Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Wednesdays

by

Wednesdays are kind of crazy days. Between cleaning, serving meals, walking with Jamie, feeding cattle, making sure the daily tasks are done, and it being a day we usually have our staff meeting. It’s a pretty packed day! However, for the chimps their Wednesdays are pretty relaxed. Especially today! For lunch the 7 enjoyed a forage on Young’s Hill. In the afternoon, Jamie and I were on a leisurely stroll and it seemed like everyone was out peacefully enjoying the Hill. As for the 3 they did have a chance to go onto the Hill, but no takers yet, one day! Honey B, Mave, and Willy B did enjoy their day grooming, playing chase with friends, and enjoying the warm spring air in the chute. This is my long apology for the blog being posted so late 🙂 Please enjoy these photos of the chimps!

In the morning everyone rushed out on to Young’s Hill, Negra included! The grass is so green it almost looks photo-shopped.

Negra:

Foxie carrying her Strawberry Shortcake:

Missy:

For the lunch forage, we scattered whole peppers, tomatoes, and beets all over the Hill.

Missy made sure to snag all the tomatoes (she also loves green bell peppers):

Negra was scoping out who she might be able to steal some forage from:

I love this photo of Jamie:

After the forage everyone went into the Green House to unwind.

Jody lounging with her spruce tree branches:

Foxie:

Well, almost everyone wanted to unwind.

The mischievous Burrito:

Also Willy B:

And if you stay late enough you can get a photo of Honey B in her nest:

Goodnight everyone!

 

 

 

What Friends Are For

by

As some of you have read yesterday, Foxie went through a medical exam. Going under anesthesia can take a lot out of a chimpanzee, but Foxie is fierce and strong despite her small stature. By the time dinner was ready yesterday, Foxie was up, alert, eating, and ready to go back to her family. We decided to keep her by herself overnight just in case. When we arrived to the sanctuary in the morning, it was clear she was more than ready to go back with the group.

The first person to greet her was Jody of course! And since then, they have almost virtually been inseparable.

Jody made sure that for most of the day, Foxie was within eyesight or earshot of Foxie. It’s hard to see, but if you look closely between the ladder and the pillar at the top of the platform, you can see a little fuzz of a shoulder. That’s Foxie! With Jody resting right below her of course!

Jody was available nearby in case Foxie needed her. It’s hard to tell in this photo, but Jody (front) is keeping an eye on Foxie (back).

Foxie and Jody have such as strong bond with one another. It’s one relatively not talked about much as say Missy and Annie. They continuously motivate each other, lookout for each other, and just genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

May you find yourself the Foxie to your Jody or the Jody to your Foxie in life.

Bonus photos of Annie performing her famous “bird calls” and Negra peering out onto Young’s Hill after hearing the cattle call for Anthony for their daily care.

The Honey B Chonk

by

Chimpanzees are intelligent, emotional, and complex. They deserve the utmost respect.

This is their home and their retirement, and it’s their right to be however they want to be. This fact makes me appreciate how chimpanzees can be not only relaxed but also downright goofy. When they group is in a playful mood, even the most stoic of chimps can be a total dork. For us caregivers, stopping to appreciate these weird moments helps to keeps things lighthearted and reminds us what this sanctuary thing is all about. It’s perfectly okay to laugh along with them.

In the past, we’ve highlighted some of the comical new behaviors that the chimpanzees invent in their spare time (e.g., Annie’s and Honey B’s waistbands, Willy B’s slinky moves, Missy’s choice of grooming tools, Mave’s toe socks and Jamie’s flamboyant scarves). Of course, none of these creations are purely spontaneous and random. Even the most innovative aspects of their behavior are influenced by both their current surroundings and past experiences.

Honey B’s behavior seems to be especially shaped by her previous and ongoing interactions with humans. As one of the more inquisitive and interactive chimpanzees at the sanctuary, she likes to be involved in whatever her caregivers are doing and seems to enjoy making us happy. It’s in her nature to be helpful. We try not to bother the chimps with unnecessary requests, but we do have to ask them for certain favors that help us caregivers to do our jobs. On a daily basis, for example, we ask the chimpanzees to shift from one enclosure to another so that we can safely go inside and clean up. They usually do this without any coaxing because there is something more interesting to do elsewhere. Sometimes, however, there are objects or materials blocking the hydraulic doors that prevent us from remotely operating them and therefore delay shifting. In those moments, we can usually ask a passing chimpanzee to kindly remove the obstruction. Honey B, however, exceeds the expectations.

A few weeks ago, the three chimps who live in the new wing were shifting out of the upstairs Mezzanine and into the new front rooms and chute on the ground floor. There was a tangled slinky that was preventing Kelsi from remotely shutting the door behind them. We asked Honey B to remove the toy, which by then resembled a bird’s nest, and she eagerly scrambled to disentangle the entire thing before tossing it through the open doorway. Then, for safe measure, Honey B collected nearby slinkies (which weren’t tangled and weren’t blocking the door) and chucked them downstairs as well.

In the following weeks, she has surprised us all by continuing to throw available enrichment items through doorways before they we close them. Every morning she flips the previous night’s blankets and night bags through the lower-level doors before heading up to the Mezzanine for breakfast, and she has even started to hurl larger toys down the incline of the chute and out into her group’s alcove of Young’s Hill (now known as “The Courtyard”). With the input of a few enthusiastic and amused volunteers, I have unofficially named this behavior The Chonk. I’m not sure how well this name fits the behavior since the term chonk is usually applied to overweight cats on the internet, but the sound of the word makes me chuckle. (Thanks, Elizabeth C!)

I would love to know exactly what Honey B is thinking as she yeets enrichment out onto the Hill, but I can only speculate. I sincerely hope that, whatever her motivation may be, that she’s having as much fun as I am.

Keep on chonkin’, Honey B.

In memory and celebration, from Marya

by

This day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and cattle was sponsored by Marya Barey in honor of her parents’ love of nature and animals:

“My parents were both nature lovers and shared that love with me from a very young age. I am very grateful for this aspect of my early experiences and all the times we shared talking about animals and in nature together.”

Thank you so much, Marya, for reaching out to make a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives in memory of your parents. It’s such a beautiful continuance of their legacy through your own heart and we’re so happy to share in honoring them here today. They sound like such lovely humans.

We’d also like to extend the happiest (of slightly belated) birthday wishes to you and hope your celebration was somehow made even brighter from the chimps’ Love a Chimpanzee Day party. Happy Birthday!

Burrito and Jody:

Betsy:

her son, Nutmeg:

The chimps celebrate Love a Chimpanzee Day!

by

After yesterday’s light rainfall, Central Washington is positively bursting with green today! The majority of the deciduous trees seemed to unfurl their leaves overnight and I even got a whiff of cherry blossoms as I pulled into the parking lot this morning. This fresh wave of spring and a party for the chimps was the absolute best way to celebrate Love a Chimpanzee Day!

Over in the Phase 1 part of the building, Willy B, Mave and Honey B were treated to a special “Love a Chimpanzee” lunch that featured fresh coconut, an all time favorite! Honey B was seen cleverly stomping on her coconut chunk to get it to loosen up. For the 7 chimps on the other side of the building, watermelon bowls were a big hit on Young’s Hill and the most fun part of the day to photograph.

Foxie:

Foxie and Negra:

Negra:

Jamie:

Annie and Jamie:

Jody:

Jody and Burrito:

Missy (not pictured) was zooming around the greenhouse collecting whole tomatoes as fast as she possibly could. Happy Love a Chimpanzee Day!

It’s Love a Chimpanzee Day!

by

It’s that time of year again, when thanks to the creation of chimp friend extraordinaire, Monica Best, we get to have a party in celebration of chimpanzees and our love for them! Monica sponsors this official/unofficial day each year in their honor. And this year, Monica is graciously sharing her incredible story and a heartfelt request for the chimps who bring so much to all our lives:

“Today is my favorite day of the year….nope, I’m not talking about my birthday…it’s almost LOVE A CHIMPANZEE DAY! Nine, or ten (we can’t quite decide) years ago, after my second battle with cancer and an uncertain future, I sponsored the first Love A Chimpanzee Day for the chimps at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, and all the chimps in the world.  I wanted to make sure there was a day to honor chimpanzees everywhere, but especially my favorite chimps at CSNW, who kept me going through the numerous cancer battles (I’ve had to battle cancer two more times, and have dealt with horrible side effects from cancer related medication). The chimps gave me so much strength, for each new battle I faced….As my thank you to these amazing beings, I try to give back to them (as often as I can) and the efforts to provide them with a wonderful life, filled with love, first class care, enrichment and lots of tasty food.  

I know times are difficult for everyone this year, but I still felt the chimps should be celebrated…not only for them, but for the joy they bring to so many…and we could certainly use a bit of joy right now. This year, I have teamed up with one of my favorite human primates, Diana Goodrich, in an effort to help our favorite non human primates. From now until May 6th, Diana and I will be working hard to raise funds for the 10 chimps that mean so much to us both. Again, I know times are difficult for so many right now, but if you are able to donate, even a small amount, to LOVE A CHIMPANZEE DAY or GiveBIG Washington, it would mean the world to us. You can donate to our GiveBig Washington page or directly to the sanctuary. There has been a lot of controversy, as of late, as to what constitutes a true sanctuary. I can tell you that CSNW is the epitome of a true sanctuary. CSNW exists FOR the chimps and their needs. The incredible staff and volunteers are there for the chimps, and the chimps’ well being is always the priority. Please, if you can donate to help the ten most amazing chimps, it will be so greatly appreciated.

 Again, you can donate through the GiveBIG Washington page or directly to the sanctuary…in the note section you can just say it’s for Love A Chimpanzee Day. Thank you so much for the love and support so many of you give to the organizations around the world that are helping chimps, in sanctuaries and in the wild. I truly believe that I am still here because of the Cle Elum Ten. So, please, if you can, help me honor and care for Negra, Jody, Missy, Foxie, Burrito, Jamie, Annie, Willy B, Honey B and Mave. Thank you. <3<3<3″

Monica, from our hearts, thank you so very much for all you do to help ensure the chimpanzees (and so many animals) have the lives they deserve. And for so compassionately sharing your story and your heart, giving us all the gift of knowing there is strength, gratitude, inspiration and celebration to be found even, if not especially, in the midst of difficult and uncertain times.

Happy, happy birthday, Monica!! We hope it’s the best one yet and are so happy to celebrate with you! We hope you are taking a cue from Negra and doing something exciting like walking around your yard with a pineapple in mouth.

Happy Love a Chimpanzee Day, everyone!!

Burrito:

Jody:

Mave:

Honey B and Willy B:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Annie and Missy:

Spring has Sprung

by

Since spring has sprung, so has Jamie! Jamie has been taking full advantage of these beautiful spring days and even the not so nice ones. Yesterday, well today too, Jamie and I were walking machines! If we were not walking we were grooming. All day it felt like someone was watching me. If I went to get water or start on a project she would appear, better yet, if she couldn’t see me she would stare into the camera by the playroom and wait for me to come. Seriously, nothing gets past Jamie, which is why she is so amazing. Once she would get my attention, she would take off running onto the Hill! Even when it was time for everyone to go home and Young’s Hill was closed off she wasn’t ready. So, Jamie groomed, her still favorite, XTRATUF boots in the green house for a little bit longer. Because it is spring now, Jamie needs to be doing extra patrols. There are cattle in the pasture next to the Hill and she needed to make sure that Honey B, Willy B, and Mave are being closely monitored in the Chute. She is a busy person. To be honest, because our days in the chimp house are a bit busier now, it was nice to be able to spend some quality time with her, and know that she got to do everything she wanted to do that day! All in all, when you get that feeling of someone watching you, it’s probably Jamie. 😉

Here is a rare photo of Jamie laying down yesterday:

Jamie saw Chad wearing his cattle boots during our walk and demanded he join us! Missy, Burrito, Honey, Meredith, Nutmeg, and Betsy came too.