chimp sanctuary
Spring Fever
The other day it was finally warm enough that I could open the barn doors in the playroom. Because of the cold it’s been a while since we could do that, so the chimps were so excited! Everyone started pant hooting and ran over to enjoy the fresh air. Jody immediately began to build a giant nest using several blankets and a sleeping bag but alternated between nesting and chasing silly Annie and Missy around the playroom. Jamie put her hands in the kiddy pool and chased folks around with it. Everyone was super playful and goofy, and spent quite a bit of time hanging out and enjoying the sun and spring-like air.
Here are a couple of photos of Jamie relaxing in the green hand chair donated several months ago by volunteer Pam:
And Jody in her sleeping bag nest:
Happy Spring, everyone!
New Mirror
Not long after the chimps arrived, supporter Tamela found an acrylic mirror that we hung on the playroom wall. It has gotten pretty scratched up in the last 2.5 years, so J.B. just recently replaced it with a new one. And not unlike her reaction when it was first hung in January of 2009, Jamie spent a good deal of time trying to figure out how to remove it.
How to initiate play
Given the fact that Foxie is probably the most playful chimp I’ve ever known, normally one would not need the following instructions. But I suppose they could be good to keep around, just in case. 🙂
Caregivers as enrichment
Let’s face it- no matter how much we do to spice up captivity with enrichment and projects, it can still get pretty boring sometimes. We try to do what ever we can to keep the chimps entertained, including simple things like drinks from the hose. The chimps have access to water 24 hours a day, but sometimes they just seem to prefer to have us “fill them up”, so to speak, instead. Chimps have prehensile lips and a large pouch in their bottom lip, so they can hold a lot of water in there! And, as always here at CSNW, they have the choice to drink or…
Missy up close
Here are a few more photos – all of these of Missy – taken with the combo new camera and “Kathy lens” which produced the photos of Jamie last week. Missy REALLY likes to eat snow, so much so that she will eat it all day long and will sometimes shiver as though she’s lowered her body temperature. She’s pretty active, though, and a game of chase gets her body warmed right up.
Felicity’s Lucky Seven Day
In addition to being Halloween and Jamie’s birthday (party!!). Today is Felicity’s Lucky Seven Day. This is the seventh in a series of Sponsor-a-Days honoring Felicity Wood.
As you probably well know from the previous six Felicity Days, for her birthday this year, Felicity asked her loved ones to donate to the sanctuary. Her family and friends responded by honoring her throughout the year. Felicity was so successful in her fundraising that she raised the 2nd highest amount of anyone during our Anniversary Fundraising for the chimp-proof windows.
Today’s day is from Sam and Bailey, two of Felicity’s beloved canine family members (smart dogs!)
Here’s a close-up of one of my favorite photos of Jamie, taken by Sarah in 2009. You may have received a donation thank you card with this photo on the front:
People (or perhaps even dogs) you love would love to give to your chimpanzee friends in your honor. Just send people this link to the donation form: http://sponsoradayforchimps.kintera.org/ and this link to take a peak at the Sponsor-a-Day calendar: https://chimpsnw.org/you_can_help/donate/#SponsorADay