Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Burrito

Is That For Here Or To Go?

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The Group of Seven have always intrigued me with each of their individual ways of eating. Some like to be upfront and center of every meal service. Others will grab their food and go.

This morning Negra wanted to take her banana to go onto Young’s Hill.

Almost immediately upon going onto Young’s Hill, she was instantly distracted by a passing train.

This is usually Negra’s M.O. She will almost always take her food to go. She will collect all her food and hold off on eating until she gets everything. Then she will use her hands, feet, mouth, you name it. Anything she can use to carry food to a location that is quiet and away from the majority of the crowd.  As evident with this photo I took a few weeks ago during lunch time.

Missy, Foxie, and Jody will grab one item from the meal service, take it away to a quiet location to eat, then return for the next item being served.

Depending on the food, Annie varies her method almost every meal. Sometimes she stays near where the meal is being served to ensure she gets her share of the meal. Other times she will find a quiet location as well, as she did during lunch today to eat her beets.

Jamie and Burrito, on the other hand, are usually upfront and center most of the time. They usually won’t leave until they are served their chow or nighttime bags.

Jamie, at times, might follow Negra’s lead and save some of her meal to enjoy later. In this case, she needed a proper dining table to finish her sweet potatoes and nighttime bag of seeds, popcorn, and dried fruit.

Sometimes after a meal, Jamie will invite a caregiver to go for a walk around the hill. Today, after lunch, Jamie wanted to go for a walk around the hill. I obliged and joined her. However, instead of a walk, it was a sprint around the hill. I somehow was able to capture a photo mid-sprint.

This went on for some time. Up the hill. Down the hill. Then back up again. Then back down. Usually I can keep up with her. But with our extra preventive measures to ensure both the chimpanzees and humans safe from the current pandemic, I have slowed down considerably. I going to have to start running sprints on my own with a mask on to ensure I don’t get that “I’m disappointed in you” look like she gave me as we returned to the Chimp House again.

Project Days

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We are so fortunate to have so many amazing volunteers. They are always willing to jump in no matter how big or small the task is. Today, we tackled a big project and all of our awesome volunteers came to our aid! We were trading out the old wood chips in the Green House for some fresh new wood chips. This is no small task, though it is a satisfying one! We do this at least once a year depending on how long the chips last. However, we do change out the heavily soiled areas more often. But, it takes quite a few helping hands!

Here they are hard at work:

Here is the what the Green House looked like after!

Meanwhile, Jamie took a break from supervising to make a nest and relax a bit.

Jamie was actually really in the mood to have her photo taken.

Foxie came to say hello.

And left her doll for Jamie.

After, the Green House transformation everyone went out onto Young’s Hill for a perimeter check.

Even Neggie came out to soak up the sun.

Mave also found a comfy place to nest.

Willy B just wanted to play chase all day. Sorry it’s a little blurry, we were in mid-chase!

 

 

 

Never a Dull Day

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I have never had a dull day since chimpanzees have entered my life. When I tell people what I do for a living a large part of the conversation is dedicated to the chimp’s personalities, their past, what we do to care for them, and hopes for their future. I can never say for certain what is waiting for me when I walk through the door in the morning. I always say no two days are the same and it is never dull! I love that about working with chimps. They have a plan of how they see the day going, just as you and I do. Sometimes the chimps are just silly and having the best day, some are the opposite, but most days are everywhere in between.

This morning I walked in to greet Honey B, Mave, and Willy B. Honey B came down so enthusiastically from the Mezzanine. She was breathy panting and seeking reassurance. That is when I noticed her fanny pack. I love walking in and not quite knowing what to expect. These three are so fun to get to know and they just keep getting sillier as the days go on!

After cleaning was done Honey B came across a beach towel that happen to be a very summer-y feel to it. Which, I like the summer vibes she was putting out! Honey B had it with her all day, she wore it around like a shawl or had it dragging behind her.

Mave was in a playful/sweet mood. She wanted to spend time grooming and tickling. When I took my phone out to capture a phone she started to look at herself, make silly faces, and inspect her teeth.

Neggie was soaking up the sun.

Missy, Burrito, and Foxie were wrestling in the Green House.

Eventually, it was just Missy and Burrito in the wrestling match!

Later in the day Jody, Jamie, Burrito, Missy and Foxie all decided to go on a walk when the wind took a break.

And little Miss decided to race.

Not everyone may be in the photos today, but it was a busy and silly day for these chimp. Maybe for the humans too.

