comfort

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I saw someone recently ask, I think on Facebook, about why Burrito often has a small piece of enrichment with him, either in his mouth or a hand. The truthful and simple answer to that question is we have no idea. It’s just a Burrito thing, like dolls are a Foxie thing, books and boots are a Jamie thing, and magazines are a Cy thing.

Maybe there’s something you have that just makes you feel more you or gives you a sense of comfort. Maybe you have a signature color or a certain style of clothing or a collection of raccoon figurines that people identify you by (no judgement here).

Why are we drawn towards the things we are? It’s a question for the ages (whatever that means).

It’s also a question that an exhibit a few years ago at Central Washington University’s Museum of Culture and Environment attempted to tackle, with the inclusion of “artifacts” from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. If they do a similar exhibit in the future, perhaps they’ll include an artifact left behind by Burrito too.

This phenomenon of signature “things” also points to the benefit, I would argue necessity, of having a large variety of enrichment that we give to the chimpanzees.

After rejecting all of the other enrichment objects that we offered when she first came to the sanctuary, Foxie found her thing (troll dolls). Now, it’s hard to imagine her without a doll of some sort. How wonderful that we were able to give her objects that have provided her with 15 years worth of joy that only she can truly understand.

Foxie gazing at troll

The following photos are from today of Burrito lounging in a windowsill with one of his more recent favorite things to carry in his mouth – it’s a piece of wood that he found when the Young’s Hill outdoor area was shifted and expanded.

You’ll often see Burrito with a toy hammer that has a plastic head and wooden handle or with a block of wood. I thought it was special that he found something on his own, rather than something that we chose for him to carry.

The photo at the top of the blog post is Burrito watching some drama unfold this afternoon amongst his neighbors. Enrichment comes in many forms, and watching the live “soaps” through the window is probably Burrito’s favorite enrichment activity of late.

 

 

Sheets & Giggles

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Thank you to everyone who donated new or gently used top bed sheets. I promise it has been non-stop play and nesting since they have arrived! This blog is a part II for all the fans who loved watching the chimps, mostly Honey B and Rayne, play with the sheets! For those who may have missed all the fun a few weeks ago, there is a blog about how fun sheets can be. Not all sheet fun was able to be captured over the weeks, but Honey B sure is enjoying them! I hope you get a few giggles out of this one. 🙂

Rayne nesting with a beautiful lavender sheet (might be her favorite):

Bonus photos! This morning as I let Foxie’s group out onto Young’s Hill and caregiver Jenna let Lucky’s group out onto the Bray, I was able to capture some photos from both sides.

Foxie was the first out to greet the day and found a little leftover forage along her way:

Lucky set out for the hammock this morning:

Eventually, she climbed up higher for a better view:

Gordo went out this morning too (maybe to get a glimpse of a tiny little chimp across the way):

After a little while he sat down and took in the view:

Jamie was very focus on listening to her noisy neighbors:

Later, I found one of my favorite versions of Jamie, upside down Jamie! Upside down Jamie is goofy and usually very playful (note the HOOT! Book in her pocket):

Jamie is still holding on to her HOOT! Boot Book very tight:

And the handsome devil, Burrito napping in the window:

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (Playin’)

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We are really appreciating the break from the intense summer heat here in Cle Elum and the chimps seem to be enjoying it too. Both groups enjoyed a lunch forage today that included strawberries, blackberries, fingerling potatoes, bell peppers, and whole heads of baby Iceberg lettuce! All day today the chimps have been grooming and playing (mostly playing) with each other- so it’s been a pretty good day. Check out the video for more. 🙂

Two days ago, J.B. wrote about Willy B’s procedure. We’re happy to report that he went back with his group first thing yesterday morning and is doing great! We are so grateful to Dr. Erin and the team of professionals she brought together to help us ensure that we are giving Willy B the best possible care he can receive.

Photos from Today

Annie, looking out to Young’s Hill before breakfast this morning:

Burrito during the lunch forage on Young’s Hill:

The cattle are also enjoying this weather in their extended summer pasture!

Gordo, before a game of chase:

Jamie really putting in work during the lunch forage:

Rayne looking out through the Riverview Greenhouse:

All Around the Raspberry Bush

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When caregivers are assigned to be the lead caregiver on a certain day, one of our first tasks is to “open up” the Chimp House. For me, this is one of the best times of day because it’s still early in the morning and some residents are still not fully awake. Case in point: Negra

To walk in the morning to see Negra still in bed, you kind of watch in real time what kind of mood she will be in that particular day. And yes. She has been in a really good mood today.

Since she was in a good mood upon awakening, and because today’s high temperature in Central Washington is 70º, it was a perfect day for a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. As of this typing (almost dinner time), they have been going on and off Young’s Hill looking for anything they may have missed. On today’s forage menu was: baby iceberg lettuce heads, prickly pears, and sweet potatoes.

Foxie

Burrito (and Foxie) enjoying some baby iceberg lettuce

Missy does the same

Negra: (Iceberg) Head Hunter

With everybody in high spirits, it was also a great day to set up a browse of raspberry branches! Jamie could not have been more content!

And just like the chimpanzees’ night bags, here is a final treat of bonus photos to end today’s blog!

Rayne fishing for cherry tomatoes yesterday

Gordo keeping an eye on the medical staff during a tour after Willy B’s procedure yesterday

And finally, this guy! If you look carefully, you can find an “Easter egg” within this photo

Currant Events

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In today’s blog, we will do something a little different. Sprinkled within the blog will be some exciting announcements we have! Be sure to find out what they are as you read along!

This morning as I was driving in, there was a mother deer and her fawns in the sanctuary driveway.

Just a sign summer is really here! Another sign is the currant bush is full of berries. If you didn’t know, Jamie is a BIG fan of currants. It has been well documented that Jamie will always gesture for caregivers to give her some when they walk by the bush. She even has eagle eyes to spot a single berry hidden in the grass.

As a part of our browse program, today we decided to bring parts of the bush to her. Parts of the currant branches were placed in the braided firehose feeder and some berries were put into pools of water for them to fish out.

Burrito

Jamie

Before I continue onto the next event from today, we want to announce some exciting news! HOOT! 2023 early bird tickets are now on sale! We have re-imagined our annual fundraising event to be more mission-focused (and appetizer forward). You can join us in-person in Seattle on September 9th or you can participate remotely from the comfort of your own home. We can’t wait to see you in September to celebrate all things sanctuary! Read more about the event and get your tickets with early bird pricing here: https://onecau.se/chimp .

After lunch, the chimpanzees were given a treat! In honor of today’s date (7-11), the chimpanzees were given icy treats with blueberries for Slurpee® Day!
Terry
Burrito
Jamie
Honey B
Negra
For today’s second announcement, we are about a week away from Gordo’s 35th Birthday! Some new items were added to our Amazon Wish List to try to make it very special! I’m not going to spoil the theme for anybody, but you can kind of get a hint of where it’s going by seeing the items! We, especially Gordo, would greatly appreciate it!
As a bonus, here are some other photos taken from around the sanctuary!
Cy inspecting his hands
Foxie watching caregivers clean her playroom
This might as well be a sign that says “Missy was here!”
For some context, Missy is a highly intelligent chimp! To figure out the best way to extract some peanuts from her food puzzle, she did a trial and error session. She started of with the stick. After realizing the stick was much too big, she set off to find another tool. She found one of Burrito’s toy hammers. It did the job! All Missy left behind was evidence of her work!
Burrito wondering why I’m taking photos and not playing
Speaking of birthdays, next week is also this lovely young lady’s 16th birthday! Betsy!