chimp enrichment
These boots aren’t just made for walking.
Jamie and her beloved cowgirl boots during a morning nesting session:
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
It’s hard to predict how the chimpanzees will interact with the enrichment we offer each day. For Jamie, the absolute highlight of this week has been the new sand table featured in Tuesday’s blog post. Jamie continues to be thoroughly captivated by it. Yesterday we added some buckets of soapy water to the mix.
Remembering a friend
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Nicki Walters in memory of her husband, Bill Walters. Nicki and Bill have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we’re honored to celebrate Bill and the difference he made in life. In fact, we are privileged to celebrate the difference his life made here at the sanctuary every day. Nicki shared this special message about Bill:
“We lost Bill last year in July but not before he got to see in person the amazing Twister & the beloved Chimps playing on it. Missy was first up! It all started by sponsoring a day in honor of his Birthday, that ended up spreading to last more days. He loved animals and life and is very missed but knowing a tribute that benefits the magnificent 7 named after him with his nickname truly provides peace and happiness to all who loved him. This is a tradition that will continue on. He loved what all of you do, thank you for helping to give him so many bright spots on the dark days with your incredible posts and to all who made the Twister possible.”
Nicki, thank you so much for choosing to honor and celebrate Bill’s memory with the chimpanzees. All of us here at CSNW hold you and your loved ones in our thoughts and hearts.
I believe most of us have the desire to somehow say we were here, to mark our time and to know that our life made a difference – that we left the world a better place for having been here. The possibilities are as far-reaching and unique as each one of us. And I think all of us will leave having made differences we will never be aware of. But for seven chimpanzee people who live on a hillside outside a small town in eastern Washington, Bill and his loved ones made a difference which will continue to ripple throughout all their days forward.
The chimps’ first inspection of the Twister:
Missy, first to the top!
Bill and Nicki watch the unveiling:
Annie and Missy playing chase underneath:
Jamie keeping watch over her home from under her beloved crow’s nest:
Foxie and Dora on an adventure:
Burrito’s courage:
Jody:
Missy (top) and Annie (below):
The Twister quickly became an important part of Jamie’s daily routine territory checks. Weather permitting, it’s the first place she heads each morning and the place she ends her day…or in many cases, her evening:
A Little Light Reading
This morning Jamie spent about 30 minutes intensely focused on this Sunset Magazine.
In the hands of Foxie
Last week Jamie was caught carefully brushing a new doll’s long blond hair.
Here’s a reminder, in case you missed it:
Well, I thought I’d share what that perfectly coiffed doll looked like later that same day (after Foxie got a hold of her):
Being a well-loved toy has its price.
The Essentials
Jamie gathered a “few” essentials to add to her nest this morning. And by a few, I mean, a bucket (filled with snow), a few cups, a Dora doll, a scrub brush, a large LEGO piece, a few wooden toys, and two black boots. Other pieces of enrichment were added throughout the day including a nail file, a tooth brush and a left over Christmas stocking.
