Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Remembering Bill

by

Nicki Walters sponsored this special Christmas Eve day of sanctuary in memory of her beloved husband, Bill, and she shared this touching message about today:

“This is my Christmas Present to my Sweet Willy Twist who is greatly missed. The Magnificent 7 always brought us so much joy and helped us find our smiles and give us reasons to laugh during several dark days. Even though he isn’t here to enjoy this day, I like to think he still looks on and watches them climb and romp around on his Twister! Merry Christmas to the Chimpazees and all who take such good care of them!”

Nicki, all of the primates here at the sanctuary are so fortunate to call you and Bill our friends. From our hearts, thank you for all you have, and continue, to contribute to making the chimps’ home a true sanctuary. Your amazing gift of Twister has brought so much joy and adventure to the chimps’ lives. It’s given boss lady, Jamie, a perfect vantage point from which to view her queendom and all the happenings in all the land:

It’s encouraged others to reach new heights of courage and daring (Burrito being VERY brave):

Foxie, Dora and Kate:

Foxie climb twister

Jody:

Inspired chimpanzee shenanigans (Missy top, Annie below):

Annie and Missy top of Twister

Missy chasing Annie:

And is a daily reminder of all the love that surrounds the chimps and all the good people we get to call part of our chimp family.

Nicki, you and Bill are in our hearts and thoughts and we are sending you all the good thoughts for a season full of love, comfort and peace.

Sun, Snow, and Friends

by

We (finally) got a sprinkling of snow yesterday, so Anna and volunteer Becca filled up some buckets with the fluffy stuff and put them in the front rooms for the chimpanzees after we had finished cleaning.

It’s a gorgeous day today in central Washington. The sun came out early and has been shining bright all day. The snow on the ground catches the light and makes it look like the world is winking and sparkling.

snow sparkles

 

For Annie, today was the kind of day that you take a bucket of snow up to a window on the catwalk and enjoy the cold treat with the sun streaming onto your face.

 

And when her friends Jody and then Missy came by, she decided there was plenty to share:

 

Happy eve of Christmas Eve, everyone!

 

Keeping Traditions

by

This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Judy and Thom Nash in honor of their family! Judy shared this beautiful message about their gift:

“Last year we sponsored a day as our gift to our four grown daughters and grandchildren and want to continue that tradition. We believe it’s extremely important to care for our earth and all inhabitants. These seven chimps have found a special place in my heart and I feel ashamed as humans that we treated them so horrible. I am eternally grateful for the sanctuary and the wonderful people that take special care of these seven beautiful beings.”

Judy and Thom, this is such a lovely, heartfelt day of sanctuary in honor of your daughters and grandchildren and the chimps! Thank you for holding the chimps in your hearts and for making a lasting difference in their lives. Happiest of holidays and winter seasons to you and your family from all of the primates at CSNW!

On this first day of winter we’ve had happily nowhere near the snow we had last year yet (knock on wood), but chimp family snowdays are nevertheless a sight to behold. Here are Jamie and Missy ingeniously avoiding the snow from last year:

Jamie:

Missy:


Jody bringing in a snow treat:

Jody holding snow 2

Jamie and Annie improving upon the humans’ shoveling skills:

Foxie and Burrito:

Of course, snowdays call for plenty of warm tea and cozy nests:

Negra:

Jungle Day

by

In celebration of today’s winter solstice, we threw a jungle party for the chimpanzees. Why? Because we can!

After the food, the highlight of the party was the giant stuffed animals collected and sent to us by some good friends of the chimps. Stuffed animals this large are a rarity around here – most of the chimps are more interested in destroying them than playing with them. Burrito, however, is a big fan.

Enrichment comes in many forms

by

We provide the chimpanzees at the sanctuary with a wide variety of enrichment to enhance their daily lives. The great thing about enrichment is how flexible it is!

Some enrichment (and often the most popular kind) involves food…
A forage helps exercise the chimps’ bodies and minds:

Negra

Enrichment can also have nothing to do with food…
A daily rotation of toys and other objects give the chimps new things to play with and look at each day.

Burrito

Jamie

Enrichment can be large and permanent!

Jamie on top of “Negra’s Cabin.” Missy, Annie, and Jody below.

Enrichment can be tough and durable…

Jody shakes a peanut out of a a boomer ball.

Or naturally sourced…

Annie licks peanut butter off a pine cone.

Negra nests in fresh straw.

While some enrichment might require a bit of money and assembly time to create…

Missy uses a tool in the treat rock to find peanut butter

Jody and Missy explore the towers on Young’s Hill

Other types of enrichment can be quickly created from recycled materials!

Hanging food stuffed in paper towel rolls is a free enrichment puzzle!
Jamie looks for peanut butter smears on a magazine.

Making enrichment for chimpanzees relies on a little bit of imagination and creativity. If you know someone who works with primates and would like to share ideas with us, please feel free to direct them to our enrichment database!

Neighborhood watch

by

Not a lot slips by the Cle Elum 7. Whether it’s a snake out on Young’s Hill, or a stranger pulling into the parking lot, the chimps are very in tune with even the slightest change to their surroundings. Luckily, there are a lot of vantage points for them to keep an eye on things.

Many of the outdoor structures are just right for spying on the goings on around the property.

Jamie on Twister:

Foxie (and doll) on one of the towers:
foxie and the landscape

Sometimes all the chimps need for a better view is to make themselves a little bit taller!
Jody:

Missy loves to check out changes to the garden through the barn doors:

Negra seems to really enjoy watching the train and other activities in the valley below the sanctuary. She is quick to alarm call to the other chimpanzees if something seems amiss.

This morning, JB wore some new bright orange safety gear while he worked around the property. This newly dressed caregiver must have been pretty interesting because at one point, we caught at least 4 chimps all watching him curiously.
Here are Jody and Annie keeping tabs on his location.

A model chimpanzee

by

Foxie has been incredibly playful ALL day. She is a joyful spirit, but for whatever the reason she’s been exceptionally exuberant and happy today. I caught her in our so called portrait studio this afternoon and she graciously allowed me to take some photos. But not without adding her signature Foxie Flair to each one. Every time I would put the camera down and look at her she’d smile at me, nod her head and laugh, and as soon as I’d bring the camera up she strike another pose. She’s pretty spectacular.