Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Don’t Mess with Honey B

by

I wanted to write a light-hearted blog because, well I think we all need it. But this morning Honey B, Willy B, and Mave had a big fight at breakfast. Don’t worry everyone is fine, but it was an intense one! It was mostly Honey B and Willy B fighting, because Willy B tried to steal her chow. Chow is no joke. Each chimp really looks forward to getting their bags of chow. In general, the three seem to be less physical with each other. They have their occasional fight, but a lot of the time it’s just screaming. This morning, Honey B was not having it. Honey B has always been described as fun and silly, which she is, but I would NOT want to be on her bad side. Honey B can be, let’s go with feisty, but another word could be ruthless. Surprisingly, Honey B tends to avoid any drama that doesn’t have anything to do with her. If Mave and Willy B are worked up she will leave the area, but she also tends to be the person who will strike first if she thinks something is going to happen to her. I won’t lie, I think it works. During the fight, Honey B quite literally beat Willy B with a scooter. Again everyone is fine, but Willy B’s pride might be hurting just a little. Mid-morning we found Willy B grooming Honey B, so I think everything is all good now, but I don’t think he will try taking her chow for quite some time.

On a lighter note, Jamie received a late Christmas present. I am sure many of you are familiar with the Bodies Exhibit. We found the book version and it seemed pretty on brand with Jamie so we put it on the wish list. It finally came today! Jamie was in a very cozy nest upstairs when caregiver Anna went to go give it to her. Instead of coming down right away, Jamie had Anna flip through the pages for her. Later, after lunch Jamie took the book and began skimming it.

This is the page Jamie left her book on.

I think we should get some bonus photos!

Willy B taking a nap.

Yesterday Mave, Willy B, and Honey B watched the chimps from Chimp Haven on Disney+. Mave settled in to watch her soaps.

Jamie was on patrol after hearing the fight this morning. She went straight out onto the Hill to get a better view of the other side.

Burrito <3.

Missy sprinted out onto the Hill and had Burrito and I joined her on a mid-day run! She is seriously so fast! I took a video but I was embarrassed by how heavy I was breathing.

Honey B making a nest with toys this morning.

Watch out for this one, she doesn’t take crap from anyone!

Slight Change of Plans

by

I planned on posting a blog about chimpanzee gestures since a common question we have received in the comments on Facebook, Instagram, and even here within the blog is about when any of them request something from us and how we know. I.e. Jamie requesting to go on a walk, her requesting the Gator, Burrito requesting snowy treats, Foxie asking for a doll, etc. Also because gestures are near and dear to my heart, and has consumed most of my life for the past couple of years as part of my studies. However, as we all know every day is different and what you had planned in mind could change within an instant.

Today was one of those days. Not because anything bad happened. In fact, today was a really calm and smooth day. The chimpanzees were very cooperative in going where they needed to go so we could clean enclosures. Cleaning was done at a relatively fast pace. There were virtually no fights (there were minor arguments, but nothing too serious that resulted from them). All this calm on a day nobody has decided to go outside since it had snowed a little bit last night.

What caused me to change course and post something different were these:

Honey B and Mave had one heck of a play session earlier today. It reminded me of the old Andy Capp cartoon. Just a cloud of fur with feet and hands flung everywhere, and every so often a head would pop out. Except it wasn’t a fight like in the cartoon strips. This was play.

Then there was Honey B at lunch, enjoying her leek.

Kelsi and I debated for a longer time than we would like to admit about which of the two photos were better and to include. So we decided the best decision would for me to just include both of them. Though they are extremely similar, there are some minor differences that add a little pizzazz to each them, respectively. For instance, in the top one you can really see the coloration of Honey B’s eyelids and detail in her face. While the bottom one has the slight little turn away from the camera with a little side-eye that adds a little sass.

For me, these photos HAD to be shared today and could not wait. But don’t fret, I will post the blog about gestures soon enough. Maybe with photos a little better than the ones I currently have. As I mentioned before, every day is different.

Here are some bonus photos from today:

Jamie resting on her favorite barrel.

Willy B looking dashing, while also about to dash to the camera to review this photo.

Chimpanzees

by

This afternoon, I reached back to draw some interesting words from my quiver and found out it was empty.

Instead, I am giving you all that I’ve got: photographs of chimpanzees.

Quirky, unique, fascinating, charismatic, weird, goofy, expressive, resilient, inspiring, celebrated, beloved and deserving chimpanzees.

Weird and Routine

by

Since Anna included it in her Top 10 Sanctuary Videos of 2020, you may have been reminded recently of the video of J.B. and I in the gator racing Jamie at sunset. Thanks to J.B.’s transcription, you know I said, “This is the weirdest job.”

That’s true, in many ways.

The weird, however, has a way of becoming quite routine round here.

Jamie now frequently asks us to get the gator so she can race it, or us in it, or maybe just the boots we are wearing while driving it, around the hill.

Today, she made this request of Kelsi as they were starting off on a walk (you just need to know Jamie and how to interpret her gestures to know what she’s asking for – it’s a learning curve).

Kelsi ran back into the barn and started up the gator and Jamie took off at a sprint to get a head start. This time Burrito, Missy, Annie, and Jody joined the race. I climbed up to the observation deck to get a few photos.

 

Jamie up top, Missy standing bipedally, and Jody’s and Annie’s behinds

Annie catching up

 

Jamie in the lead

 

Missy likes to do things the hard fun way!
Annie and Missy taking in the sights at the end of the walk
Annie seems to really like the view from the top of the Escher structure
Jody sporting a classic drooped lip

Later in the day, Mave was having me play a fun game of chase where she ran around the mezzanine and I went from the human area of the mezzanine, downstairs via the rungs, through the door into the new getting-closer-to-being-finished playrooms, and upstairs to the window, where she was waiting for me.

