chimp sanctuary

Happy Birthday, Helton!

October 22, 2015 by Katelyn

This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Don and Karen Young in honor of their grandson, Helton Young’s, birthday! Don and Karen have played an integral role in helping to create a sanctuary where the chimpanzees can heal and thrive. They shared this message about today:

“Helton will be 10 years old. He is our only grandson. He loves all animals and misses Emma, our yellow lab. He is an amazing boy with lots of interests, love sports, is on the traveling soccer team, fences, plays baseball, swims, is a voracious reader and is interested in magic. He would love to see CSNW one day.”

Don and Karen, thank you so much for holding the chimpanzees in your heart and including them in your family celebrations. We are thrilled to be celebrating Helton’s special day with you all, he sounds like a special boy.

And Helton, all of us here at the sanctuary wish you the happiest of birthdays filled with adventure and magic! Thanks for sharing your day with the chimpanzees and for seeing how special the animals we share the world with are.

Foxie loves a good adventure:

Running in the Rain

October 18, 2015 by Whitney

It has been pouring rain at the sanctuary all day, and as wonderful as it is, Jamie doesn’t seem particularly thrilled. She insisted that we go for a walk several times early this afternoon, but was deterred by the rain. I could sense her growing frustration, especially as she began tossing trolls and pieces of paper down from the playroom loft. She emphatically gestured toward the cowboy boots again, so I put them on and went to meet her at the bottom of the hill. Again, she was nowhere to be found. I went to the green house to check on her, and as soon as she saw me her eyes opened wide in excitement and she ran out onto the hill! I hurried to catch up with her, and we went for a record speed walk (with intermittent running) around the hill. There’s something exhilarating about running in the rain!

Meanwhile, Annie and Negra kept each other entertained in the playroom:

Serious business

October 13, 2015 by Anna

As you may already know, the sanctuary has an enrichment calendar that we follow in order to enhance the lives of the chimpanzees on a daily basis. In the morning when we clean each area, we may put out lots of paper for them to nest in, or maybe we will put out all the small toys from the enrichment bins in the kitchen. Some days we might put out the ever popular troll scarves! Yesterday was a troll scarf day and first thing this morning we caught Jamie looking quite serious in a knitted blue troll scarf. Upon further cleaning inspection, we found 3 or 4 more troll scarves in an intricate nest she had assembled in the front rooms.

A quick reminder that Great Apes Giving Day starts tonight at 9:00 p.m. PST (midnight eastern time). Check out Diana’s blog post from last week to learn more!

Taking the high road

September 30, 2015 by Katelyn

Jamie often likes to meander on her walks around the hill to climb structures, forage, or just check out the happenings in her kingdom. And when she diverts from the path, she expects whomever is accompanying her to wait patiently in the wings until she is ready to resume walking along the perimeter. It’s pretty funny how well she has us conditioned to her expectations, but it’s a joy to be able to watch her enjoy her time as she periodically looks our way to make sure we are still waiting for her.

Since the climbing structure with Carlene’s Tower and Jamie’s Lookout were built for the chimpanzees, this has become one of her favorite detours. She typically leaves us waiting at the top of the hill as she goes to make her way up the ladder to her Lookout, take in the view, cross the shaky bridge to Carlene’s Tower, and then climb back down the other side. She does a quick search in the foliage below and then usually returns to where she left us waiting so we can proceed on the path around Young’s Hill.

Often we walk in silence, occasionally looking across at one another to offer a head nod (or for Jamie to make sure we’re still wearing her boots). When I walk with her I often stop to take photos or look at something, doing my own exploring, and she will wait for me in return. Sometimes the only sound I hear are her footsteps through the grass as we make our way back to the chimp house. It’s a leisurely stroll with a good friend.

As part of Jamie’s routine she now usually picks up a tumbleweed along the way and carries it back to the chimp house with the plan to groom whatever boots we are wearing with her makeshift tool.

And then as long as it’s during the day and there’s no threat of it being time to close off Young’s Hill for the evening, Jamie often gathers her boots and blankets for a quick nap until it’s time to set off for the next walk.

Today is in honor of Lisa Stuverud!

September 30, 2015 by Katelyn

The wonderful “Pay it Forward for the Chimpanzees” streak continues today through the generosity of the chimps’ good friend, Julie Lawell, who sponsored today’s day of sanctuary in honor of Lisa Stuverud (who sent out out another wave in this ripple effect of giving yesterday, in honor of Lisa Nowak)! Julie shared this message about today:

“Recognizing the bloggers who bring us such wonderful daily news and great pictures and videos seems like a nice tradition to start. I wouldn’t know nearly as much as I do about the chimps and their beautiful sanctuary without the blogs. Its really is wonderful to see the incredible things you do for the chimps and how much their lives have improved by being with you all. Your email is a cherished highlight of my day. Thank you so much!”

Julie, big, big thanks to you for all you do for the chimpanzees and for honoring Lisa and all of us today! We all love writing the blog so much! It makes it even more rewarding to know that sharing the lives of these wonderful chimpanzees with our amazing supporters is not only so welcome and enjoyed, but that it’s inspiring such compassion among our fellow primates.

Burrito, adorable man-chimp extraordaire:

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Thank you, Meg!

September 27, 2015 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by long-time friend and supporter of the sanctuary, Meg Lunnum, in honor of the bloggers here at the sanctuary! We are often asked who writes the daily blog posts and the wonderful thing is that we all do. Each of the staff are scheduled to serve as Lead Caregiver in the chimp house on different days and whoever is lead for the day is the one who writes the blog that day.

Meg is such an incredible advocate not only for the chimpanzees, but for bats as well! Through the non-profit Bats Northwest Meg works to protect our Pacific Northwest bat population and helps educate people about these special mammals and the important role they play in our environment and lives. In sponsoring today, Meg shared this lovely message:

“I’ve been thinking about dedicating a day to the fearless copy writers who write the daily blog. After Wednesday’s “Her Royal-Neggie-ness”, I could wait no longer. Much appreciation to those ink slingers, quill drivers, scribes, scriveners, correspondents, journalists, storytellers, poets, and dramatists extraordinaire who bring to life Negra, Annie, Foxie, Burrito, Missy, Jody and Jamie. You make those of us who read the blog feel a part of the energy and vitality of the chimp sanctuary. Thank you.”

Meg, this was such a kind and generous thing to do, thank you! We are so grateful to you for the immense difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives and are so happy to have you as part of our chimp family.

It’s our goal with the blog not only to offer information and education, but to help all of you feel connected to the chimpanzees and get to know them as the unique and amazing individuals they are. We are honored to be able to share their lives and daily adventures and it’s our sincere hope that you feel a part of their lives. Whether you are just discovering the blog or have been a dedicated follower, thank you so much for taking the time to read/like/share our daily thoughts/ramblings/photos because every single post is inspired by the heart of the sanctuary, the chimpanzees themselves. We couldn’t be more grateful to you for caring about the chimps and for not only making this life possible for them, but building hope for all those still awaiting their sanctuary and all those living their natural wild lives who deserve to do so in peace and protection.

Meg’s pal, Negra:

Her Royal Neggie-ness

September 23, 2015 by Katelyn

The chimpanzees welcomed in the first day of autumn with a breakfast forage on Young’s Hill complete with chimp approved weather – cool air and warm morning sun. Negra, in particular, was exceptionally active, climbing structures and venturing to parts of the hill that we don’t usually see her in. With each handful of food she found she would take the time to sit and enjoy it in the warm sun as she took in the view of her beloved valley below.