Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Sometimes Jamie can be quite destructive, with her great displays that show her domination, and her investigations of enrichment. So in contrast, I really love how delicate she looks with this small cherry tomato in these pictures from the other day. (I also really love the amazingly vibrant green grass in the background!)
If Negra is the Queen of the Cle Elum Seven, Jody is the Queen of Nest Building and Relaxation.
Jody is hands down the best nest builder I know. She is definitely an artist about it, and will often use as many as 20-30 blankets. We put out tons of new straw and alfalfa hay in the greenhouse yesterday, so Jody forewent the blankets and made herself an amazing nest right on the ground.
Today was Earth Day and thankfully it was an absolutely beautiful, almost summery, day for it! It’s been around 75 degrees this afternoon and very little wind (which we get a lot of around here!) so I gave the chimps Young’s Hill as early in the day as possible. We didn’t have a full-fledged party, but it’s pretty surreal to think that after decades of bars and concrete, finally the chimps truly got to celebrate Earth Day on the grass and with no bars overhead.
Missy and Annie spent some time sitting on the grass in the shade
Foxie climbed up high to enjoy the view
Jamie and volunteer caregiver Stephanie went for a little walk around the perimeter of the hill
And Burrito climbed up a climbing structure he hasn’t explored yet
It must feel so good to have blue skies overhead with no bars!
These pictures just remind me how awesome it is that the Cle Elum Seven now get to spend time with grass under their feet after decades of small barren cages. Even after 7 months, it is still so amazing to see them out there.
Sometimes I feel there is nothing more special than seeing Negra play. And there really couldn’t be a better combo than Negra and goofy Foxie.
(Be sure to watch this video to the very end. It’s hard to see through the caging, but well worth it once you do!)
The grass is turning green, flowers are beginning to bloom and the wind is blowing. I think it’s official- Spring has finally sprung here in Cle Elum!
Even though the chimps don’t enjoy the wind too much, they’ve still been spending more time out on Young’s Hill. Here’s a photo J.B. took the other day of Missy enjoying the view. I just love seeing them in the green grass.
Today we did a big lunch forage on Young’s Hill. It was fairly windy, so Negra decided to enjoy her lunch in the greenhouse, but the rest of the crew went out and thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
Burrito
Foxie
Jamie’s food squeaks were out of this world!
Missy came running over to reassure Jamie during all the excitement
And Jamie kissed her back
After everyone had collected all the most exciting stuff (bell peppers, oranges, lettuce, onions), Missy went back and collected a ton of celery!
