Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimp sanctuary

A Playful, Thankful Tuesday

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As Giving Day for Apes continues to be underway, we just wanted to say thank you to those who have donated thus far on this day of days fundraiser! And what better way than a video full of play!

You donations will help enrich their lives!

Cy and Rayne perusing through magazines!
Jody and Annie flipping through some pages as well!

Your donations will help ensure the chimpanzees will never go hungry!

Jamie watching breakfast being served to the others while eating her orange in a nest.

Your donations will help us complete the expansion of Young’s Hill and the completion of The Bray!

Terry watching the construction being conducted in what will be The Bray!

But overall, your donations will help them live the best lives that they can!

Burrito giving his “We’re going to play!” face before lunch!
Cy looking as handsome as ever!
Jamie playing a game of “Floor is lava” by building a bridge from the stairs to her favorite window in the Playroom.
Lucky and Willy B playing before breakfast!
Negra getting ready to settle in her nest!
Cy and Willy B grooming in the Riverview Greenhouse!

Thank you all for helping us provide this to them! There is still time to donate during this campaign. Giving Day for Apes ends at 11:59PM EST (8:59PM PST)! You can donate through our page by clicking here!

Nesting Shenanigans

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When people ask us what our job involves here in the chimp house, of course we talk about the relationships we have with the chimps, cleaning, and meal / enrichment prep. What often doesn’t make the list, or at least not my list, is laundry. Our laundry machines are full time employees here at CSNW, working about 8 hours every day. You might ask- why do you have so much laundry? Good question. The answer, short and sweet, is blankets.

We provide both groups of chimps with enough for everyone to have at least ten blankets. Some people use these blankets for play (ahem, Burrito), but most often they are used for nesting. Chimpanzees, both in captivity and the wild, build nests for sleeping. In wild populations, chimpanzees will build nests from branches (sometimes from more than one tree) by weaving them together. They will also use leaves in their nests. Captive chimpanzees are provided blankets to support this species typical behavior and everyone has their own unique preferences!

While some individuals don’t spend a lot of time nesting, they are given the choice to do what they want and some choose to sleep in extravagant nests (Negra), on top of a few simple blankets (Burrito), or without blankets around at all (Foxie). Some also include other items in their nests, which always makes it interesting for caregivers the next day during cleaning! 🙂

Check out today’s video for more!

In other news, tomorrow is a big day- it’s Giving Day for Apes! If you receive our e-newsletter, then you already saw Diana’s email about it (if you’re not subscribed and you would like to be, click here). Diana said it best-

“Tomorrow is Giving Day for Apes, a big day for sanctuaries and rescue centers across the world caring for apes. We are already behind in this competition, and we could use your help!

Make a donation now AND during the 3-4pm PT / 6-7pm ET Power Hour tomorrow.

During that hour, thanks to a generous and loyal donor, all donations up to $15,000 will be matched, plus you’ll put us in the running for additional prizes given to the organization with the most unique donations during that hour (your donation will count as unique even if you gave previously).”

Big things have been happening here at CSNW over the last few years, and it’s all thanks to our generous donors and supporters. Now we’re asking you to help us give both groups of chimps new outdoor areas- which is particularly special, as this will be the first time the Lucky Six (who arrived last year from Wildlife Waystation) will be outside in an open-air enclosure. Thank you in advance for your support!

Annie: in a greenhouse nest that used to be Negra’s, then was Burrito’s at breakfast, and now it is hers!

Burrito:

Dora:

Honey B:

Lucky:

Terry:

A Soothing Sunday

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It’s been a busy, busy day in the chimp house! While the caregivers have been busy with cleaning, the chimps have been busy with play, grooming, and relaxation. A perfect way to kick off the week!

Here are some photos from the day:

Terry mid-climb:

Honey B:

Cy catching up on facts about Mr. Bill Nye [the science guy]:

Jamie:

Lucky:

We hope you had a good weekend!

Be Like Burrito

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Ya’ll, let me tell you that taking care of chimpanzees in captivity is a job full of stress and worry. But Burrito here, even when you know he can be the instigator of drama, shows us why we do what we do. Enjoy the video and take Burrito’s outlook on life to heart.

