Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee retirement

Happy Birthday, Shelly!

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Michael Horton in honor of his sister, Shelly Horton, on her birthday! Michael shared this wonderful message about today:

“My sister is the biggest chimpanzee fan in the world. In lieu of pursuing a career in Primatology, which is something she always wanted and still wants, she chose to become a teacher so 10-year-olds across our community will always be aware of the plight of the chimpanzee.”

In having the good fortune of getting to know Shelly as one of our incredible supporters, it’s been so wonderful to learn of her long-time love and respect for chimpanzees. Through her dedication and passion to help bring awareness to the issues chimpanzees face, she helps inspire her daughter and students so that they might feel empowered to make a difference in the world around them. What an incredible gift to give, not only for the chimpanzees, but for a young generation that the future of chimpanzees will depend upon.

Michael, thank you so much for celebrating Shelly by making the chimps’ lives better! We appreciate all that you and your family do for them and are thrilled to honor Shelly here today!

Shelly, thank you for all the support you, Lainey, and your students have shown the chimpanzees, we so appreciate all that you do! Never underestimate the ripple effect your compassion will have in the world. All of the primates here at CSNW wish you the best birthday yet surrounded by all that makes your heart happy!! And to start your day off, we’re sharing photos of people in your life who I know do just that:

Shelly’s adorable daughter, Lainey, with her impressive stuffed primate collection, begun by her mom:

lainey_horton_shelly_horton_sponsor_a_day_IMG_9649

We recently shared copies of “A Chimpanzee Tale” by Karen Young with Shelly’s amazing 5th grade students in Texas. They made the chimpanzees a beautifully detailed Christmas tree and birthday cards for Burrito in celebration of his recent 33rd birthday! We so appreciate the care and interest these children show for the chimpanzees and are thrilled to see them making a difference in the chimps’ lives as they learn about the amazing beings we share the earth with.

shelly_horton_students_with_chimp_tale_books_IMG_9640

And of course, Shelly’s handsome pal, Burrito:

web_Burrito_cute_bite_fire_hose_lay_gh_dg_IMG_0269

Today is in honor of “Best Buddies”

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by an anonymous supporter on his wife’s birthday in honor of “Best Buddies.” To our anonymous supporters, thank you so much! This is such a lovely sponsorship and in celebrating your best buddy, you honor the chimpanzees and those they hold dear, making it possible for them to experience life as they deserve. And we are immensely grateful for that. All of us here at the sanctuary wish you both a day of joy, comfort and love as you celebrate! And Happy Birthday!

Best buddies come in many forms and are not exclusive to human relationships. Whether on the go, at rest, or even having a disagreement, Annie and Missy are never far from one another’s side:

web_Missy_annie_look_both_ways_YH_jb_IMG_0350

Missy chase Annie

Missy Annie running behind

web_Annie_Missy_groom_close_structure_gh_dg_IMG_3709

web_Annie_Missy_hold_hands_jody_GH_jb_IMG_0846

Boat Bumper Ball Antics

by

One of the first nearly chimp-proof enrichment items the chimpanzees had after arriving to the sanctuary was a “boat bumper” donated by long-time supporter Kathy Benson, who found it at a garage sale.

Below is a photo of Annie (yawning) holding the toy. This was taken in July of 2008, less than a month after the chimpanzees arrived.

Annie with boat bumper

 

Recently, I searched on amazon for the same thing, remembering how much fun it had been for the chimps all those years ago. It turns out the big ones are fairly expensive, and I didn’t know if it would last as long, so I opted to get a small version and see how things went…

 

I do like how portable this version is –

MIssy carrying boat bumper

but given Jamie and Missy’s keen interest in “opening” the ball, I’m not sure how long it will last. What do you think?

Happy New Year!

by

The chimpanzees have spent the last two meals welcoming 2016 in the only way we know how, with back to back forage parties! Last night they had a black and white themed forage complete with a sparkling pear cider “champagne” toast and today we broke out another bottle of cider and the chimpanzees had a New Year’s Day brunch forage.

The party meal..
Pear cider with black eyed peas, persimmons, kale, and a box of mixed nuts:
web_New_Year's_Day_brunch_pr_aw_IMG_7708

The party attendees..
Annie:
web_Annie_New_year_party_pr_dg_IMG_7800

Burrito:
web_Burrito_New_Year_plate_pr_dg_IMG_7721

web_Burrito_new_year_plate_empty_pr_dg_IMG_7730

Jamie licking out smoothie from a tiny glass:
web_Jamie_smoothie_shot_pr_dg_IMG_7741

Jody:
web_Jody_New_Year's_Day_box_pr_dg_IMG_7717

Missy stacked her plates to keep everything together:
web_Missy_double_plates_pr_dg_IMG_7768

Negra lost a bit of her brunch on the floor:
web_Negra_new_year_plate_pr_dg_IMG_7738

But she still managed to get some of it back to her upstairs nest:
web_Negra_champagne_glass_pr_dgIMG_7764

Foxie was on hand to vacuum up Negra’s lost black eyed peas:
web_Foxie_vacuum_black_eyed_peas_new_year_pr_dg_MG_7794

Foxie again:
web_Foxie_straw_champagne_glass_pr_dg_IMG_7790

If you haven’t seen it yet, please enjoy this video as we look back on some of the best moments of 2015. Wishing you and yours, a very Happy New Year from all of us at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest!

Thank you, Ron!

by

In welcoming this new year, we also welcome a new supporter and friend to our sanctuary family! Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored for the chimpanzees by Ron Michaud! Ron shared that he just learned of the chimpanzees and the history of the sanctuary while speaking with our Co-Director, JB Mulcahy, during a flight they shared and he added this message about today, “What a great thing he has done for these chimps!! Hope they get more to add to the family.”

I always say that working here is less of a job and more a way of life. We are all so passionate about the chimpanzees and if you speak to any of us for very long you are most likely going to hear about each of these amazing beings and the incredible group of people who have come together (to include each of you) to make their lives in sanctuary possible. And as we look at providing wonderful futures for Annie, Missy, Burrito, Foxie, Jody, Jamie and Negra, we’re also thrilled to be moving ahead with plans to grow our sanctuary family so we can provide other chimps with the hope, love, home and sanctuary they also deserve.

Ron, thank you so much for sponsoring this New Years Day of sanctuary! We’re thrilled that in learning of JB’s work and the chimpanzees you shared that passion and were immediately inspired to make a difference in the chimps’ lives and we really appreciate you starting their year off with such a compassionate gesture. 2015 has been an incredible year and we are so excited as we look ahead to 2016! Happy New Year!

The Queen of the sanctuary, Negra:

Negra close-up

Snow removal crews

by

After days, weeks really, of endless snow and treacherous commutes for staff and volunteers alike, this morning dawned a new day. Achingly gorgeous clear, blue skies, a pink sunrise with bald eagles flying overhead, glittering snow, and much to the caregivers’ delight, clear (and dare I say almost dry!) roads to drive to work on. The quintessential beautiful winter day:

web_snow_glitter_yh_drift_kd_IMG_7232

The chimpanzees, especially Jamie, have been real troopers waiting out the snow. So first thing this morning, Diana, Anna and I decided to shovel some walkways and around Young’s Hill and line them with straw for the chimpanzees to venture out. All the chimps had been watching us intently from the playroom windows and when we stepped back into the greenhouse, Jamie was more than ready to get a look at what we had done.

When I gave the chimps access to Young’s Hill, Jamie was ready and waiting and literally squeezed through the doorway as it was opening. She immediately headed onto the hill, grabbing the toy shovel we had left on her way and headed out to help finish clearing the pathways.

web_jamie_walk_yh_shovel_kd_IMG_7591

web_jamie_walk_yh_shovel_snow_III_kd_IMG_7593

And it wasn’t long before she had a back-up snow removal crew member with Annie! Annie! Can you believe it?! (The other chimps were watching from the raceway while sitting in the sun):

web_jamie_annie_snow_shovel_yh_I_kd_IMG_7601

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_help_kd_IMG_7602

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_look_camera_kd_IMG_7604

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_watch_kd_IMG_7605

Jamie initially started shoveling with the shovel side down and then tried out the handle. The second I reminded her to turn it back around she did and carried on with her snow removal project.

web_jamie_shovel_snow_annie_look_yh_kd_IMG_7609

web_jamie_annie_shovel_snow_yh_kd_IMG_7610

That’s their breath clouding around Annie:

web_annie_watch_jamie_shovel_snow_kd_IMG_7611

When Jamie was satisfied (and probably a little cold!) she headed back inside, but Annie decided to enjoy the morning sun for a view minutes on her own.

web_annie_sit_snow_see_breath_kd_IMG_7612

Once she’d had enough of the cold morning she headed back to the warmth of the greenhouse. I don’t know what we humans would do without some help from these amazing chimpanzee people:

web_annie_walk_bipedal_in_snow_yh_kd_IMG_7614

web_annie_bipedal_snow_to_raceway_kd_IMG_7617

The chimpanzees and humans have been so incredibly fortunate this holiday season, our hearts and sanctuary home filled with the kindness and generosity of all of you. I would like to share another very special gift the chimpanzees received! The amazing children of Ms. Horton’s 5th grade class made this Christmas tree and each beautiful, heartfelt ornament on it. We are so touched that they all would take the time and care to make the chimpanzees such an awesome gift for Christmas and send it all the way from Texas! We hung it up right outside the chimpanzees’ front rooms where they can all enjoy looking at it. Thank you so much!!

web_shelley_horton_5th_grade_class_xmas_tree_for_chimps_kd_IMG_7661

 

Thanks to David and to Elizabeth!

by

In case you missed this morning’s blog post, we are incredibly grateful to have THREE people sponsoring today for the chimpanzees, our first of whom is Tracy Headley.

Our second sponsor of the day is David Visneau! David, thank you so  much for your generosity, we truly appreciate you thinking of the chimpanzees and making a difference in their lives!

And our third sponsor for today is Elizabeth Steele, in honor of Lars and Becca Jorgensen! Elizabeth shared this message about today:

“This donation is in honor of Becca and Lars Jorgensen and their love and devotion to the Cle Elum Seven.”

Lars and Becca are dedicated chimp house volunteers who drive all the way from Seattle as often as possible to help care for the chimps. They go above and beyond in countless ways, from Becca picking up our generous produce donations from Darwin’s Natural Pet Foods multiple times a month to bring with her, to being Boss Jamie’s right-hand woman when it comes to walking around the perimeter of Young’s Hill multiple times a day! We are so fortunate to have Lars and Becca as part of our chimp family and are happy to see them honored today.

Elizabeth, thank you for honoring Lars and Becca and for sharing in the love they have for the chimpanzees and the dedication to making their lives better.

Boss Jamie:

web_Jamie_lips_move_portrait_studio_aw_IMG_1167

Becca, Jamie and Missy patrolling the territory:

web_jamie_missy_walk_with_volunteer_becca_YH_jb_IMG_3081

Jamie luxuriating in her nest while wearing the gift of a new pair of boots from her friend, Becca:

web_Jamie_lie_in_blanket_nest_wear_boot_from_volunteer_Becca_look_at_camera_PR_ek_IMG_2776