Wow! We have received $2265 for the industrial washer and dryer and we know of another $250 on the way! I am so thrilled. It has all been through the blog community – from people who are avid CSNW blog readers and their friends. Thank you so much!! We’re very close to having a washer and dryer that can withstand the costant laundry we do in the chimp house. Thank you Margaret and Karen for starting this fundraising effort!
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
promised photos
Annie
Jamie has a new hobby – playing in the sandbox that Kathy B. brought her
Keith put more straw in the outdoor area today and Jody was one happy chimpanzee. She even brought some inside with her to make a nest. Jody often lays on her back holding her feet.
Negra
Annie and Missy, grooming each others hands
Missy’s new blanket
Here is a video from the first day outside. One of our board members, Zibby Wilder, brought a blanket made by her grandmother specifically for Missy. The video is Missy taking the small pink blanket and nesting with it, Jamie coming over to perch on a boat bumper, Missy being overcome by the urge to chase Annie, and Foxie stomping around on the deck. Foxie’s stomping is something she did when the chimpanzees went into the play area for the first time – I wonder if Angie would do the same thing.
First dinner outside
We set up a lettuce and homemade granola forage last night for the chimpanzees in the outdoor area and had a little cook-out with vegan sausage and corn.
L.A. Times article about chimpanzees in entertainment
There is terrific article published today by Rachel Abramowitz which discusses PETA’s new documentary about chimpanzees used for entertainment. It mentions Sarah and her undercover investigation.
A few thoughts
I’m finally sitting down to process the day a little bit, and wanted to share some thoughts while they are fresh.
biggest surprise: Annie brachiating 17 feet up in the air, then just hanging there because she could
best scene: Jody laying on her back in the sun in a bed of straw
most impressive acrobatics: Foxie pulling her legs through her arms as she hung from the ceiling, turning upside down, while holding two troll dolls
best “awww” moment: Negra on the deck (the ledge made of donated Trex decking) “Negra style” – with a blanket over her head
proudest moment: seeing Burrito come out – he was pretty scared, but he did it. By the end of the day, he was napping in the sunshine
biggest laugh: Missy standing bipedally with a huge play face looking up at Annie as she dangled above
when it really hit me: watching Jamie try out all of the kids’ construction tools, then swing from the fire hose like a “real chimp” and thinking about her in a tiny barren cage in a windowless basement for most of her life
busy day!
Hey – my apologies for not posting yesterday. We’re frantically getting ready for the big day tomorrow when the chimpanzees go outside for the first time!
If you’re in Seattle, I would recommend picking up the Seattle Times today – stories are always better in print. I updated our media page with links to the two online versions of the articles that appeared in the Times today by Erik Lacitis with photos by Alan Berner – they’re both great!
We’ll give you some more info to go on about the children of the Cle Elum Seven soon. Tomorrow – photos of the chimpanzees in their outdoor area!
