Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Fort Honey B

by

Honey B likes to build nests with blankets, toys, paper and boxes. We discovered yesterday that Honey B builds forts. Earlier this week, caregiver Anna and I found a broken down box that we put out for enrichment. As we cleaned the Mezzanine, we noticed the box wasn’t just in the nest as nesting material, but setup almost like a barricade (no photo was taken). Fast forward to yesterday, when we set out more boxes, not really thinking they would actually build a fort. Anna and I were almost done with the day, just finishing up our last checks, when Anna called me on the radio to come look.

It was magnificent! A perfectly circled box fort, with a built in green bench to complete the fort! It looked almost too perfect. We actually had to text our volunteer Lisa to ask if she had set it up. With her confirmation that she did not make the fort, Anna and I could say with confidence that this was Honey B.

I mean, just look at the craftsmanship!

While Honey B built her walls, there were walls being built outside her window this week. The expansion is really coming along!

For Honey B, boxes can be used for other things. This morning, as Anna served the three breakfast, Honey B really wanted to drink some juice that was meant for Mave. In an effort to get the cup off the table, she slyly pushed her flattened box out to its full extent. We couldn’t say no to such a clever attempt, so of course Honey B got to drink some juice as well.

We just absolutely love Honey B. Life is never boring with her by your side 🙂

    

The blanket shredder strikes again!

by

As we welcome Autumn to the sanctuary, we also welcome the days of cozy nests. Negra in particular is usually found on top of a mountain of fabric,  with a nice big blanket pulled all the way up to her chin.

And then there’s Jody…  Jody loves a big nest… but she also loves to alter hers in a certain way.

You might notice how Jody’s “shred until comfortable” nesting technique interferes a bit with Negra’s “big blankets are best” nesting technique.  This shredding behavior really came to a head last year and Kelsi had to put out a call for blankets to refresh our supply.  Well that time has come again, we need more blankets!

This time around, we are on the hunt for some heavier duty blankets that are still easy to wash/dry but are less easy to tear in half (in addition to our usual polar fleece blankets).  We think some thicker faux minky type blankets might be what we’re looking for. We need thick blankets with a solid strong edge seam! Check out our Amazon Wishlist for some of the blankets we’ve added so we can keep all the chimps as cozy as can be this year.

Jamie:

Burrito:

Annie:

Willy B:

Mave:

Honey B:

Missy:

 

Blame it on the Computer

by

Okay, so I had this whole blog planned out! However, the computer has told us that it is tired and does not want to load my video right now. All good things come to those who wait, right? So please look out for a video of Honey B this weekend. For now, I hope that these photos will appease you until then.

I have no photos of Honey B, Willy B, or Mave because they have been very preoccupied with the construction going on lately. And as Chad mentioned yesterday they have poured the concrete! Yay! But, the three have been busy managing the construction workers.

Negra and Jody spending some quality time grooming each other in the Green House.

Jamie having a mellow day.

Burrito trying to wait patiently while I gather photos.

Eventually, one person can only wait so long! Burrito popped up while I was taking a photo. I had to laugh because I wasn’t expecting it.

And then there is sweet, beautiful Annie. I could look at this photo all day.

A Morning Stroll and Confession of a (new) Caregiver

by

As you all know, Jamie usually requests/demands a walk around Young’s Hill first thing in the morning. In fact, Jamie is about the only individual to request a go around the hill. But then yesterday, something peculiar happened. Jamie had requested a walk with caregiver Katelyn. This usually is the time Burrito and I find ourselves in a play session. Occasionally, he would sprint out of the raceway and onto the hill, but then sprint back into the Greenhouse where our games continued. But instead of running back inside, he kept going! He stopped turned around and waited for me. I sprinted to play catch up with him. It was then Jamie/Katelyn in front, followed by Burrito/Chad in the middle, and Missy/caregiver Anthony/Gator in the end (though Missy sprinted as fast as she could and found herself waaay ahead of all of us). This was a tale that had zero video or photographic evidence. It was something I felt I could tell, but nobody would ever believe because there was no proof. There was no way Burrito would invite anybody on a walk. That’s a Jamie thing.

Flash forward to today…

As I drove up to the sanctuary, there was some light fog hanging overhead.

But shortly after, it was a clear, beautiful day.

As I let the Group of 7 onto Young’s Hill, a few went out, but not many. I gave it a little while before I went back to check on them and try to get some photos, since today was going to be a eventful day (wait for it toward the end of today’s post). Jamie was inside the Greenhouse watching everything happen through one of the windows that looks into the Playroom. Burrito, however, was very energetic and wanted to play chase, tug-o-war, tag, among many other games. I told him it would have to be a quick play session since I still needed to help clean. Then it happened. He looked at me, then looked at the door that leads to the hill, and sprinted outside. I thought this would not be the same scenario as it was yesterday. “This couldn’t possibly be another invitation to go around the hill,” I thought. But as he made his way further out, he stopped, looked back, and bounced up and down. So I was off to the races.

