Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee sanctuary

When The Time Comes

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Hi, everyone.

First- I want to say thank you so very much to everyone who has reached out to us with a kind message, loving comment, or respectful note of support. It has been truly heartwarming to see the amount of people all over the world who love Jody, her family, and CSNW. Thank you.

To say this has been a difficult time is an understatement. When I sat down to write the blog last Thursday I wrote about how lovely of a day we were having here- after a forage on Young’s Hill and some sunshine, we were all in good spirits. I had no idea things would change so quickly- none of us did. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about saying goodbye to Jody, but words won’t ever do it all justice. Having the opportunity to be her friend, to love her, to know her, to say goodbye, and to watch her family say goodbye– there’s too much love and sadness in all those things to capture.

Yesterday, I was talking with Caregiver Katelyn about how grief is a natural continuation of loving someone- you can’t have one without the other. And, in it’s own way, grief is a little voice that lets us know that the love we had for that individual while they were with us is still there, even though they are gone. The fact that we are all grieving so intensely for Jody indicates just how much we love her.

Jody- how fiercely we all love you.

We learn so many things from the chimps here every day, but Jody taught me to always make sure your family is safe- whether that means keeping a watchful eye on them as they wander down their own path or being there for support as they venture somewhere new. She taught me to enjoy kicking back in a nice big nest and, if someone needs you to move, to carry that nest with you for ultimate comfort at your next location. She taught us to enjoy the food we eat and to make sure everyone knows it’s delicious by making loud dinosaur noises. She taught me to not put up with eating something you don’t like and, if possible, to spit it back out on the person who dared to serve it to you to begin with (maybe the more entertaining lesson to learn). Finally, in her passing she has taught me to enjoy every moment we have with them here in sanctuary and, if that means the daily tasks get done a little later, then so be it. Moments are precious.

I have found myself lately going through all the photos and videos I have on my phone, to find peace and solace in the memories I have of Jody. So many of them I had forgotten about and seeing them again made me smile, so I wanted to share them with you all today. They’re short clips with no real thread tying them together- only sweet Jo.

Fifteen years of sanctuary in your almost 48 years on this earth, Jody. You will live on in all of us and we will continue to tell the world about you.

Love and miss you, always.

To live in this world

you must be able

to do three things:

to love that is mortal;

to hold it

against your own bones knowing

your own life depends on it;

and, when the time comes to

let it go,

to let it go.

Mary Oliver

P.S. It’s tough to mention right now, but today is the last day of GiveBIG. Your donations go directly to the care of our residents and every dollar truly matters. If you feel so inclined, please consider donating to help us reach our goal. Thank you.

It’s Love a Chimpanzee Day 2023

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Can you believe it’s Love a Chimpanzee Day again already?! Supporter Monica Best named April 23rd Love a Chimpanzee Day and has sponsored this day each year since 2010 for her chimpanzee friends at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, creating a calendar-worthy official holiday and another excuse to throw a party! That’s a lot of years of love that Monica has shared with the chimps.

With our birthdays so close together, Monica and I have once again teamed up by creating a joint fundraising page for GiveBIG, and we invite you to celebrate this day by checking out our page and making a contribution.

Donor Donna is matching up to $20,000 in funds raised through the end of GiveBIG on May 4th, so your donation now is doubled! HUGE thanks to donor Vicki for making a gift on our page that encouraged us to raise our initial goal!

Monica’s love of animals is not exclusive to chimpanzees – she’s also studied wolves and worked in dog and cat shelters. She’s had many feline and canine friends over the years and created Love a Chimpanzee Day on her birthday in honor of her cat Ozzie during a difficult and uncertain time when Monica was fighting cancer. She credits the sanctuary (especially Negra) with helping her in her years-long battle with the disease and the aftermath.

We are so incredibly grateful for Monica and all of her generosity. She’s been instrumental in the expansion of the sanctuary these last several years and in helping encourage others to give.

You can help us celebrate today and the on Monica and Diana’s GiveBig fundraising page or the sanctuary’s main GiveBig page.

Happy Love a Chimpanzee Day, everyone!!

Burrito loves Duran Duran
Monica is a fan of Duran Duran and we took this photo of Burrito during the 2011 Love a Chimpanzee Day!

On This Day in CSNW History: April 11, 2020

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Today we are going to take a look back and see what was happening in our history. On this day, three years ago, the world was just in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were adjusting to the pandemic lifestyle, figuring out the best way to shield the sanctuary residents from it, and taking care of three(!) medical issues that popped up.

That entire era was honestly just a blur to me. In fact, sometimes it even feels like I’m still in a blur since technically we are still living in a pandemic. But obviously a lot has happened since. We expanded by building two new playrooms and greenhouses, expanded Young’s Hill and created The Bray. We welcomed in some new staff while also saying goodbye to others. And most notably, we had six chimpanzees enter our lives who we now can’t ever imagine how we got along in life without ever knowing them. Like I said, it all seems like a blur sometimes.

One sentence that Diana wrote in the blog that does stand out to me though:

I know you are not here to get yet-another take on the current state of the strange and unprecedented (most over-used word for 2020?) times we are living in or to add to your own personal stress.”

If only she knew the word “unprecedented” would not be confined to the year 2020 and be used more as the years passed by.

Please enjoy some new photos from April 11, 2023!

Gordo sitting on the windowsill in the Oakwood Greenhouse

Honey B showing off a fashionable sock she made into a mitten

Negra, the queen of comfort!

Honey B’s mesmerizing stare during dinner

And be sure to register for the virtual visit to learn about the medical care Dr. Erin and Sofia provide to keep the chimps in tiptop shape! There are only four day left until the visit! So register today!

