Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimp

Boots and Grooming

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As J.B. explained a few weeks ago, Jamie has a particular need from her caregivers lately – that we put on cowboy boots and run or walk around the hill while she walks or runs on the other side of the fencing. She goes back inside the greenhouse once she is satisfied with this activity. Sometimes this is after just one lap around the hill, and sometimes it takes two, or three, or four. Once she’s back in the building, she often wants the boot that she’s been “chasing.”

Lately, though, she doesn’t want the boot immediately. Rather, she wants to sit in the greenhouse and groom the boot while the caregiver is still wearing it. This is precisely what we did this morning.

web jamie groom diana caregiver boot gh 2

 

jamie groom caregiver boot

 

And she groomed my knee for a little while too:

web Jamie groom diana caregiver knee iphone gh

I’m sure all of Jamie’s caregivers would agree that there is very little in life more gratifying than satisfying Jamie.

Green Day Tickets and Resident Rock Stars

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I just sent out an e-newsletter with the exciting announcement of an early Out of the Box auction item available for bidding right now – four exclusive tickets to the April 16th Green Day show in Berkeley, CA plus VIP after-show passes with a meet and greet with band members!

Big, big thanks to Adrienne and Billie Joe Armstrong for this awesome donation to kick off the auction, which is just a month away! AND for the awesome donation of a guitar signed by Green Day band members, which is featured in our online auction. Bidding for that and all other online items opens May 4th- mark your calendars! And buy your tickets for the Seattle gala today.

In honor of Green Day, here’s a photo of rock star Jamie with her purple ukulele:

web jamie play ukulele greenhouse IMG_9637

 

And in honor of Billie Joe specifically, who is a Burrito fan, here is Burrito in one of my favorite photos of all time – personally, I think Burrito should be on the cover Rolling Stone:

small ed Burrito arms crossed outdoor area IMG_1880

 

Easter egg hunt

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(Be sure to check out the earlier post with pictures of the party set-up).

Happy Easter! Today we had a big Easter egg hunt on the hill for the chimps. They seemed to really enjoy it. We kept the fun going and had another forage in the playroom, too! When you’re done looking at all the photos, watch the video at the end to see the chimps getting some Easter goodies.

Burrito with an Easter egg basket:

web burrito easter egg basket party forage enrichment YH IMG_5068

Negra drinking some water out of a watering can (while sitting in her cabin)

web negra cabin easter party enrichment watering can YH IMG_5064

Jamie also liked this watering can, and Jody is here peering on:

web jody jamie peer watering can cabin easter egg enrichment forage YH IMG_5143

Annie really liked a different watering can:

web annie drink watering can enrichment easter YH IMG_5113

Foxie and Annie:

web foxie annie dora easter egg enrichment party forage YH IMG_5193

Foxie walking with Negra:

web foxie negra dora easter egg forage party enrichment YH IMG_5094

Jamie in the cabin:

web jamie easter egg enrichment forage cabin YH IMG_5128

Jamie found all our good hiding spots!

web jamie easter egg forage party enrichment YH IMG_5076

Missy with an Easter egg in her mouth:

web missy bouncy bridge easter egg forage party YH IMG_5059

Negra, looking very happy with her Easter egg:

web negra content face easter egg forage party enrichment YH IMG_5088

 

Negra on her own in the cabin

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There are very few jobs that provide as much fulfillment as working for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. It’s not a stress-free occupation, and there are some heavy issues that we deal with every day, but watching the chimpanzees settle into themselves and their lives at the sanctuary is the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. For me, a lot of that reward and the motivation to get through the stress comes from Negra.

It’s too simple to just say that I love her. I am devoted to her. Each new step she takes fills my heart even more. I mentioned this in my reflections for our 3rd Anniversary blog post, which is fun to read and hard to believe that was almost two years ago! I hope that Negra will be with us for many more years, but you never know what the future will bring. Each moment with her, and with all of the chimpanzees, is precious.

This morning was no exception. Volunteer Connie put out some lettuce on Young’s Hill and served the rest of breakfast in the greenhouse. Once Negra discovered the lettuce (one of her favorite foods) outside, she sat herself down in her cabin and enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the cabin that we named for her while all of the other chimpanzees were in the greenhouse. I didn’t want to get too close with the camera because Negra is at times weary of people taking photos when she’s on the hill, but I did take a few photos from a distance. I hope the photos make you as happy as seeing her out there made me.

Negra in cabin long view

Negra sitting in cabin with lettuce

The greatest staff meeting ever

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Today at the end of our staff meeting, Jamie started stomping in the playroom loft. As we’ve figured out, this seems to mean “please put on one of my boots and chase me around the hill.” We thought it would be fun if we ALL played this game with her. As we all started walking out there, Jamie’s hair stood straight on end and she ran so fast out to meet us—she was so excited! It was a lot of fun, and probably the best staff meeting we’ve ever had. I think Jamie would agree.

full mouths, happy bellies

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We’ve been taken every opportunity with the not-bad weather to spread food over Young’s Hill so the chimpanzees can forage for their meals. They LOVE forages, and it’s nice to see them doing a little bit of what they would do if they lived in the wild. Of course, free-living chimpanzees rely on the bounty of nature to provide their meals. At the sanctuary, the Cle Elum Seven rely on the humans to provide their food. Their food squeaks and full mouths are an indication that we’re doing an okay job.

This morning we spread out a breakfast forage of strawberries, grapefruit, and chow biscuits.

Here’s Jamie collecting strawberries:

jamie foraging

 

Burrito eating some grapefruit while on the move to find more:

burrito foraging

 

Annie and Jamie checking the shakey bridge for food:

annie jamie shaky bridge

 

Missy found the stash in the cabin:

missy eating in cabin

 

Annie put an impossible number of chow biscuits in her mouth, then attempted to also eat strawberries:

annie eating profile

annie full mouth

annie eating strawberry

annie full mouth missy behind