 

No Party Like A Grooming Party

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It was in the low 50’s today. Meaning all the snow around the sanctuary is all but gone. Burrito absolutely refuses to believe this and sends us out on expeditions until we find whatever surviving snow patch may remain.

He generally prefers a pre-breakfast snow:

A post-lunch snow:

And a post-dinner snow. I’m still formulating how to break the news to him the snow will officially be gone by his post-dinner snow! He won’t believe me and I will probably find myself hunting for whatever snow I can find around the sanctuary. Hopefully I will be able to find a patch I have overlooked, or I may have to break out the snow cone machine.

While Burrito has spent his day daydreaming with hopes more snow will come, the girls were pretty relaxed all day.

Jamie decided to soak in some sun this morning when she went on Young’s Hill.

While Missy zipped about from structure to structure.

Annie spent some time outside as well.

But she spent most of the day inside.

Foxie must have been cozy because she spent most of the day on the top platform in the Greenhouse.

And when he wasn’t demanding snow from the caregivers, Burrito spent his time grooming with Foxie.

Later on, there was a grooming party going on in the Greenhouse.

Jody seemed to be at the center of this party while Burrito, Jamie and Missy groomed her. Though Annie was initially grooming herself, she eventually joined.

Negra debated about joining the party on the platform right below her, but decided not to join.

On the other side of the Chimp House, caregiver Anthony took down the mirror in the mezzanine to perform some much needed retouches. They were without their beloved mirror for most of the afternoon. After dinner, we reinstalled their mirror to much of Honey B’s delight. She just had to see herself, sporting a headband-waistband.

A very windy day

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Today was so windy it could, quite literally, push your car off the road. However, wind means spring is coming to Cle Elum! I personally can’t wait, but Burrito is going to have a hard time not having snow delivered to him every morning. We don’t know what will happen when the snow runs out, but I’m sure the chimps will be as happy as the caretakers when the sunny days arrive.

Chimpy Business

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It felt like Spring today. The sun was out and there were virtually no clouds in the sky. Just like in Spring, Jamie and her group wanted onto Young’s Hill right away to finish their breakfast chow outside.

Jamie was really happy to enjoy her chow outside.

She really, really, really seemed to enjoy her chow outside.

But after her last bit of chow was finished, it was back to business. Jamie, Foxie, Annie, Missy, Jody, and Burrito patrolled their outdoor enclosure. On their way back, they were greeted by Negra, who was waiting for them on one of the platforms.

Though patrolling can be serious business, Missy and Annie chased each other all the way down.

As the others made their way back to the indoor enclosures, Foxie decided to get some alone time.

Burrito, on the other hand, was on a mission to find the last snow patch on Young’s Hill.

As they were heading inside, Missy tried to get a peek on her neighbors.

Unfortunately for Missy, her neighbors decided to be inside at the time. Honey B was grooming Willy B. It seemed like it was a sweet, tender moment between two friends. But as you know, these chimpanzees can rarely contain their shenanigans. This is demonstrated in this photo series:

Grooming

Thinking about tickling Willy B.

Commence tickling!

Personally, my favorite part of capturing this sequence of events is you can almost see the shift in Honey B’s thought process. This tickle session lasted for a couple minutes before it turned into a pretty epic game of chase.

From our family to yours, we hope you have a great day!

Chasing Happiness

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Snow one day. Warm(ish) weather the next. This has been the weather pattern this winter. When we drive up to the sanctuary on the mornings with a fresh layer of snow that accumulated over night, we usually walk in to the sounds of Burrito excitedly trying to get our attention. He usually wants the freshest of snow. On the days when the weather is warmer and the snow begins to melt (like today), there always seems to be more sense of urgency to get our attention to hurry us to bring him as much snow as he can hold.

Even when you think there is no possible way he could want any more snow, he let’s you know it is definitely not enough.

Later, when the group of seven went on Young’s Hill this morning, Missy and Jody began a game of chase.

When Jody was done playing, Annie tagged in and a pretty epic game of chase and foot grab.

On the other side of the Chimp House, Willy B was in a super playful mood. He wore out the staff and volunteers in long games of chase. I had to sneak these photos of Willy B during one of his breaks from his games.

Honey B, on the other hand, decided which enrichment she wanted to use.

In the end, she chose to bundle up in a sweater she was given this past Christmas.

Watching the chimps decide which enrichment they want to use is one of the best moments. As Honey B did today, she picked up several enrichment items, inspected them each carefully, and decided what she wanted.

But the best enrichment is a grooming session with your friend in your fort.