Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
The staff will continue our positive reinforcement training this afternoon. But before we dive into our training, here are some photos of some chimpanzee adventures and naps.
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We often see the seven put on a show for the three and vice versa the three do big displays towards the seven. Some can be to show off or impress each other, some are to warn or threaten, and others might be because things were getting a little chummy and they wanted a reaction from someone on the other side. In the winter, we have to close the chute off at night. We tend to shift the three up into the mezzanine in the morning. That way we can clean the front rooms and chute right away so we can let the three have access to their outside enclosure as soon as possible. For the seven, we try to shift them into the front rooms or green house so we can clean the playroom first. This is my long-winded way of explaining that once we have finished cleaning the phase 1 front rooms and the playroom it is the first time the three and seven have seen each other since the day before. The playroom gives a great view of the chute. So, when the seven are shifted into their freshly clean playroom we often hear the chimps yelling or displaying at each other. It’s short lived. However, Jamie occasionally shows off a bit for Willy B and she definitely had his attention! Willy B is always stealing glances at Jamie, I mean who wouldn’t!
After her big display, it was time to settle into a good book, or two, or three!
And since I was there to hand her some books she agreed to have her photo taken.
It’s Wednesday, so we need some bonus photos!
Negra was the first one out this morning!
She was having a craving for fresh snow.
Jamie <3.
Jamie and Missy thinking about grabbing some snow snacks too.
I found Mave rolling around in this blanket.
I took this photo on Thursday or Friday when it was very cold. Honey B grabbed the biggest blanket and sat out in the chute.
Last week you may have seen photos and video of Burrito and his new favorite toy, the mirror rocker. If you missed it, be sure to check out his reaction on Instagram. Well, never you fear, the “Californians” were pretty interested in their very own rocker. Of course, Honey B had to run the device under her own set of inspection tests.
Thanks go out to Trees for Tigers, for their generous donations and dedication to helping enrich the lives of captive animals everywhere!
As staff training still continues, we didn’t want to leave the chimpanzees without much to do while we continue to progress our PRT program. So today we decided to throw them something fun. Today was “Let’s Go To The Movies Day.” We put out some ticket rolls and bags of popcorn to munch on.
Negra was really into the little bags of popcorn. She grabbed several bags all to herself.
Though Jamie grabbed several bags herself initially, something else caught her eye.
The Ticket Rolls!
Ticket rolls have been becoming a favorite with both groups. Honey B, Mave, and Willy B were given some earlier last year and almost became and instant hit. The Group of Seven were also given some during Christmas. If you look closely, you could see some. After Christmas, we there were several nests found with tickets, and some that seemed they were made entirely out of tickets. When the ticket rolls were spotted, Jamie immediately went to work to unroll them.
Honey B loved her bags of popcorn and grabbed as many as she could.
Willy B also wanted some.
Mave decided not to participate in today’s activities. But here are some photos of her eating lunch on her makeshift table from Sunday.
Today was another unseasonably warm January day! The morning frost shrank away in the face of the formidable sun, and the chimpanzees went exploring.
Missy was all over the hill – running, climbing, frolicking, and looking for icy treats.
There are a few hanging tires on the hill that Missy knows harbor special gifts. In the summer, the tires sometimes have wasps nests, which she, Jamie, and Jody will carefully (though not without risk) harvest to eat the larvae. In the winter, when the wasps are long gone, fallen rain collects in the bottom of the tires and freezes.
It’s not always easy removing the frozen block of ice. Today, as I watched, Missy tried a couple of different positions to get the right leverage in order to remove the ice in one of the tires.
Still was not successful, she went back inside the greenhouse, passing Jody, who was stand as sentry watching the other chimpanzees on the hill.
Jody suddenly got up and started walking up the hill with no small amount of determination. Missy must have been watching Jody from the greenhouse, because she quickly came back outside (with two crayons in her mouth).
She seemed to suspect what Jody was up to, and ran to get ahead of her.
By the time Jody reached the first tire…
Missy had already absconded with the treat and ran up the hill, nature’s bounty in hand.
It was a normal day within all the CSNW Chimp House,
The chimps were grooming, while caregivers tidied the house.
