Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Waking up

by

We all know Negra is not a morning person and deeply enjoys nesting and I think we can all agree it is hard to get out of bed when it’s so warm and cozy. I found Negra this morning in Front Room 4 with all the morning contemplation. There was the “should I go back to bed” face, the “am I ready to have breakfast” thought, “maybe I should just close my eyes”, the sad eyes of “why isn’t breakfast here now”, and “okay, I am ready to eat so I can lay back down” face. Either way Negra can roll out of bed and still look great!

Black & White Photos

by

Sometimes just looking at photos of the chimpanzees takes my breath away.

Even though I’ve known them for over a decade, I love being able to study their features and the different expressions that the camera captures in a given moment.

Black and white photos can be all the more breathtaking.

Burrito:

Missy:

Foxie:

Missy held hostage

by

After the chimps returned from their morning foray around the hill, Annie climbed to the top of the greenhouse to make a nest and get warm. She immediately started clapping her feet together and making her patented bird noised (whistling through her hands) which if you’re new-ish to the blog is Annie speak for “I am extremely happy and content right now.”

Best friend, Missy, climbed up to join her where they had a sweet grooming session. Missy doesn’t often care to have her photo taken and I admittedly took advantage of the fact that she was held hostage by Annie who was grooming her back to snap a few quick photos with her permission. It didn’t take Missy long to turn her back so I’m happy to have captured a few of her beautiful self. Thanks, Missy!

When chimpanzees groom one another or themselves, they typically make a variety of distinct sounds with their mouths, tongues and teeth to communicate their intentions. We humans do this as well when the chimps invite us to groom with them through the caging. Each chimp has their own style to some degree which can include, lip-smacking, teeth-clacking or blowing raspberries. Annie was utilizing the raspberry technique:

Taking her job very seriously:

Missy said, “A little lower”:

Octobrrrrr!

by

While the mornings in October are beautiful, they sure are cold! However, its still warm in the sun and the chimps don’t seem to mind the brisk mornings. Look at all of them out on Young’s Hill (even Neggie)!

Negra was very eager to go outside with everyone this morning:

And then promptly came back inside to snooze a little bit more, can you tell that lump of blankets is Negra:

Missy was having a blast rippin and chasing her friends onto Young’s Hill:

Jody, Jamie, Foxie, and Annie all scattered onto the Hill:

Foxie:

Annie:

Burrito:

Burrito eventually decided to go inside:

Later in the morning while we were cleaning I saw Jody basking in the sun:

While Jody was relaxing I found Burrito watching Foxie and Missy out on the Hill:

It warms my heart to see everyone enjoying their day and spending quality time together!

Negra’s priceless life

by

The other day someone asked me what I thought about all of the resources (time, staff, funds) that go into caring for a relatively small number of chimpanzees. It wasn’t a hostile or accusatory question at all, just one of curiosity.

Part of my answer in the moment was that we are working hard towards bringing more chimpanzees to the sanctuary. We are REALLY excited to expand in order to provide more chimpanzees with a home at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

But there’s also what we’ve seen in the last decade caring for the seven chimpanzees.

I was thinking about that question again this morning as I took this photo of Negra:

and then some more as I watched Negra walk out onto Young’s Hill and climb a structure to sit next to Annie in the sun:

Some things really are priceless. I could never put a value on the last ten and a half years of Negra’s life. Every moment has been invaluable for her, for her six friends, and for all of the humans who have gotten to know the chimpanzees in person and through this blog.

I’m filled with gratitude that so many people care about Negra and her friends and have given their time and money towards each priceless moment.

Negra thanks you!