 

Play Day Tuesday

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As caregiver Grace and I were cleaning Burrito’s playroom, I saw him and Missy engage in a fun play session. They were having such a fun time, the play session lasted a very long time. Every time I tried to pull away from recording to help Grace clean, they would engage in a different game that I had to record.

Here are some bonus photos as well!

Annie eating her breakfast chow biscuits while watching the construction crew work on Young’s Hill.

Gordo also watching the construction while sitting inside a Prima-Rocker in the Oakwood Greenhouse.

Then sitting in one of his favorite spots, the window ledge.

Mave waiting for lunch service to begin.

Negra still cozy in her nest as I said good morning to her when I got in.

Lucky being beautiful as always!

And this guy! I can only imagine what is going through his head.

Oh right! Playing! That’s what’s on his mind!

And don’t forget, Giving Day for Apes is right around the corner! Tuesday, October 11th to be exact! You can help us by donating on our page or by creating a fundraiser page of your own! Be sure to check out when the Power Hours are and other prizes on the 11th to try to make your contribution more impactful!

Gratitude

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A lot has happened over this last week.

Between Willy B’s procedure and our HOOT! fundraiser, we have a lot to be grateful for here at CSNW. Willy B has been recovering well in the front rooms of Phase 1, with visual access to the rest of his group members through multiple windows. The rest of Cy’s group have been checking up on him constantly and many have chosen to sit by the windows to join him in watching the many movies we have been playing for him. The stitches in his nose have been holding up really well (knock on wood) and he seems to be enjoying the enrichment we have been giving him to keep him busy (and to keep him from displaying against the howdy door and riling up his neighbors). He is currently watching Shrek and working on a hanging puzzle… Sunday Fun-day, amiright?!

This past Friday was our signature annual fundraiser, HOOT!, and it was the first time it has been held in person for two years. It was my first time attending and I cannot say how heart warming it was to connect with our sponsors in-person and also virtually (via our Facebook live stream). I am always speechless when I think about the support we receive from so many people across the world. Being a part of an event where everyone is connected by the common goal of supporting CSNW brings this gratitude front and center, so I just want to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you from all of the primates (and cattle) here at CSNW. Whether you have donated to HOOT!, connect with us via our daily blog, support us by being a Chimp Pal or Produce Patron, sending us items from our wish-lists, or supporting us another way, we can’t say thank you enough for allowing us to provide sustainable sanctuary for our residents.

Thank you.

Personally, I am mentally still processing all the events from the past week. I often spend a good amount of time reading outside of work, especially when work gets busier than normal, and often find that other authors have found words to express things that I am unable to voice. Excuse the cheesy-ness of the end of this blog, but a piece by Mary Oliver has really been on my mind lately. I’ve typed out a portion of it below…Maybe it will touch your heart, too.

The Messenger

My work is loving the world.

Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird –

equal seekers of sweetness.

Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.

Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young and still not half-perfect? Let me

keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished…

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy…

telling them over, over and over, how it is

that we live forever.

 

Photos above: Terry and Cy

Cy:

Dora:

Negra, resting in the greenhouse:

 

 

Don’t Be Suspicious… Don’t Be Suspicious

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New foods for chimpanzees can either make them excited, or suspicious. Today, the chimpanzees were introduced to mangosteens. I know that some of you know about Annie’s allergy to mangoes. Don’t let the name of these super fruits confuse you. They are not related to mangoes. They are more closely related to things like starfruit and lychee, though they are really in their own class. The taste has been described as a combination of strawberries, peaches, pineapples, bananas, pomegranates, and lychees, among other things. Again, they really are in a class of their own and hard to describe.

Mangosteens are indigenous to Southeast Asia. Found in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, it is known as the “Queen of Fruits.” Besides being extremely tasty, there are also many health benefits to mangosteens. They are packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, support blood sugar control, and some studies have found they may also help promote weight loss.

Overall, everyone in Foxie’s group loved them! Cy’s group, on the other hand, had mixed feelings. Some didn’t even bother to try them. Those who did try them, however, seemed to love them!

Bonus photo of Cy watching me as I was cleaning their mezzanine yesterday:

Also, don’t forget to check out the online auction items! You can begin to bid on the items you want now! And for those who are attending in person, you can start thinking about which items you are going to bid on! I’m quite partial, and biased, on this beautiful painting of Mave!