You wouldn’t know it’s July by the weather in Cle Elum today. It’s cool and overcast, and we’ve had some intermittent light rain. For the chimpanzees, this is a perfect excuse to snuggle up with some soft blankets.
Annie:
Jody:
Burrito:
chimpanzee rescue
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July from the Cle Elum Seven!
Today is in memory of Maxine Stark
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kimberle Stark in memory of her mom, Maxine Stark. Kimberle shared this lovely message about her mom:
“My mom passed away on July 4th and she loved chimps and loved the sanctuary for the good life you’re now providing for the chimps who deserve a better life.”
Kimberle, we’re just honored that you would think of the chimpanzees today. Thank you so much for wanting to give them a special day in honor of your mom. It makes us so happy to know how much Maxine loved the chimps and we will all be celebrating her life with you, along with all the many forms of freedom generous supporters like you make possible for the chimpanzees to experience in their sanctuary home. Especially, the freedom to just be. Our hearts are with you today and we wish you a day surrounded by the love and memories of your mom.
Jody:
Negra:
Annie:
In memory of Bryan
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Judy Riner in memory of her husband, Bryan Riner, and she shared this beautiful message about her special gift in his honor:
“Bryan Riner loved and respected chimps. He especially enjoyed following the lives of the Cle Elum Seven, and he would be proud to know that his family honors his memory in this way. He was a loving husband and father, and that love and compassion extended to all species.”
Judy, thank you so very much for this special gift in Bryan’s memory. You and your family have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we are honored to celebrate Bryan here today. All of us here at the sanctuary will be holding you all in our hearts and minds. We hope that the love you extend to the chimpanzees, enabling them to live their lives full of joy and comfort, is felt all around you as you celebrate Bryan and his wonderful legacy of compassion and respect for all our fellow beings.
Annie and Missy:
Burrito and Jody:
Foxie and Negra:
Jamie and Negra:
Bubbles
Once in awhile we make bubbles for the chimps with a small drop of non-toxic dish soap. They seem to like how the bubbles feel in their mouths.
Taking it all in
Jamie has been taking in the views of her kingdom for the last hour. Caregiver in tow wearing Jamie’s chosen cowgirl boots du jour, of course.
Year Four
In celebration of CSNW’s 8th Anniversary, we are taking a trip down memory lane. Today we look back on the chimpanzees’ fourth year at the sanctuary.
By the beginning of Year Four, we had a long-standing dream of expanding the sanctuary and giving the chimpanzees a spacious, open-air outdoor habitat, unlike anything they had experienced in their lives.
Young's Hill – The Dream from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest on Vimeo.
By the summer of 2011, thanks to help from supporters Karen and Don Young and so many others, Young’s Hill was nearing completion.
The chimpanzees were able to watch the construction from the greenhouse, but it’s hard to say what they thought of it. We hoped that they knew it was for them. They were certainly curious.
As the big day approached, we all tried to predict how the chimps would react to the door to Young’s Hill being opened for the first time.
For most of them, this would be the first time in their long lives that they would feel grass under their feet and have an unimpeded view of the sky above. We guessed that they would probably be too apprehensive to stay outside for long on the first day, and that some of them would likely be too afraid to venture out at all.
We should have known not to underestimate them.
On the day that the door to Young’s Hill was opened for the first time, all of the chimpanzees showed astonishing courage by stepping eagerly into the great unknown. Watch video of their exhilarating first moments outside. It was an emotional day for the chimps and for all the humans who love them.
The opening of Young’s Hill set off a series of firsts for the chimpanzees that year. It was the first time they were sharing a habitat with other creatures, and they had to deal with a lot of strange noises.
Having lived in indoor or partially-indoor enclosures for their entire lives, they had never fully experienced weather or seasons. On Young’s Hill they encountered sun, wind, rain, and snow.
Despite their burst of courage and adventurousness on the first day, not everyone felt immediately at home outside. We saw the more confident chimps support and encourage the more hesitant individuals.
We all got chills seeing the chimps behave like a wild troop for the first time, now that they had a territory to patrol.
And we continued to be amazed as they stretched their legs and their horizons.