She thought this was great fun.

While I was playing with Mave, I looked out one of the upstairs playroom windows, which have great views of the hill. Honey B was in the chute and spotted me through the window, so then she and I played a little game of chase where she ran back and forth in the chute and I went from one window to another.

Like J.B. yesterday, my batteries seemed to run out at an alarmingly accelerated pace compared to the chimpanzees.

It was all kind of weird, kind of routine, and very special at the same time.

Ordinary

by

Today was just an ordinary day at the sanctuary. Considering the chaos in the world right now, “ordinary” seems like a VERY good thing to be experiencing. Let’s all take a short break and drink in a little bit of that sweet sweet “ordinary.”

Simple, ordinary moments like…

Missy building a nest in the greenhouse:

Mave (right) grooming Willy B (left):

Willy B looking handsome:

Mave coming along to interrupt my Willy B photo shoot:

And turning it into a Mave photo shoot:

 

This raffle ticket nest I found in the playroom:

And just a peek at our new (coming soon) normal.  Here you can see Honey B playing chase with Anthony in the window.  The photo is backlit because we have electricity in phase 2 now (!!!) and you can see the staircase going up to a loft in one of her new (coming soon) playrooms!!

Cheers to the ordinary!

The Eve of Burrito

by

It was a normal day within all the CSNW Chimp House,

The chimps were grooming, while caregivers tidied the house.

But there was one person who just couldn’t sit still.

He wanted to play and laugh until his heart was filled.

The sounds of kicks and Bronx cheers grew ever so loud,

Should I abandon my duties? Is this even allowed?

I looked to my staff with a quizzical stare,

“I must keep cleaning, but he does not care!”

“Go! He is requesting you! But be sure you stretch! 

For he will run you tired, and an ambulance we might fetch!

He deserves everything his heart would ever desire,

But be cautious, or he will make your body retire!”

And within a flash we were off to the races,

With giggles and laughter, even play faces.

Out the gate and through the snow,

I trudged my way up my steep uphill foe.

I gathered my breath and prepared to run,

While his face seemed to scream, “This will be so much fun!”

My muscles were burning and as I was gasping,

I thought about lying down and just collapsing.

After not once, twice, but thrice around the snowy hill,

We returned to the Greenhouse to continue to play still.

I wished for a break in such long play session,

But none was granted by his absolute obsession.

“Buddy, let’s take it easy today, for there is much more in store,

Tomorrow is your big day, and we will play even more.

There will be treats and snow for the whole fam,

Why, I even heard there may even be a Pasta Cam.

“2020 was just a doozy of a year,

You survived a fight, procedures, and even a rattlesnake scare.

You pulled through, and inspired us all.

Staff, volunteers, interns, and donors big and small. 

“It was you who got us all through this pandemic,

Your joyous laughter, and foot stomps that were seismic.

We hope you have the best of days tomorrow,

Because it was you who helped us through the pandemic sorrow.”

“Happy Birthday, Burrito!” The world will all scream.

You are one of the chimpanzees of our dreams.

So have a good night, and sleep real tight,

Because tomorrow, we will celebrate you with no end in sight.

A Wintry Mix of This and That

by

For those in more mild climates free of cold winter weather, when the forecast calls for a wintry mix, you can expect a little rain, a little snow, a little sleet, a little bit of everything. A little of this and a little of that.

For most of the day, there was rain, though it was more of a drizzle. While tonight calls for some slight snow before it turns to rain again. Though the chimpanzees had access to go outside, everybody felt it better to stay indoors with weather like this. For them, it was a good day to wrap themselves up in blankets and nap.

Willy B felt this was the most optimal course of action for the majority of the day.

While I was taking photos of Willy B, it almost felt like he was modeling different takes for me, which if you know Willy B, he likes to review the photos of himself.

He soon climbed down to take a look.

While he napped, Honey B and Mave groomed.

Before the napping and grooming sessions commenced, they were treated with firehose cubes in the afternoon.

Maybe their excitement over one of their favorite food puzzles put them in a relaxing mood afterward.

While the Seven stayed indoors all day today to avoid walking in the remaining snow and mud, they also felt today called for naps and resting.

Negra was fully onboard with this plan.

Though today was a day of relaxing and staying warm indoors, we just can never truly know what each day will bring and what choices they will make.

Though yesterday had similar conditions minus the rain, the Seven were dashing around the hill, climbing structures, and collecting snow.

Annie was really into her snowy treats yesterday and made several trips outside to grab some of the nearest snow.

Foxie decided she had to try to find some of the further reaching patches left on the structures.

While Foxie had a purpose of collecting snow on the structures, Jamie climbed from structure-to-structure just because she could.

After climbing most of the structures, she returned piloerect, possibly because of the chill factor outside or because she was happy and satisfied with her winter adventure.

Days like these are possible due to our followers and donors who help us care for these 10 unique individuals and to provide them with fun and interesting activities.

This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Marcus Andrews. Thank you so much, Marcus. With your generous gift, you made it possible for us to provide the warmest blankets, fun enrichment, and good meals on a wintry mix of a day.

There are many ways to help support the chimpanzees and cattle who call Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest home. You can become a Chimpanzee Pal to one of the chimpanzees, a Bovine Buddy to one of the cattle, a Produce Patron who helps us provide the freshest of foods, or Sponsor-a-Day of sanctuary like Marcus. These forms of support help us provide a comfortable lifestyle for these individuals who haven’t had the most comfortable life before being brought to sanctuary.