Here is the follow-up to Ellen’s blog video last week. If you haven’t watched it yet make sure you do before diving into today’s video: Open Wide: Endoscope Training
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Five Years of the Lucky 6!
Today marks 5 years since the Lucky 6 arrived at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Can you believe it? Personally, I can’t imagine this sanctuary without them. One of the biggest joys of working for a sanctuary is watching the chimps flourish in it. From watching Rayne walk out onto the Bray for the first time, like she had done it every day of her life to small things like learning unique traits about each and everyone of them, like Cy finding a love for People magazine or Gordo’s love for boxes & being poked playfully with a spoon by his caregivers. Terry’s gorilla chest thumps to intimidate Jamie’s group, but in reality Terry is gentle by nature and kind-hearted. Dora has a very quiet demeanor, but if you watch closely she can be a social butterfly within her close friends. And for Lucky a friendship is not always given freely, but if you earning it, you have a friend for life.
I think I can speak for everyone at the sanctuary when I say it has been an honor and a privilege to know each and everyone of them.
The Gatorade Heist
Today was one of those rare quiet and peaceful days where the chimps were all busy doing their own thing. However, I was able to snag a few photos!
Annie ever-so slyly got Negra’s Gatorade bucket that she didn’t finish. Miraculously, Jamie didn’t even get mad once she realized Annie had it. But Burrito and Foxie intensely supervised Annie drinking the bucket of Gatorade. Annie also declined the opportunity to offer or share any.
Missy quickly came to Negra’s side to groom her while nesting.
And Dora had an especially nice morning eating her apples!
Negra enjoying some wild roses and chives on a breezy afternoon.
The Third Annual Kittitas County Pride Parade
Last Saturday, we participated in the Kittitas County Pride Parade. No wind or rain was going to stop us, thankfully the weather held out just long enough! This event is something we look forward to every year! The Pride Parade is always fully of energy, joy, and so much love. As Diana mentioned in her blog, we share our float with Primate Awareness Network (PAN) every year, all of the students and volunteers are so creative, making our float so fun and colorful. It’s fun to watch this event get bigger and better every year, that includes the people that walk with us, but also the parade itself gets bigger. Every year I round the corner to our little downtown, I am filled with so much pride, the crowd is full and you can feel the love and support. It’s heartwarming to see our community celebrate and come together! You can hear the cheering and encouragement. And isn’t that what community is all about?
It makes me so proud that CSNW can be a part of something like that!
I have to give a big thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and Ozzie and her family. Ozzie and her family made so much food, not only for all the parade participates, but also for all the volunteers and staff that had to stay behind and work that day. The menu was exquisite and the food was superb! This amazing event could not have happen without everyone’s support whether they were in the chimp house, decorating the night before, or walking in the parade. Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work. I can’t wait for next year!
Ozzie’s Menu:
Vegetarian Rainbow Sandwich (aka: Annie She’s A Rainbow Sammie)
Vegan BLT ( The Willy B. LT)
Sunbutter, Jelly & Jalapeno ( The Little George)
Avocado & Maple Glazed Tempeh ( The Elegant Mave)
VEGAN BLACKBERRY, BASIL AND RICOTTA PRESSED SANDWICH (The Jamie Summer Sammie: aka The Bionic Chimp!)
Vegan Ranch Chickpea Wrap (The Rayne Wrap)
Heirloom Tomato Sandwiches (aka The Missy Special)
Tomato, Basil & Artichoke Picnic Sandwich (The Farmer Jo)
Chickpea Shawarma Wraps (The Spicy Burrito)
Cranberry Chickpea Salad (The Queen Negra) (served in an iceberg lettuce leaf of course!)
Sweet Potato & Avocado Tartine Sandwiches ( The Deep Cy)
Herbed Vegan Potato Salad (The Foxmeister General)
classic vegan macaroni salad ( The Dora Explora)
Grilled Corn Salad (The Tezza)
Sweet and Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad (Gordo’s Greenhouse Salad)
Raw Vegan Taco Salad (The Lucky Deluxe!)
Vegan Banana Pudding (The Honey B-Good)
Coconut Layer Cake
A bag of GF choc chip cookie
Seedless Watermelon
Dr Pepper
Polar Sparkling Water
Chips, Dips and Pretzels
Benny:
Few of the many decorations:
The float and crew:
Happy Pride Month!
Look How Far We’ve Come
It’s my favorite time of year. When the grass is green and so tall you can barely see the chimps! As I went to take pictures of Jamie’s side of the building this morning, I looked over to the Bray and saw all of Honey B’s group outside on the Bray.
It made me reflect on how far their group has come. Nowadays, Mave spends a lot of her time out on the Bray. I remember a time when she was too afraid to go out. I love watching her and Honey B become so comfortable outside it’s now a preference for them. Sometimes even holding out from shifting so that they can keep it longer.
To me, it is a reflection of what sanctuary offers: providing choice and consistency for them. So that one day things like going outside, something that should have always be accessible to them in their prior life, are now always given, with the hope that one day it will not be so scary. But also recognizing that we have to meet the chimps where they are. Some may never go outside because of the fear, but the choice will always be there for them.
Today, when I looked out to the Bray to see Honey B, Willy B, and Mave all outside at the same time, I just felt really proud of them, for how far they have come.
Mave:
Honey B:
Willy B:
Fresh From the Garden
Spring has sprung in Central Washington, which means our personal gardens are finally in bloom, so it’s time to cut some roses for the chimps!
Morning Stroll
This morning after breakfast, Jamie very enthusiastically gestured for Dusty and I to go on a walk. It had been a while since I had gone on a walk, so I looked at Dusty and say “Well, let’s go then!”, and a walk we did! We went for a nice and slow perimeter walk where Jamie looked for snakes and Missy collected as many yellow goatsbeard weeds in her mouth as she could! It was a really nice way to start the day. I hope this walk made your day the way it did for Dusty and I!
Bonus Terry:
