chimpanzee sanctuary

Today is for Carrie!

May 31, 2017 by Katelyn

We are starting off the day with double Sponsor a Day celebrations and lots of chimp love! Our first day of sanctuary was sponsored by Paul and Jenara Miller in honor of the chimps’ long-time friend, Carrie Miller! They send this note about their gift:

“For Carrie (and Burrito and pals) to celebrate 2017 and all the goodness it may bring! Love, Paul and Jenara”

Paul and Jenara, thank you so much for being part of all the good that comes to the chimps and for honoring Carrie in such a compassionate way.

Carrie, we so appreciate the continued support and love you and your loved ones have provided the chimps these past years and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate a special day in your honor. Visions of food are probably already dancing in your pal, Burrito’s head. Well okay, I suspect they are almost always dancing in Burrito’s head, but still…

Have a wonderful day, Carrie!

What’s that sound?

May 30, 2017 by Anna

This is audio from four different video clips on four different days at the sanctuary. Can you guess what’s going on in each clip based only on what you hear?

Keeping cool

May 29, 2017 by Katelyn

Today has been all about enjoying the brilliantly sunny day while doing our best to keep cool. We’ve reached that wonderful time of year when we begin to remove the panels on the greenhouse and the chimps enjoy breakfast in the open air with a view of the hill. Volunteer caregiver Lizz made an extremely popular smoothie this morning (pineapple, banana and lime) and served apples and watermelon so the chimps were beside themselves.

Annie emptying her cup and Jody on the left licking up a drop from the caging:

Everyone was so happy this morning that even Negra couldn’t contain herself and initiated a wrestling game with Missy in the middle of breakfast (you can see a glimpse of Missy’s big play face!):

Foxie and Jody anxious for Lizz to pass out watermelon:

Foxie rubbing her toes in happiness:

After breakfast the chimps all headed out onto the hill with almost everyone heading to the top. Annie chose to go on her own exploration, as she often does:

Annie is her own woman. She has so many endearing habits – walking bipedally around Young’s Hill more often than not, making her Annie-bird noises by whistling through her hands when she’s particularly content, and lying on her back and blowing water out of her mouth to wash her face. With the temperatures hovering around 90, she has taken to doing this as a way cool off as well:

The chimps have been enjoying lots of frozen and watery treats today to stay hydrated and we even broke out the snow cone machine.

My favorite mountain lupines are finally blooming around Young’s Hill and there is an entire field that reaches inside and outside the perimeter of the chimps’ outdoor habitat. Walking through that area is my favorite part of the walks with Jamie this time of year. Sometimes the amazing scent wafts through the greenhouse:

For the first time I noticed several Melissa Blues, a small violet-blue butterfly I have typically only seen at higher elevations around the mountain lakes and rivers. There were so many floating around the lupine today it looked as if the flowers were taking flight:

It’s such a beautiful time at the sanctuary. Be it butterflies, flowers, beautiful days, exciting fresh food, or big-hearted humans, I’m so grateful for all the beauty, in all it’s varied forms, that surrounds the chimps every day.

Happy Birthday, Erin!

May 29, 2017 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Shelley and Tim Connelly in honor of their daughter, Erin Connelly! They shared this message about today:

“We would like to honor our daughter Erin on her birthday. She is a volunteer at the sanctuary and will be graduating in June with a M.S. in Primate Behavior from Central Washington University.”

Shelley and Tim, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees as you celebrate Erin and her accomplishments today! As one of our amazing chimp house volunteers, we’re so happy to be able to celebrate her special day with you!

Happy Birthday, Erin! We hope it’s the best one yet! Thank you so much for all your hard work for the chimps and your dedication to improving the lives and well being of primates living in captivity. Have an amazing day!

Beautiful Annie:

Cooling Off

May 25, 2017 by Elizabeth

Volunteer caregiver Becca brought out the mister today, and it was a hit (though Jody wasn’t sure at first).

Dining al fresco

May 22, 2017 by Katelyn

It was so beautiful today I almost hyperventilated. That said, it was by far the hottest day we’ve had this year with a sudden temperature rise to the upper 80’s so the chimps and the humans are still adjusting and taking things slow and easy. Well, the chimps are anyway!

Keri and I thought it would be a great day for a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. The chimps have continued to enjoy the current local bounty of lilacs so we’ve been adding those to forages as well. (Foxie has decided this year that she LOVES them!! She wants absolutely nothing to do with the leave or stems, but happily munches the flowers).

At first everyone was a little reluctant to run out into the sun, but once they realized lunch al fresco was awaiting them, they all ran out together. Burrito, Foxie (that foot!) and Annie: