Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimp sanctuary

Thank you, Kathleen!

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It’s a big day at the sanctuary today as we celebrate both Negra’s honorary 43rd birthday AND the chimpanzees’ 8th anniversary in their sanctuary home! And we’re so touched that our good friend, Kathleen Corby, chose to sponsor this very special day! Kathleen shared this beautiful message about today:

“I have to quote J.B. from his blog post (06/10/16) on Negra’s special day : “It’s often said that healing is not a matter of forgetting, but of accumulating new memories that, over time, crowd out the bad ones. Eventually, memories of courage and adventure push aside memories of fear and anxiety. Those memories will never be forgotten. But every time I see Negra absorbing the view from the top of Young’s Hill, I think of how far she’s come in these last eight years, and I hope that moment becomes yet another healing memory that pushes an old one further out of reach.” Dear Negra, I love you so. Eight years is such a short time to have come so very far. I am astounded and deeply touched each year by your brave awakenings. I could not do the same. The word “resilience” does not even come close to expressing the amazing capacity of love, strength, and forgiveness that lies within your heart. Today I celebrate all the positive, loving memories that have accumulated in your heart over your 8 years in sanctuary. Happy 43rd Birthday Queen Negra! XOXOXO (And Happy 8 Years CSNW!)”

Kathleen, thank you so much for welcoming the chimpanzees into your big, beautiful heart and for truly being part of their lives each day. What a gift to have you in the world. We truly appreciate all that you do for the chimpanzees and your sponsorship of this amazing day full of celebration, love, and home!

Happy Birthday, Queen Negra! And Happy Anniversary to Annie, Missy, Burrito, Jody, Foxie, Jamie and Negra, the seven people who are the heart and soul of CSNW!
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Jamie and Foxie

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Jamie doesn’t ease up on her role as boss very often, but the one person who does an amazing job at getting her to cut loose and have some fun once in awhile is her friend, Foxie. The time they spend together is usually all about play, typically involving Foxie pulling out all her chimpanzee political prowess to get a troll or Dora doll back from Jamie while avoiding rocking the boss’ boat.

So it was a nice surprise when I recently caught them in a quieter moment together. They had come inside from the greenhouse to see what was on earth was holding up the continuation of dinner service. Jamie was very tolerant considering that the hold up was in part, me taking photos. (Notice Jamie’s undeniable ability to maintain all that attitude despite having a pepper seed on her lip). I’d never be able to pull that off. Yet another reason why she’s the boss.

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Then and Now

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For lunch today, we set out a forage on Young’s Hill.

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Life is so dramatically different for the Cle Elum Seven these days than it was just eight years ago. Gone are the days of climate-controlled, windowless buildings, hard surfaces, and cramped spaces. Life now is bright green grass, warm sun, gentle breezes, and roses for lunch.

Missy:

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Jamie:

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Negra:

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Annie:

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Foxie:

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Burrito:

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Jody:

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Happy Birthday, Jim!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored for the chimpanzees by Jim Thompson! Jim is a long-time Chimpanzee Pal with Burrito and wanted to celebrate his special day by gifting B and his chimp family with their own special day!

Jim, we can’t thank you enough for your continued support of Burrito! Your gifts have helped make it possible for Burrito to expand his boundaries, inside and out, and we so appreciate you including him in your celebration! All of us here at CSNW wish you the happiest of birthdays! And Burrito would probably hope that your day is filled with more good food than you could possibly eat. (Although, I’m not sure he would believe there is such as thing as more food than one could possibly eat). 🙂

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Burrito, All Wrapped Up

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In many ways, Burrito is a typical male chimpanzee. He can be blustery and macho. His loud, boisterous displays often involve him swatting the girls as he charges by them, hair standing on end.

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Still, there is something innocent about him. After living for decades in lab cages with extremely limited contact with others of his species, he has encountered many obstacles on the road to understanding chimp behavior. It seems that he genuinely cannot imagine why the girls would get angry with him when he acts out against them during displays. After hitting someone and inciting their wrath, he has been seen running to that individual for a hug of reassurance – asking for reassurance, not giving it.

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When the other chimps give him submissive greetings, instead of receiving them graciously, he squeezes his eyes shut and looks the other way. Whatever he is feeling in these moments looks a lot like social anxiety.

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Considering how uncomfortable he can sometimes be around the other chimps, it is always inspiring to see him try. And he does try. Joining the others in a grooming session or accompanying Jamie on a perimeter walk will probably always give him a little anxiety, but he is determined to keep pushing his own boundaries.

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Today is in memory of Ben and Jules

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Janet Carroll in memory of Ben and Jules. We are continually moved by the compassion and generosity our supporters bring into the chimps’ lives after they survived for so long in very different circumstances, even their existence unknown to most. And with Sponsor-a-Days in particular it’s so inspiring and touching to see that in peoples’ desire to make the chimps’ lives better, the chimps are also providing an opportunity to honor, remember and celebrate so many others. They’re rather like ambassadors of love and joy.

Janet, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees in honoring the memory of Ben and Jules today! We’re very grateful to you for helping to provide the chimps with the care and home they are thriving in and we hope your day is filled with comfort and joy in your thoughts of Ben and Jules. We will all be thinking of you!

Good friends, Burrito and Foxie:

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