But there was one person who just couldn’t sit still.
He wanted to play and laugh until his heart was filled.
The sounds of kicks and Bronx cheers grew ever so loud,
Should I abandon my duties? Is this even allowed?
I looked to my staff with a quizzical stare,
“I must keep cleaning, but he does not care!”
“Go! He is requesting you! But be sure you stretch!
For he will run you tired, and an ambulance we might fetch!
He deserves everything his heart would ever desire,
But be cautious, or he will make your body retire!”
And within a flash we were off to the races,
With giggles and laughter, even play faces.
Out the gate and through the snow,
I trudged my way up my steep uphill foe.
I gathered my breath and prepared to run,
While his face seemed to scream, “This will be so much fun!”
My muscles were burning and as I was gasping,
I thought about lying down and just collapsing.
After not once, twice, but thrice around the snowy hill,
We returned to the Greenhouse to continue to play still.
I wished for a break in such long play session,
But none was granted by his absolute obsession.
“Buddy, let’s take it easy today, for there is much more in store,
Tomorrow is your big day, and we will play even more.
There will be treats and snow for the whole fam,
Why, I even heard there may even be a Pasta Cam.
“2020 was just a doozy of a year,
You survived a fight, procedures, and even a rattlesnake scare.
You pulled through, and inspired us all.
Staff, volunteers, interns, and donors big and small.
“It was you who got us all through this pandemic,
Your joyous laughter, and foot stomps that were seismic.
We hope you have the best of days tomorrow,
Because it was you who helped us through the pandemic sorrow.”
“Happy Birthday, Burrito!” The world will all scream.
You are one of the chimpanzees of our dreams.
So have a good night, and sleep real tight,
Because tomorrow, we will celebrate you with no end in sight.
For those in more mild climates free of cold winter weather, when the forecast calls for a wintry mix, you can expect a little rain, a little snow, a little sleet, a little bit of everything. A little of this and a little of that.
For most of the day, there was rain, though it was more of a drizzle. While tonight calls for some slight snow before it turns to rain again. Though the chimpanzees had access to go outside, everybody felt it better to stay indoors with weather like this. For them, it was a good day to wrap themselves up in blankets and nap.
Willy B felt this was the most optimal course of action for the majority of the day.
While I was taking photos of Willy B, it almost felt like he was modeling different takes for me, which if you know Willy B, he likes to review the photos of himself.
He soon climbed down to take a look.
While he napped, Honey B and Mave groomed.
Before the napping and grooming sessions commenced, they were treated with firehose cubes in the afternoon.
Maybe their excitement over one of their favorite food puzzles put them in a relaxing mood afterward.
While the Seven stayed indoors all day today to avoid walking in the remaining snow and mud, they also felt today called for naps and resting.
Negra was fully onboard with this plan.
Though today was a day of relaxing and staying warm indoors, we just can never truly know what each day will bring and what choices they will make.
Though yesterday had similar conditions minus the rain, the Seven were dashing around the hill, climbing structures, and collecting snow.
Annie was really into her snowy treats yesterday and made several trips outside to grab some of the nearest snow.
Foxie decided she had to try to find some of the further reaching patches left on the structures.
While Foxie had a purpose of collecting snow on the structures, Jamie climbed from structure-to-structure just because she could.
After climbing most of the structures, she returned piloerect, possibly because of the chill factor outside or because she was happy and satisfied with her winter adventure.
Days like these are possible due to our followers and donors who help us care for these 10 unique individuals and to provide them with fun and interesting activities.
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Marcus Andrews. Thank you so much, Marcus. With your generous gift, you made it possible for us to provide the warmest blankets, fun enrichment, and good meals on a wintry mix of a day.
There are many ways to help support the chimpanzees and cattle who call Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest home. You can become a Chimpanzee Pal to one of the chimpanzees, a Bovine Buddy to one of the cattle, a Produce Patron who helps us provide the freshest of foods, or Sponsor-a-Day of sanctuary like Marcus. These forms of support help us provide a comfortable lifestyle for these individuals who haven’t had the most comfortable life before being brought to sanctuary.
