Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Thank you, Tracy!

June 13, 2014 by Katelyn

Today’s very special day of sanctuary was sponsored by Tracy Dunham! Tracy shared the following message:

“On this special anniversary I would like to sponsor the day in honor of Jane Goodall. She has long been an inspiration to me and I am sure of many others. I admire her tireless advocacy on behalf of not just chimps. Her eloquent letter to Vancouver Aquarium on behalf of belugas and dolphins has no doubt made an impact. She is a visionary, a teacher, an environmentalist and I am sure no one would be happier to celebrate the new life that the chimps have made for themselves.”

As you may be aware, today is not only Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest’s sixth anniversary, but it is also the honorary 41st birthday of beloved Queen Negra! Negra was captured from the wild, presumably in 1973, although she could be even older. While we do not know the exact date of Negra’s birth we felt what better day to celebrate her and the birth of a new life than June 13th, the day the chimpanzees arrived at their sanctuary home after decades in biomedical research. A new life filled with choices, comfort, dignity and love.

Tracy, thank you so much for all you do for the chimpanzees and for contributing to their (and our!) day of celebration!

And thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to all of our supporters who have made the last six years of hope, love, home and sanctuary possible for Negra and her chimpanzee family. We could not do it without you.

Be sure to check back later today for the chimpanzees’ festivities! And it’s not too late to contribute to our day of celebration! Learn more about our future plans and please consider a donation supporting the next six years and beyond, making this the Luckiest Friday the 13th ever!

Lazy afternoons

June 11, 2014 by Katelyn

It’s been a warm, lazy afternoon at the sanctuary today (at least for the chimpanzees). The chimps were all sequestered away napping and out of range of the camera today and there was a lot of yawning, napping and general lazing about happening. But what a wonderful thing to be able to rest in peace and comfort with only the sound of the wind and the birds as you doze in and out of dreams.

Or if you’re Jody, to lie about with your foraged bamboo. Apparently, dried up bamboo is also an exciting treat by her standards:

It seems it does get stuck in your teeth:

But that’s OK, Jody looks happy nevertheless:

The Truth About Burrito

June 9, 2014 by Elizabeth

Burrito is a handsome guy. When you see a face like this:

you might think it belongs to a suave and dignified gentleman. But Burrito has a silly side. In fact, he’s all silly side. And he, like the rest of us, loves a good slinky.

Happy Birthday, Donna!

June 9, 2014 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Donna Dinsmore! Today also happens to be Donna’s birthday and she wanted the chimpanzees to have a special day and be able to celebrate with her.

Donna, thank you so much for choosing to spend your special day in such a kind and generous way! We truly appreciate you including the chimpanzees in your celebration of life. From all of the primates here at CSNW, we hope you have a wonderful day and that all the good you share with others returns to you tenfold! Happy Birthday!!

Jody always knows how to celebrate each day with joy:

Taking it Easy

June 8, 2014 by Lisa

The pace of life in central Washington is different from what you might be used to experiencing on a daily basis. Slower, warmer, and quieter certainly come to mind, pastoral, if you will. In this context, the peaceful ease that the chimpanzees share with one another can be taken for granted. But their ability to relax with as much abandon as they do everything else is remarkable and, truly, a joy to behold. No matter what kind of day you may have had, take a moment to stop and relax with the Cle Elum Seven. They’ll show you how it’s done!

Portraits, then and now

June 5, 2014 by Debbie

Humans, like chimpanzees, are very visually oriented. I think one of the most powerful ways we can show people how important sanctuary is, is by showing the “before and after” comparisons.

After decades in research, the chimps looked like ghosts of themselves. For some of them, coming to CSNW was the first time they’d ever been outside and felt fresh air and sunshine.

In just a few months, we saw dramatic changes in their appearance. Their hair and skin darkened and they began to look (and I imagine, feel) much more healthy. As our sixth anniversary approaches (next week!) I like to look back and see how far they’ve come in six years of sanctuary.

Yesterday’s post of Burrito looking especially handsome reminded me of that same spot we took many of the “before” photos in. There’s a window right by that bench, so for their first few days here, they would sit and look out the window at the surroundings of their new home. I can’t imagine what they must have been thinking—the fear of the unknown. We know that now they have nothing to be afraid of, and everything to look forward to.

I love showing people those first photos of the chimps compared to them now out on Young’s Hill, surrounded by beautiful grass, with the sun on their backs and the view of the valley below. This time, however, I want to show a more direct comparison—the chimps sitting in the same exact spot as they did the first couple days they were here. Most if not all of the “after” photos have been posted before on the blog, but I thought it’d be nice to see them all together.

Annie before: