Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee rescue

Today is for David!

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Our third generous sponsor for today is Jeanette Gann whose gift is in honor of David Gann! Jeanette, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees as you honor David today! This is such a compassionate gift and we are grateful for the difference you make in the chimps’ lives, helping to ensure that all their days are ones of peace, serenity, joy and love. And your gift comes at such an important time when you are not only helping to guarantee a home of sanctuary for these seven amazing chimpanzees, but for other chimpanzees in need who are awaiting their new life in sanctuary.

David, we hope your day is filled with all the good things, just as you’ve helped provide for the chimpanzees today! Have an amazing day!!

This wonderful guy, Burrito:

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Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Today the chimpanzees are celebrating a day of sanctuary gifted to them by Julie Olson in honor of her sister, Karen Olson, on her birthday! Julie shared this message about today:

“I am sponsoring a day for the chimps in honor of my sister Karen’s birthday. She is the biggest animal lover I know and has followed the Cle Elum 7 since they came to the sanctuary.”

Julie, thank you so much for  giving such a compassionate gift for Karen and the chimpanzees! We are so grateful to you both for your support of the chimpanzees and for being part of making their lives in sanctuary better with each passing year.

Karen, we wish the same for you and hope this is your best birthday yet! Happy Birthday hoots from all of us at CSNW!!

Jody is amazing at celebrating each day as she sees fit:

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Happy Birthday, Hannah!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by the chimpanzees’ good friends, Jennifer and David Roers, in honor of Hannah Tracy! Jennifer and David shared this lovely message about today:

“Happy 40th birthday to one of the best people we know. Hannah is an amazing person and a joy to have in our lives. We love you, pretty lady. Have a fantastic birthday.”

Jennifer and David, we have so much gratitude for all you do to fill the chimps’ lives with love, comfort, and care! It means so much to us that you would think of them as you honor Hannah today.

And Hannah, happiest of birthdays to you from all the primates here at CSNW! We hope this is the best one yet and wish you a day filled with all the joy and celebration of life the chimpanzees are being provided with in your honor! Thank you for sharing your special day with them!

Here’s one of the pretty ladies of the sanctuary, beautiful Jody, doing what she loves best: enjoying her forage goods and nesting with abandon!

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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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