Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Burrito

Toasty Warm Green House

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As many of you know we have an Amazon Wish List where wonderful people buy things the chimps need or items that go to our daily operations. In these weird times, like many of you might know, things are limited on Amazon or may take a while to ship. We use gloves and disinfectant everyday, but we are going through them more quickly now. We started running low on gloves and other cleaning items that are super important to protect the chimps, which worried us a bit! Luckily, Jerrol’s, a local store nearby Ellensburg, had every thing we needed and were fully stocked. We ordered gloves and disinfectant in minutes! If you are ever curious how you can help the chimps please check out our Amazon Wish List or if you would like to help us during this weird time you can buy a gift card to Jerrol’s to help us purchase gloves and other day to day cleaning items we may need!

To be honest, it was hard to get photos of the chimps today. They were either baking in the warm Green House or scattered on the Hill. However, I managed to snap a few good ones of Annie grooming herself in the toasty warm green house.

This photo was captured right as the seven received access to Young’s Hill this morning.

Burrito taking a stroll.

Negra right before she decided it wasn’t quite warm enough yet.

Jamie on her after dinner walk, also walking the opposite direction than normal.

Day 31

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Today marks day 31 of our new normal, for the humans, that is. For any new blog followers; because of COVID-19 we have been taking extra precautions to make sure the chimps are not exposed. We have a whole routine just to walk into the chimp house in the morning. We glove & mask up, disinfect our shoes & personal things, and we change into scrubs. All throughout the day we are changing gloves and washing our hands. The other part of our new normal, which is were we started counting our new normal, it is just staff and one volunteer that met our very strict criteria. So, to say we have been busy would be an understatement! We have been keeping a record of our new normal. See photo below. But, if we wanted to get technical we believe this started 36 days ago.

However, for the chimps nothing has changed! They are blissfully unaware of the pandemic going on and they are all enjoying the nice weather! In the photos you can see the green grass coming back (EEEK!)

We have the marvelous Missy! Today, on Young’s Hill Missy and Annie ran out of the raceway chasing each other. Missy was also walking all over the fire hose on the Hill, she has some seriously amazing balance!

A perfectly graceful twist as the dismount!

Missy sprinting down the Hill.

I mean that takes a strong core balance!

Jamie leading the perimeter walk, while Burrito followed. Missy and Annie were chasing each other and took a break to join the walk.

I noticed Annie had been draping this piece of blanket over her waist, she kind of stuck a side in each pelvic pocket to create a waist band. Than when everyone got access to the Hill in the morning. I saw Annie carrying it out with her. Even through sprinting after Missy, Annie kept it with her or knew exactly where it was so she could grab it!

Negra gathered everyone’s orange peels and headed out onto the Hill.

Burrito looking over towards the Chute, hoping to catch a glimpse of Honey B, Mave, & Willy B.

On the Phase 1 side, Honey B was being her goofy self. I found Honey B balancing on this fire hose, wearing a headband, and upside down.

Later, she went up to look at herself in the mirror.

She is a pretty amazing individual.

For Linda and Lisa

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Today was sponsored by Lisa Stuverud, good friend to all the chimpanzees and bovines (and humans), in memory of Linda Vizzare. A lovely note from Lisa about today:

“I am sponsoring today in memory of my dear sister-in-law Linda Vizzare. This is our shared birthday so its always a good day to reflect and remember her. She was the first person I shared the then Cle Elum 7 with so long ago and she got it! She fell in love with Burrito and his happy dance! He was always her favorite, maybe because he shared his birthday with her son? Despite the really rough year he has had, she would be really proud of him for finding his strengths and persevering. A favorite Winnie the Pooh quote of hers was, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know”…I think that goes for Burrito and everybody right about now!”

And in what may be a surprise, today was also sponsored by Lisa’s husband, Rich, in celebration of Lisa on her birthday! Rich shared this sweet message:

“A little something for the 10 chimps my wife adores to help celebrate her birthday. Love and health to all providers and providees.”

Lisa, Happy Birthday to you and Linda both! We can’t thank you and Rich enough for all you do for our chimpanzee and bovine families and we hope in sharing your special memories of Linda and celebrating your shared birthdays, your heart is lifted and comforted, just as you help lift and comfort the lives here.

And Winnie the Pooh is wise and timely, indeed…

Burrito:

Barrels of Fun!

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Barrels are a great form of enrichment. They are often used to sit on to get a better view of the neighbors, or for drumming on to build up a big display, sometimes they are used for reaching an enrichment puzzle, and commonly the barrels are used for a good nap. Jamie can be found relaxing on a barrel, usually when the humans are cleaning. So, she can still keep her eye on them and request drinks of water from the hose when she is parched. When she has had enough rest, the humans are right there close enough for her to select the boot of her choice and take a lap around the Hill.

Jamie on her barrel enjoying some Alfalfa:

Jamie deep in thought:

Jamie inspecting something holding a wooden hammer in her feet:

Jamie 🙂

Now, when you look at the pictures you might be thinking how is this comfortable. But, chimps often prefer to sit or lay on objects that elevate them off the ground rather than sit or nap on the floor. Though that is not true for all, for example Foxie lays on the floor and wants nothing to do with blankets. However, you see this in the wild and in captivity that chimps prefer to sit higher, even if it is just a barrel or a chair.

Jamie sitting on a chair grooming some XtraTUF boots:

Also, I was going to save these photos for another day, but why not share them now!

This morning when the chimps first got access to Young’s Hill I spotted Missy and Annie rippin’ around the Hill chasing each other with huge play faces:

Missy sprinting:

Negra popped out for a bit of sun:

Burrito marched out with this purple plastic flat-head screwdriver:

And then there was the ever so sweet, cool as can be, and silly Foxie:

I almost didn’t include this one because it is a little out of focus, but I like it and I hope you do too!

Happy Birthday, Krissy!

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Jason Merritt sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in honor of Krissy Brasfield, one of our amazing chimp house volunteers and “neighbors” for her birthday! We couldn’t be happier to celebrate Krissy and deeply appreciate the hard work and love she bestows upon the chimpanzees to make their days better in any way she can. Example: In between winter storms when the sanctuary found itself without an ounce of snow left to meet Burrito’s snow snack needs, Krissy scooped up a huge bowlful from her neighboring, slightly higher in elevation town, and brought it to the sanctuary just for him! To tell you he was thrilled, is an understatement.

Jason, thank you so much for such a kind gift for Krissy and the chimps!

Krissy, we hope this has been your happiest birthday yet and so appreciate your full heart for the chimpanzees!

Burrito:

A Chimp Guide to Shelter in Place

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I am extremely lucky to have a job that requires me to come in to work everyday. During these difficult times, it helps to have something to focus on that’s a welcome distraction from the outside world. Fortunately, the chimps don’t really know what is going outside of CSNW. Life goes on as normal for them! Which is why they have put together a guide to help inspire ideas on how to make self isolation fun. Or at least take your mind off things for 3 minutes and twenty one seconds!

Also….

Honey B has so much confidence. It is truly inspiring. She is always rockin’ some new enrichment.

Neggie’s wonderful face.

Annie enjoying the warm weather on Saturday.

Jamie 🙂

Happy Anniversary, Michael!

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Today was sponsored by our dear friend, Arlene, in honor of her husband, Michael, on their anniversary!

“I want to wish a Happy Anniversary to my husband Michael. In happy times and trying times like these, I am thankful for your love and support all the time. I am blessed to be staying home with you, someone whom I am truly happy to be with and who makes me feel safe. I wish those same feelings of love, hope, home and many blessings to all of you at the Sanctuary for what you do everyday, and to all of the Chimps and Bovine who are lucky to be there, and to everyone – stay safe and be well.”

Arlene, thank you so much for thinking of all the sanctuary residents on your and Michael’s special day and allowing us to celebrate with you!

Happy Anniversary to you both, from all of us here! We’re so glad you have each other and are safe and well at home in your own sanctuary.

Burrito and Negra 🙂