Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Burrito

Whimsical Day

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There is some whimsical snow floating around and though the chimps didn’t really go out and explore much today, a few chimps like Foxie did partake in eating it! Foxie stood out by the raceway and found any way to get the snow without touching the ground.

Foxie:

You can’t tell from this photo is Burrito is quietly foot stomping. After his nap he erupted into a HUGE game of chase and tickle!

Negra taking a nap:

Cozy With Some Light Snow

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Today at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest we were pleasantly surprised by snow. It wasn’t in the forecast and though none of it really stuck, it made for a beautiful morning. While most of the chimp decided to get cozy inside as you will see below. Jamie and I went on a few walks enjoying the snow gently falling as we walking around their beautiful outdoor enclosure, Young’s Hill. These are what Sundays are all about!

Annie relaxed and watching the snow:

Burrito laid back:

Negra taking a snooze & doing some light reading:

Blurry feet wrestling of Annie & Missy:

Burrito & Foxie were grooming so intensely I could barely get a clear photo:

All in all these chimps are well rested for Monday!

All You Can Eat

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Chimpanzees love to forage. There’s something very exciting about knowing that a bunch of delicious food is scattered across a wide open space and that you are welcome to as much of it as you can hold. It’s like a treasure hunt with a tasty reward.

This afternoon we took advantage of the sun and blue skies and set up a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. Burrito kept his eyes on the prize:

Today’s winner, though, might have been Missy, who we saw hobbling along with a mouth and both hands full of the good stuff:

Happy Birthday, Jen!

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This day of gratitude was sponsored by Jen Wallace, wonderful friend of the chimps and sanctuary, as well as a member of our medical team! Jen shared this heartfelt message about her gift:

“On this day of gratitude I would like to extend my deepest appreciation for Diana, JB, Dr. Zamzow and all the staff and volunteers at CSNW. It is through the tireless efforts from passionate people such as yourselves that 7 chimpanzees have a better life. I am thankful for your continued work to rescue additional chimpanzees and other animals from lives of deprivation and misery. Thank you for all you do. (It also happens to be my birthday. This is my birthday present to myself 🙂 )”

Jen, thank you so much for your kind thoughts and for the generosity and compassion you share with so many, especially our fellow animals. All of us here hope you have a beautiful day!

Your pal, Burrito, might just think that given the food associated with this day of celebration, you might just have the best birthday yet. 🙂 Happy Birthday, Jen!!

Bathed in light

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The past couple of mornings have been our first breaths of winter dawning at around 18-20 degrees, frost covered land and bluebird skies. Beautiful. While the chimpanzees were being served breakfast I was completing the perimeter check of Young’s Hill (making sure their outdoor habitat is safe before giving them access to it). When I got to the top of the hill, the fields up there were breathtaking!

Once the sun comes up over the hill it warms up to some degree, but I wasn’t sure the chimps would do their usual dash onto the hill. But again and again, we learn never to underestimate their  joy of life and curiosity. Negra, naturally, chose to remain in a sun puddle in the greenhouse, but everyone else rushed onto the hill to soak in the beautiful morning light. Missy and Annie stopped briefly to check out construction noises before making their way to the structures to eat frost:

Burrito, extra floofy in the cold morning air:

After spending a good length of time sitting in the sun and licking the frost off everything they could find, everyone made their way back to the greenhouse and playroom to bask, quite literally, in the sunshine streaming through the windows. This entire day the chimpanzees have been utterly quiet, content and bathed in light.

Foxie sat like this, unmoving, for nearly an hour. Keeping an eye on me at the computer, soaking in all that sun:

Jamie remained in this position the entire time we cleaned the playroom. I thought she was asleep, but every time I looked, her eyes were wide as if in a daydream.

Annie, in all her grace: