Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee retirement

Thank you, Erin!

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Erin Delsol gave the chimpanzees the gift of sponsoring a day of sanctuary for them today! Erin is a former volunteer in the chimp house and sends this message:

“I volunteered in the kitchen for a few months, and was so enamored with the chimpanzees! This work is so important.”

Erin, thank you for holding the chimps in your heart and for making their lives here possible with your support. We are looking forward to a new year full of even more possibilities; full of boundless hope, love, home and sanctuary not only for Annie, Missy, Jody, Jamie, Foxie, Burrito and Negra, but for the additional family members we hope will soon be able to call the sanctuary their home as well.

Jody is someone who I think embraces everything life has on offer for her, each day of every season:

In honor of Brian and Polly Caughey

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kevin and Diane Eilmes in honor of Brian and Polly Caughey! Kevin and Diane shared this message about today:

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Brian and Polly. We are big believers in the mission of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. We know you will enjoy the chimps as much as we have.”

Kevin and Diane, thank you so much for not only including the chimpanzees in your life, but sharing your love for them with others. Your generosity and compassion make the chimps’ lives in sanctuary possible. Your generosity and compassion also make hope, love, home and family possible and we’re so grateful to you.

Brian and Polly, we hope you enjoy getting to know the chimpanzees as the special and unique individuals they are. Thank you for being part of our amazing chimp community!

Meet our boss, Jamie:

In honor of the Cle Elum 7!

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This Christmas Eve was sponsored for the Cle Elum 7 by friends and advocates of not only the chimps, but all our fellow animals, Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor! Kery and Terran give so much of their time and hearts to advocating for the well-being of animals and creating a compassionate world community. We are thrilled to start off almost a full week of sponsorships and celebration with their generous gift for the chimpanzees.

Kery and Terran, thank you so much for all you do to make the world a kinder, gentler, safer sanctuary for us all, especially for those who are most in need of it. Thank you for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts:

Annie (bottom) and Missy (top):

Annie and Missy top of Twister

Burrito:

Burrito lookout

Foxie and Dora:

Master Forager, Jody:

Negra picking wild lettuce:

And Jamie, Queen of her world:

Staff and volunteers have been like elves in the chimps’ workshop these last weeks processing all the incredibly generous and compassionate gifts pouring in for the chimpanzees, not only for the holidays, but for an even brighter future. From our hearts, thank you. Thank you. You have all given the gift of sanctuary and we are profoundly grateful to you.

However, you choose or don’t choose to celebrate this time of year, all of us here at CSNW wish you holidays and a season full of joy, hope, comfort, kindness, beauty and gratitude. Be sure to check in for the chimpanzees’ Christmas extravaganza tomorrow and have a magical Christmas Eve!

The things we do.

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We are supposed to have a big winter storm headed our way tomorrow, but today has been dry and sooooooo cold, remaining well below freezing all day. So the chimps have been hunkered down in the toasty chimp house for the most part. They are handling it like troopers, but it can be extra challenging to try to pre-empt the inevitable boredom that comes with being stuck inside all day. So it’s in our mind throughout the day to come up with new, interesting, and even silly things.

One way to break up any tedium is for the humans to act as enrichment and attempt to entertain the chimps. So volunteer caregiver, Holly, and I took turns wearing a vibrant purple wig she brought in. Sometimes we get mixed reactions. Jamie will often look us up and down and just stare at us as if to express how embarrassed she is for us given our foolish behavior. Foxie will sometimes spit at us. And sometimes they will completely ignore us. But the wig was a hit with all today and had Foxie hanging upside down laughing and kicking the ceiling with her feet! Burrito was full of kisses for us and Missy thought it was pretty hilarious. Even the boss gave several head-nods of approval. So naturally, I had to have ever-the-good-sport Holly don the wig for lunch service. It’s the little things…:

Holly serving Jamie as Annie and Jody wait patiently:

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Jody, Annie and Jamie (and Holly, of course):

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After lunch, Jamie decided freezing temps or not, we were going for a walk. Missy is a good right-hand gal to Jamie and reluctantly, braved the cold with her. Missy kept stopping to wait for Annie who gave it a go, but in the end stood huddled with her arms wrapped around herself and then hightailed it bipedally back to the warm chimp house:

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So Jamie and Missy and I carried on:

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By the time we reached the downhill back to the chimp house we all decided to pick up the pace:

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When it’s below 20 at night we close off the greenhouse to help maintain heat in the chimp house overnight. And the chimps wouldn’t be out there when it’s this cold anyway. After a warm dinner of roasted acorn squash, mini-peppers and onions along with peanut butter and banana inside cups for evening enrichment, and extra blankets still warm from the dryer, everyone is settled inside for the night. Jamie just asked for her favorite boots to sleep with and I just turned off the chimps’ lights. Everyone is tucked into their nests safe, warm and cozy for the night. So goodnight from the chimp house!

Today is for Chaela!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Glen Rinzler in honor of Chaela Ferguson! Glen has been a supporter and friend of the chimpanzees since they arrived to their sanctuary home and we are so happy to celebrate Chaela with him today.

Glen, thank you so much for your continued friendship of the chimps and for all you do to ensure their lives are overflowing with love, respect, adventure, joy, and family. We’re so happy that you chose to include them as you honor Chaela today!

Chaela, we hope you have a beautiful day! May it be full of all that brings you joy, just as you’ve helped provide the chimpanzees!

Jamie and Foxie play wrestling over a troll. Those play faces!:

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The Lost Photos

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Many of the photos we take of the chimpanzees each day never make it onto the blog. Here are a few that I’ve taken in the last couple of weeks that I just found hiding on the hard drive.

Jamie:

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Burrito:

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Annie:

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Jody:

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Negra:

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Speaking of photos you may have missed, the 2017 CSNW Calendar is now available in our online store! Here’s a sneak peak:

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If you’re as smitten with these chimps as we are, don’t pass up the opportunity to look at their amazing faces every day of the year!

A couple of moments with a couple of chimps

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Missy enjoyed a moment of solitude and sunset on the Twister:

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While Foxie said an upside down goodnight, tucked up high on a bench in one of the front rooms:

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And thank you hoots heard ’round the world to all who made possible and all who were able to participate in Great Apes Giving Day yesterday! You made a huge difference in the lives of these seven chimpanzees! We are so thrilled to see so much support given not only to our chimp family, but to so many other great apes in need all over the world.

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