 

Two is Better than One!

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Today was absolutely beautiful! The sun was out, the chimps were enjoying their warm greenhouses, and the seven had another lunch Hill forage! I know I always talk about little moments in the chimp house: the moments that just kind of make your heart melt and remind you how grateful you are that these chimps are in sanctuary. Today was full of those little moments.

1. Negra was the first chimp out of the raceway for the lunch forage! She was going everywhere trying to find the potatoes and chow. It was very nice to watch.

2. Annie, as you may know, has already been spotted with her sweatbands! Today, she was either wearing them or carrying them in her pelvic pocket (a hot pink and green one).

3. Lucky was also spotted wearing a green sweatband (not pictured).

4. Foxie gave me her doll through the raceway so that we could go take a quiet walk around a little bit of Young’s Hill.

5. One of our interns gave us a pair of her Doc Martins that Jamie had been eyeing for awhile. We gave Jamie those boots today and she seemed elated to have them <3!

6. Cy’s group were out in the greenhouses for most of the day, all grooming each other.

Bonus photos!

Negra on the Hill foraging:

Missy foraging:

Jody:

Foxie:

Burrito in the warm green house:

I hope you enjoy these little moments and Annie’s video :)!

The New Kid in Town

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Hi, everyone! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a volunteer here at CSNW? More specifically- have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a level III volunteer who interacts and serves the chimps? Worry no more- today is the first in a series of Guest Blog Writers! We have some amazing Level III Volunteers who have volunteered (because they’re awesome) to write a post or two about their experiences here, so be on the lookout for them over the coming months.

First up to bat, we have Dusty-  a level three volunteer in training! She has volunteered with us for about six years!! So, without further ado, check out Dusty’s blog below!

The New Kid in Town, by Volunteer Caregiver Dusty

As a volunteer, it’s a lengthy training process to learn how to serve the chimpanzees their meals. There are books to read, videos to watch, observations to be made, steps to take, lessons to learn. This intimate activity must be done with the utmost thought and care, after all I am entering their private home. Imagine someone new coming into your home to serve you
breakfast. Who would get the first apple? Maybe you like your smoothie before your chow. Maybe your sibling likes the pears you are served better and takes yours away. This experience is exciting and humbling and I’m constantly reminded by the sixteen – I’m the new kid in town – which transports me back to 1976 when The Eagles released “The New Kid in Town” song as part of the Hotel California album. If you’ve never heard this song (where have you been?) or to refresh your memory, take a listen to the song at the same time you read about my training experience below.

The New Kid in Town
There’s hoots in the hall, it sounds so familiar
Initiation time, all the chimps are watching you
Smoothies and plums, how do I serve them
Even though they know me they treat me like I’m someone new

Dusty come lately,
The new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.

I look in Terry’s eyes, his Bronx cheers began to play
Gordo sprays me with water, here we go again
Rayne runs to hide, Lucky looks the other way
It’s those precious hearts I want to mend

Dusty come lately,
The new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.

There’s so many things Jamie should have showed me
Serve her pears first, serve Neggie slowly, slowly
Jody got extra oranges, holy moly!

There’s hoots in the hall, it’s there to remind you
Doesn’t really matter which side of the caging you’re on

You’re walking away, they’re plotting behind you
Initiation will continue ’til somebody new comes along.

Dusty come lately,
There’s a new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.

Just another new kid in town
Everybody’s gawking
There’s a new kid in town, I don’t want her apples
There’s a new kid in town, I don’t want her bananas
There’s a new kid in town
There’s a new kid in town
Everybody’s hooting
There’s a new kid…

Serving Jamie at breakfast:

Still in training, so Chad is close by!

Bonus Photo: Honey B being goofy while caregivers cleaned her front rooms.

Ten Ways to Charm our Boss!

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The other day we were sharing tips on how to get on Jamie’s good side. Jamie can be a tough nut to crack sometimes, because of this, building a friendship with Jamie has been a true pleasure of mine.

Top 10 tips to help you make friends with Jamie:

1. Quality time- Jamie appreciates when you make time for her or show that you find her to be a priority.
2. Wear a good part of Jamie approved boots- Xtratufs, cowboy boots, Doc Martens, or something new she hasn’t seen yet!
3. Always be willing to find the item she is requesting- She always has something in particular she is looking for like a book, boot, person to wear said boot.
4. Go on as many walks with her as per her request- especially with the gator and her favorite book.
5. Don’t forget to drop everything if she wants you to play with her- remember she has a silly side.
6. Give her all of the pears and all of the leeks!
7. Make sure to sit and groom with her when she asks.
8. All of the food puzzles are hers ;).
9. Make sure she has an endless supply of snow or drinks from the hose when cleaning.
10. Before you leave for the night make sure she has her favorite boot and book.

Of course there are so many more ways to please Jamie, but these are just a few that seem to bring her happiness.

Jamie with her intense gaze:

And a portrait series of Jamie:

Bonus photos of Foxie!

If you would like to help the chimps, we always need items off our Amazon Wish List!

Keep the Love Going: Fall in Love with Lucky!

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Today, we are featuring sweet Lucky!

Lucky was born on November 6th, 1991 and is the youngest chimp we have here at CSNW. She is a full sibling to her groups alpha, Cy, and half-sibling to group mates Honey B and Rayne. She can be considered aloof, but has really come out of her shell lately and we are enjoying every moment we have with her!

This video will be uploaded to Lucky’s bio after they have all been published, but you can sponsor Lucky today by becoming her Chimpanzee Pal! Learn more by clicking here.