Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
As I walked around the chimp house today I felt really tired. I kept thinking, how could I feel so sleepy? Then I figured it out! I was looking at these cozy lumps all day ;).
Dreamy Cy:
The handsome Terry:
The ever so wonderful Lucky:
And of course the beautiful Jo in the portrait studio:
Today is one of those days where the chimp house is just a’ bustlin. I am still in caregiver training, we have our staff meeting this afternoon, and our team are busy with daily tasks. I did take some time this morning to try and improve my photography skills and these are the results – enjoy!
Terry (henceforth in this blog known as Sir Terrance) engaged in some auto-grooming and enjoying the warm sunshine in the Oakwood Greenhouse.
Dora soaking up the sunshine in the Oakwood Greenhouse.
Negra taking a mid-morning nap in the playroom.
Burrito up to his morning antics.
Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone!
How many times have you heard the old adage that the more things change the more they stay the same? I’m not sure if it holds up, but it seems to ring true here in the chimp house.
When I was here last it was 2019 and driving up a few months ago for my first shift was jaw dropping. The sanctuary has always been beautiful, tucked away in the mountains around Cle Elum, and it has retained that beauty. Now, though, it is home to 9 additional chimpanzees and the sanctuary has grown so much. When I came to CSNW for my first ever intern shift, with fellow caregiver Chad, we had our volunteer orientation in a trailer outside of the kitchen. Where I am sitting now to write this blog did not exist – or, rather, it was outdoor space between the kitchen and the trailer. Now there is a lobby, a full bathroom (!), a clinic, and the new additions for chimpanzee space.
This photo is from the archives of my phone photos – a long ago trip around Young’s Hill, with the Cle Elum 7, in 2019 (don’t worry – my blog photos will get better, promise). If you squint you can see the original building plus Phase 1, since construction began a few months before I left.
A quick search through archived photos also produced this gem – Desert Fox, the O.G. clinic and meeting space. This is where we had our initial volunteer orientation and it will always be one of my first memories of CSNW.
This photo (thanks, Anthony!) has been used in previous blog posts, but it really lets you see how much has changed. After Phase 1, Phase 2 and 3 were added. It truly is amazing to see how the sanctuary has changed and to witness the positive impact of such a big change.
I think that’s what it comes down to- pulling up to the sanctuary now after a few years away, it’s hard to ignore how much of everything around me is new. For a while it was intimidating, until it started to settle in that what makes CSNW so special has remained through it all. Thank goodness some things never change.
Bonus Photo: Jamie enjoying her loot of mini peppers from the Easter forage yesterday.
After a week of snowy conditions, there was the break in the weather where it was sunny and warm enough to celebrate today.
When Missy’s group were first given access to Young’s Hill this morning, everybody went out and explored the Hill. In fact, Negra was the first one out, if you can believe it or not! As the chimpanzees scattered across their outdoor enclosure, I saw Missy at the very top on the furthest structure surveying her domain.
Later on in the day, the weather still held out for a forage outside. Today was filled with paper eggs containing nuts, carrots, sweet potatoes, mini bell peppers, and hard boiled eggs for all!
Here is one of the paper eggs as seen in Willy B’s enclosure for reference (of course they celebrated too!):
Initially we caregivers thought Jamie’s group would run out onto the hill, grab what they could, and head back to their greenhouse since a slight, chilly breeze began to pick up. We were wrong! Every single one of them stayed out for quite some time, enjoying their forage.
Jamie:
Jody:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Annie:
Missy:
Negra:
On the other side of the Chimp House, both Willy B’s group and Cy’s group also enjoyed their set up.
Cy:
Terry:
Rayne:
Willy B:
Mave:
Honey B:
For those who celebrate, we wish you a:
Happy Easter!
Chag Pesach sameach!
Ramadan Mubarak!
Well, hello, everyone! My name is Grace and I am the newest staff member at CSNW. I recently moved back to Washington from my home state of Ohio and words can’t describe how excited I am to be here.
My first day at CSNW was in 2017 as an intern with the Central Washington University Primate Behavior program, and it didn’t take long for my intern days to become the highlight of my week. I came to CWU after completing a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at The Ohio State University (go Bucks!), where it took me a while to find my niche. While I couldn’t decide on a major, I began work as a seasonal keeper at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This job presented me the opportunity to work with captive animals and help me discover my passion for great apes. This experience, along with a field school program with Field Projects International in the Peruvian Amazon, had me hooked. During my time at CWU, I studied the effect of sound on the chimpanzees at the Fauna Foundation in Montreal, Canada. As an intern, I lived on site for four months and I still miss hearing the chimpanzees pant-hoot late into the evening.
After graduating from CWU, I decided to continue my graduate education and I moved to York University to pursue a M.A. in Philosophy, as my interests focused on the intersection of captive welfare and ethics. While there, I had the opportunity to spend some time volunteering for Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary north of the city. This was my first time supporting the care of monkeys in sanctuary and I loved it! It gave me the reassurance I needed to know that I was ready to step out of academia and into the world of hands-on caregiving.
I graduated from York right as the pandemic hit and I’m sure my mom would love to tell you about the time I had her drive with me to Toronto and back in eight hours, so I could move my stuff out of my school apartment as the borders were being closed. We made it, though, and I began the search for a career. In the next year and a half I worked a few office jobs, met some amazing people, and got married. When I was offered the opportunity to come back to CSNW, there was no question.
During one of my first days back in Ellensburg, Kelsi told me “Welcome home!“. As someone who struggles to find the right words, this summed up my feelings perfectly. CSNW has always felt like home and I am so thankful to be back.
Honey enjoying the sunshine before the recent surge of winter storms.
Last week, staff member and longtime friend to all at the sanctuary, Sam wrote her last blog post. Sadly, that means she is moving away from Washington for her next adventure. I will miss Sam for her easy going yet mischievous personality, welcoming nature and huge heart. Everyone who knows Sam naturally loves her and she becomes a perfect fit for every team she joins. For the staff and the chimpanzees/cattle at CSNW, this isn’t really goodbye, it’s see you later!
Sam and Cy:
Sam racing Jamie:
Sam, pictured with her scarecrow doppelgänger and her cat Gracie’s doppelgänger (expertly played by my daughter Luna):
This blog post isn’t all bittersweet goodbyes though. As we wish Sam well, we also got to welcome our newest staff member Grace last month! Grace is a former graduate student intern that returns to us with her own wealth of knowledge and experience (more on that when she introduces herself on her first blog). Grace has been very busy getting acquainted and re-acquainted with the sanctuary residents, all while learning the ropes or our daily routine.
Cy and his welcoming stare:
Jamie gives Grace and her new boots a proper inspection:
Welcome Grace and best wishes to Sam!
April has surprised us with a lot of snow. Personally, I think we paid our dues back in January, but here we are. Negra saw her shadow and decided 2 more weeks of winter and went back into hibernation.
Negra breakfast in the front rooms:
Bonus photos!
Rayne sitting comfortably on firehose:
Cy day dreaming:
