Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee retirement

Today is in honor of Family Day!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Tanis Sklarchuk in honor of Family Day! Tanis sent us the following message:

“February 17, 2014, is Family Day in Ontario, Canada. This day is in honor of CSNW for creating such a wonderful family at the sanctuary, for the chimps and humans alike. Keep up the great work!”

Tanis, this is such a beautiful gift, thank you so much! We are so full of gratitude for you, and all of our wonderful supporters, who make it possible for the chimpanzees to have the family and home they deserve. Whether you live somewhere this day is recognized as a public holiday or not, it’s such a lovely thing to celebrate! Happy Family Day!

Jamie (left) receiving a brow bite/kiss from Negra (right) as she offers her a little reassurance. Just what friends and families are for.

Negra kiss Jamie

And thank you so very much to all of you who have helped us through our Share the Chimp Love campaign this month! We have 10 days left to reach our goal and are almost there! Every single gift makes a difference and helps to ensure that we are able to provide Annie, Missy, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody and Negra with the life long care they deserve. And it helps us to build up our reserves so that in the future we may be able to offer other chimpanzees in need their long awaited sanctuary family and home.

Venturing Out

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Before the chimpanzees go out onto Young’s Hill, they’ll sometimes stand at the door and contemplate for a moment. I often wonder what they’re thinking during this pause in their busy day. Considering that they spent the first few decades of their lives in tiny cages barely bigger than their bodies, I like to think they’re taking a moment to relish two acres of possibility.

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Today the ground is wet from the melting snow, so Missy’s excursions outside were brief and purposeful.

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Happy Birthday, Judy!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Judy Nash! Today is Judy’s birthday and she shared that she is giving herself a day for the chimpanzees, who she’s fallen in love with! Judy, what an incredibly lovely and generous gift to give! Thank you so much for including the chimpanzees in your special day. We hope your day is off to a wonderful start and full of pant hoots and food grunts, just like the chimp house is right now!

On behalf of your Pal, Burrito, and all of the primates here at CSNW, Happy Birthday!!

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It’s Groundhog Day, Again

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Okay, okay, yesterday was actually Groundhog Day but, as it happens, it was also GAME DAY so we may have been a little bit distracted! As it turns out, it appears the Groundhog has predicted 6 more weeks of winter. [And a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win! Oh, wait that wasn’t Punxsutawney Phil, that was me. Did I mention I love football?] Seahawks pride aside, the wind and the snow seem to be in agreement with the prognosticating rodent and have conspired to keep the chimpanzees primarily indoors today.

Annie, in the playroom, relaxing on the bridge:
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Burrito, in the playroom, playing with a wooden toy:
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Negra, in the playroom, lying down on the catwalk and watching Burrito from above:
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Foxie, in the playroom, observing the paparazzi:
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Jody, in the front rooms, relaxing on a bench:
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Missy, also in the front rooms, relaxing on the bench:
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You may be wondering about Jamie’s whereabouts. I can assure you she was around and making her usual rounds but was in no mood to have her picture taken today. Since she is the boss, I was only too happy to oblige her request!

Negra with seeds on her belly

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It’s no secret that Negra has a big place in my heart. I first wrote about my love for her in this blog post from 2008, before the chimpanzees had made the journey across the U.S. to come to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. She has many endearing qualities, including her enjoyment in watching her caregivers dance (as shown in the Dancing with Negra video from 2009), the multiple stages of her droopy lip, and her love of the night bags that we give the chimpanzees after dinner each night (there’s a short video of Negra getting her night bag here).

As mentioned in this post, one of my favorite sights is a very content Negra eating her night bag while the shells of the seeds in the night bag drop on her belly. Tonight, I finally got a few good photos of just this. Negra has lost a little weight at the sanctuary, but, despite our attempts at rationing her food, she still has a buddha belly. She actually eats quite a bit less than the other chimpanzees and isn’t as food focused as, say, Burrito, but she’s also the least active of the chimpanzees. I consider Negra’s shape to be a pretty endearing quality in itself.

I hope these photos make you as happy as Negra with seeds are her belly makes me.

Negra with night bag

Negra eating night bag

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Negra eating night bag goodies

Negra looking at camera with night bag

 

 

Oh, Happy Day

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Today was a happy, happy day at the sanctuary. There was snow on the ground, the sun was shining, and we all celebrated the life and memory of Dr. Mel Richardson. (Thanks again to Lynn, Connie, and Sue and Dawn and Jo for sponsoring today in celebration of what would have been Dr. Mel’s 64th birthday.)

The chimpanzees celebrated in style. The hit of the party was definitely the snow in plastic shot glasses. The chimps have been waiting all winter for snow to eat, and the last couple of days finally delivered.

Jamie:

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Burrito:

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Annie:

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Missy:

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Foxie with snow in mouth and troll in hand:

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After the party everyone found a sunny spot to rest. BFFs Annie and Missy groomed each other in the playroom:

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Negra headed to her favorite spot on the catwalk:

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The day was extra special for Jamie. Bill Jackson, who has done some work for us at the sanctuary in the past, stopped by with a pair of boots. Last time he was here, he noticed that Jamie admired the boots he was wearing, so he came back today to hand them over. The chimps really do attract the best people.

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As we wrap up the day here in the chimp house, we’re thinking of Dr. Mel, and all the good people of the world, and smiling.

In memory of Dr. Mel’s birthday

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Lynn Williamson, Connie Lamm, and Sue Rowlett, in memory of Dr. Mel Richardson. Today would have been Dr. Mel’s 64th birthday. His dear friend, Lynn, wanted to share these beautiful sentiments:

“Happy birthday to our dear friend Mel. I have gone to the phone and laptop a number of times to reach out to you, and then I remember. You are greatly missed. Some of the things I miss most are:  you had my back always, you had a lovely accent, you had a big beautiful smile, you had a wicked sense of humor, you were so smart and witty that I could listen to you talk on any topic – in particular of your adventures, your vast knowledge of, and love for,  animals and veterinary medicine.

Mel also had a resilient personality but a very tender heart. Mel introduced me to the sanctuary and to the chimps – because of that, I have these 7 amazing beings in my life. I also am honored to now be friends with the most amazing bunch of humans who share my values and ethics. So thank you, Mel, for this and more. See you again some day.”    

Jody, Jamie, Annie and Burrito on Young’s Hill:

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And these lovely thoughts from Sue:

“I had never met Mel but have worked with Lynn Williamson for many years and what he shared with, and taught her, was carried forward by her to me and to others. Like when a rock is dropped in the water and the ripples fan out. The difference being Mel’s ripple effect doesn’t stop.”

Thank you so much, Lynn, Connie and Sue, for honoring Mel in such a generous way and for including the chimpanzees in this special day.

Jamie enjoying her view:

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If you have been following our blog recently, you probably realize by now that Dr. Mel was a very special person, loved by so many throughout the animal kingdom. We are truly touched and honored by all those who have wished to honor Dr. Mel’s memory through their support of the chimpanzees. More than one person wished to sponsor today in celebration of Mel’s life so please check back later for another sponsorship and the chimpanzees’ party in his memory.