Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
If you are signed up to our e-newsletter, you received a link to this video of the journey that Mave, Honey B and Willy B took to get to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, but we know you want to watch it again and again.
Help welcome them home by participating in the Summer Biddin’ Online Auction!! It lasts just a few days, ending on Tuesday, September 3rd.
The chimpanzees made a group dash for Young’s Hill this morning after breakfast, everyone filing up the hill along the perimeter together. Then to our delight, they all decided to hang on the upper structures, Jamie’s Tower and Carlene’s Tower together. But Ms. Jody was on the lookout for something exciting to eat. And being “Farmer Jo,” as we endearingly call her, naturally, she came back with a prize.
Jody and Burrito:
This technique 🙂
And two bonus Negra and troll photos:
Our newest family members, Honey B, Willy B, and Mave continue to loosen up and settle in more with each passing day. I arrived this morning to find Honey B racing and ripping and flailing around playfully, much like Foxie does, instigating a game of chase. I wasn’t able to capture any photos today, but they all enjoyed an afternoon of selfies and checking out some recent videos. I showed the video from Missy’s birthday bash last Friday which they all wanted to watch a few times. They seemed to really enjoy the jazzy music so I also showed this older one of Foxie and her belly button and troll doll which appeared to be a personal favorite of Willy B’s. Every time it ended he’d bounce up and down frantically which I took for “Play it again!” So of course, I did. I even noticed him rubbing his toes together while he watched it. 😉
The seven resident chimps have something new to occupy their time: neighbors.
With Willy B, Mave and Honey B settling in next door, Burrito and the gang were busy trying to peer through the cracks above and below the Howdy Door. Last week, we locked a metal insert into place so that the door is a solid barrier while the new arrivals are quarantined. This additional surface restricts their ability to interact and see each other, but chimpanzees from the two groups can still hear each other. This is especially noticeable whenever a chimp displays or hoots and the individuals in the adjacent area react accordingly.
As seen in the above video, Foxie was particularly nervous about the door today. She kept returning to it and listening until something happened to make her retreat. Burrito was also inspecting it periodically, usually with his hair piloerect.
On the other side, Willy B seemed interested in the door and occasionally drummed a response. Mave has a habit of politely knocking on the door with her knuckles. So far, only Honey B seems more invested in watching the human caregivers and exploring her new surroundings.
As the days go by and the quarantine period progresses, the prospect of beginning the introduction process grows closer. It’s difficult to determine how each individual will fare when allowed to meet a complete stranger. The Howdy Door and adjacent enclosures will help the integration of the two groups to be a gradual and controlled procedure, enabling us to cater the environment to each chimpanzee’s needs and preferences. This way, when the doors finally open and the groups merge, none of them will be strangers anymore.
Missy had a tomato-filled birthday yesterday! Watch the video (with Jody pop-ups) to see Missy enjoying her day.
The three new chimpanzees continue to charm us all. We’ll be sharing more stories about them in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We’re so very grateful to have had this opportunity to get to know them and to have cared for Missy and her six friends for the last eleven years. Each of these chimpanzees is so very unique and special, and it’s a joy to see them discover themselves at the sanctuary.
Our dear supporters, Michael and Arlene, are celebrating Arlene’s birthday today and Michael sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in her honor. These two humans have the biggest hearts and we’re so grateful to have them as part of our chimp (growing!) family.
Michael and Arlene, thank you so very much for always holding the chimps in your thoughts and your hearts and for the lasting difference you’ve made in their lives.
Arlene, we hope you’ve had the best of birthdays and that your heart is full. Happiest of days from all of us here!
Negra:
Annie and Missy:
Foxie and Burrito:
And hoots from Mave, Willy B and Honey B, too!
It’s been an extra busy day in the chimp house as chimpanzees and humans alike adjust to new surroundings, new people and new routines. The chimps are very aware of one another on opposite sides of the “howdy” door and doing the seven are doing their best to try to catch glimpses of their new neighbors through the door. But for the most part everyone spent the relaxing in the summertime glory.
Beautiful Annie in her breezy greenhouse nest:
Snoozy Burrito:
Foxie and Kate:
I could not love this photo of Jamie (or Jamie) more! She donned her troll scarf while gazing at the tomato plants in the chimps’ mini garden while her wild bedhead blew in the breeze.
Handsome B:
Mave, Honey B, and Willy B continue to adjust well to their new surroundings and home. It’s a lot to take in, as one can imagine, and being surrounded by new sights and sounds, new humans and a new home can take time. So we’re all just taking cues from them as we all get to know one another. We are so incredibly happy they are here and so grateful to their former caregivers for helping to make their transition as easeful as we can.
Honey B, who so looks like a long, tall version of her mama, Missy, seems to enjoy spending time in the mezzanine taking in the view of the valley and the sunshine:
Willy B is an incredibly handsome guy and he’s often on the move right now. We found he seems to enjoy having the doorways to all the human areas and outside open so he can watch the comings and goings and passings by. He did find some time after a selfie or two with Mave and I to stop for a bit to enjoy some grooming from Honey B:
And Mave, well, she’s just settled right in and spent most of her day in her various nests, legs in the air, breathy panting and hooting quietly with her new caregivers. She is a delight:
She loves to see images on the iPhone, taking “selfies” and watching her image in the camera. We’ve spent some time the past couple of days showing both Mave and Willy B photos of their seven next door neighbors and they’ve seemed quite intrigued.
We are so incredibly happy and honored to have these three beautiful, intelligent chimp people here with us and we are so grateful to their former caregivers for helping to make their transition as easeful as they could. And we’re so grateful to you for making this possible for them. We can’t wait to share everything ahead with you all.
Honey B, Willy B, and Mave arrived at the sanctuary this morning and are getting to know their brand new facility right now as you read this post!
These three chimpanzees came from Wildlife Waystation in California which recently announced that it is closing and, with the help of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, is transferring the animals living there to other organizations.
Honey B is the adult daughter of Missy, who has lived at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest since 2008. Missy gave birth to Honey B at a laboratory and they were separated when Honey B was less than 24 hours old.
The three are settling in quite well after their journey and are very curious about the new friendly faces and interesting views at their new home.
Honey B:
Willy B:
Mave:
They will be in quarantine for 30 days before they have any contact with the seven, but the two groups will be able to see each other at a bit of a distance once the above ground tunnel is complete.
We’ve had quite a few additional expenses lately with the construction of the archway tunnel that will connect the new space to the outdoor habitat and all the costs we just incurred transporting the chimpanzees to the sanctuary this weekend. So please consider making a “Welcome to your new home” donation in honor of Honey B, Willy B, and Mave!
We will update you all soon with videos and more, but we didn’t want to wait any longer before sharing this good news.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest over the years, enabling the sanctuary to be in a position to help these three chimpanzees (and more in the future)! And thanks to those who have directly cared for and advocated for the chimpanzees at Wildlife Waystation.