The video above are small clips of a walk, with short bursts of sprints, around the hill. (Please do not mind my out of breath panting! I always forget how difficult it is to run with a mask on.)

In between those clips, I tried to take photos of others enjoying Young’s Hill.

Missy and Foxie were found on one of the platforms.

Annie was on one of the platforms that one of the furthest up on Young’s Hill.

And Meredith watched as Burrito and I played chased around the hill.

And I took this one of Burrito and I coming back after our second time around Young’s Hill.

Before I continue, I must admit, I cannot help but cherish moments like this with Burrito. I always have cherished any moment I have with him (and all the other residents here). But after his scare with the rattlesnake bite, I can’t even describe the feeling. Though most of us on staff are exhaling huge sighs of relief more so now since he is doing so much better, you can catch glimpses of slight being on edge still between all of us from time-to-time. Some of us even still talk about what we were doing when we found out what had happened. I remember it perfectly. I was still at the local farmers’ market, pretty much buying out every stand that sold sunflowers (I was buying them to prepare for Annie’s birthday). I had just posted a photo on my own personal social media accounts about how happy I was to find such big and lovely sunflowers for such an occassion. Not two minutes after I posted that (I hadn’t even started my car yet to go home), I got the call. This part I admit I don’t remember so well. All I heard was “Burrito” “rattlesnake” bitten”, and some how, some way the next thing I remember is that I was at the sanctuary hearing over the radio, “Chad, after you have changed over, please come in here and keep B company.” He was still his goofy self, but at that point you could tell something wasn’t right. As more and more staff arrived as well as our veterinarian, it gets very blurry after that. I do remember afterwards, when it was my turn to monitor his recovery after the procedure, telling him as he was coming to, “Oh Bubby. You will be fine. You will pull out of this. I know you will because what would I do without you? I honestly can’t imagine a life without Burrito.” So my confession is this, I was scared. I was on a level of scared I had not been in such a long time. The rest of the staff would agree that I am one of the least likely to show or share my feelings, but this one I will share. The next few weeks, as Kelsi said, were filled with sleepless nights for all of us because we just didn’t know what was going to happen next. And the worst thought to pop into our heads was we might lose him (I think Diana said it better than I could). We honestly had no idea what was going to happen with Hoot! after we added his medical expenses page. But within 24 hours, so many people had donated to ensure he was covered. I think we all got a little sentimental about that. I have said this before and I will say it again, in all sincerity, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Thank you for helping with this unexpected cost. Thank you for all your support. And thank you for helping us keep our friend alive. Without your unwavering support, days like today might not have happened. One last time: THANK YOU!

Sorry for the long winded rant. No onward to other happy news.

As I mentioned before, there was a lot happening today. Both groups were very interested.

What are they looking at?

THIS!

Today the construction crew began laying out the concrete floors to the new playrooms.

Progress is being made! Soon enough, days like today will seem like a distant memory as we watch Mave, Honey B, and Willy B, as well as a new group of chimpanzees, enjoy these rooms!

Hashtag Grateful.

Happy Birthday, Peter!

by

Today was sponsored for Peter in honor of his birthday!

“As a docent at the Oakland Zoo, Peter’s favorite animals are the chimpanzees. In his honor, we’re pleased to donate to Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW. Love Kelly, Mike, Katie and Michael <3”

Kelly, Mike, Katie, and Michael, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees as you celebrate Peter today! We truly appreciate it!

Happy Birthday, Peter! All of us at CSNW hope you have a fantastic day and many thanks for the difference you help make in the lives of so many chimpanzees! They really are incredible people. 🙂

Jamie:

Missy:

Honey B:

Jody and Burrito (foreground) and Negra and Annie (background):

Be like Annie

by

Well folks, the computer in the chimp house has been a beast possessed all the day long. You know, that pinwheel of death just spinning and spinning despite all our best efforts. So I’ve relocated to another computer and alas, the internet is a bit wonky. Sometimes, that’s life in the country. So I apologize for the short post, but maybe it’s an opportunity for me to be like Annie, call it a day, put my legs in the air and just make bird noises in complete contentment.

For those of you that aren’t familiar, when Annie is most content, she plops down on her back, puts her feet up and makes whistling sounds through her hands, or as we call it, the Annie-bird. She only does this when she is completely at ease and happy so it’s the most welcome sound to hear drifting through the chimp house. We rarely capture these on video, but I found a post from some years ago that gives you an idea of the Annie birdsong.

We could all use a little Annie song in our lives.