These pictures just remind me how awesome it is that the Cle Elum Seven now get to spend time with grass under their feet after decades of small barren cages. Even after 7 months, it is still so amazing to see them out there.
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Jody’s face
Sometimes Jody can be a tough gal to please. She will often communicate her displeasure with us by spitting mouthfuls of water in our faces or trying to poke us while we’re serving the chimps breakfast. (All of that is normal chimpanzee behavior and we never discourage it. We always want her and the other chimps to be free to express their chimpanzee-ness.)
There’s something about Jody’s face that I find so endearing, though. Even when she’s upset with me and doing her best to make my job as hard as possible, I can’t help but melt a little when I look at it.
Spring on the hill
The grass is turning green, flowers are beginning to bloom and the wind is blowing. I think it’s official- Spring has finally sprung here in Cle Elum!
Even though the chimps don’t enjoy the wind too much, they’ve still been spending more time out on Young’s Hill. Here’s a photo J.B. took the other day of Missy enjoying the view. I just love seeing them in the green grass.
Lunch Forage
Today we did a big lunch forage on Young’s Hill. It was fairly windy, so Negra decided to enjoy her lunch in the greenhouse, but the rest of the crew went out and thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
Jamie’s food squeaks were out of this world!
Missy came running over to reassure Jamie during all the excitement
After everyone had collected all the most exciting stuff (bell peppers, oranges, lettuce, onions), Missy went back and collected a ton of celery!
Jamie’s spot
Hoppy Easter!
Today was a full day of mini-parties! First, we had a juice forage in the Playroom (something all the chimps love), then we set up a lunch forage in the greenhouse, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt on Young’s Hill! On the menu for lunch was Easter baskets of cut up fruits and veggies in a bed of lettuce, courtesy of volunteers Stephanie and Katelyn. The chimps were so excited!
Foxie got a couple of new trolls, thanks to Katelyn and to Dick and Robbi Brown, who donated tons of new toys for the party:
Jody with her head in the game
Burrito always has his head in the game!
Negra and Jody enjoying their lunch together
After lunch, the chimps went out on Young’s Hill for an Easter Egg Hunt! We were so excited to be able to see them search 2-acres for plastic Easter eggs filled with peanuts and berries. There were also carrots stuck in the ground, allowing them to “harvest” their own carrots! What a fun day!
Jamie’s current boot friend
Jamie never tires of boots, but her favorite bounces around (just like most of us shoe-lovers!). Her current favorite in her collection is this red pair, donated by new volunteer Carrie Parker (thanks again, Carrie!). She has several pairs that are relatively new and that are exciting to her, but today these were the only pair that satisfied her. She had me pull out her entire collection until I finally picked up the red pair, and she immediately jumped up and ran towards the food chute so I could give it to her. The girl knows what she wants!