Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee sanctuary

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

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We have a lovely accompanying sponsorship for today’s day of sanctuary! This special gift is for Lisa Stuverud herself (sponsor of today’s earlier gift in memory of Linda Vizzare) from her husband, Rich, with this touching message:

“In honor of my wife on her birthday because I think this Chimpanzee Sanctuary has saved her heart and soul and that’s an amazing birthday gift for us all.”

Rich, what a sweet gift. We’re so happy to be celebrating with you all today and can’t thank you enough for including the chimpanzees in this day of family that means so much to you both.

Happy Birthday, Lisa! All of us here are wishing you a joyful day of celebrating life, family and loved ones. Thank you so much for all you do to make sure the chimpanzees are able to celebrate the same things. And here are some birthday hoots and smiles from your pals. Have a beautiful day, Lisa! We’re so grateful you both are part of our chimp family.

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Missy (well, she’s smiling inside 😉 ):

In memory of Linda Vizzare

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by the chimps’ long-time friend, Lisa Stuverud, in memory of her sister-in-law, Linda Vizzare. Lisa and her husband, Rich, have been a big part of creating a life of sanctuary for the chimps and helping them celebrate each day. Lisa shared this beautiful message about Linda:

“Today, I’m honoring my late sister-in-law Linda who I miss very much (she loved Burrito)…this was always our day to celebrate…and I’m choosing to share it with the sanctuary because everyday since becoming aware of the Cle Elum 7 and everyone involved with CSNW…I have witnessed the ability to overcome and rise above, to appreciate every warm sunbeam and ripe tomato, to have a selfless passion to help others and I feel that I am a better person and my dear sister-in-law would be very proud.”

Lisa, thank you for including the chimps in your family and for doing something so beautiful as to ease your heart by sharing your love with them and adding to their lives. We hope all the joy that comes to them today brings you peace, comfort and joy as you remember Linda and celebrate all she meant to you. Our thoughts are with you and your family today.

For Linda,

Today’s happenings

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Hands down, today is the loveliest day we’ve seen in quite some time. The air is fresh and the with only a slight breeze. The chimps have been enjoying themselves with a variety of choices today, from roaming Young’s Hill throughout the day to nesting and grooming in the toasty sun-warmed greenhouse, to crazy games in the playroom.

Foxie began her day by tossing her new France Dora doll on her back (this is how chimp mamas carry their young) and heading up Young’s Hill for a morning stroll:

Missy has been asking for weeks to have the barn doors at the end of the playroom open so she can see if the garden popped up overnight yet. We usually give her a quick peek, but it’s still too cold to leave them open for more than a few minutes. But today was the first time it was actually warm enough to leave them open for about an hour so the chimps enjoyed sitting in the sun and watching Keri begin garden preparation!

Missy took a break from garden duty to head over for a game of ghost tug o’ war with me. You know that game, right? Put a blanket over your head and play tug o’ war? And then stand on your head, of course (Missy, not me!).

Of course, Jamie made sure to supervise Keri with all those tools (someone had to):

Jody enjoyed snoozing in a sun puddle:

And I think dear, sweet Annie summed up the day best for all of us as she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun:

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Case Files, Part 3

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Part 1
Part 2

Name: Missy
Nicknames: Miss, Dr. Missy, Lil’ Bigfoot
Age: 41
Birthday: August 23rd
Role: The Deputy
Personality: loyal, energetic, thrill-seeking
What She Would Save in a Fire: the garden tomatoes
Likes: daredevil acrobatics, tending to her friends’ wounds, social cohesion
Dislikes: having her photo taken, green peppers, sitting still

Name: Annie
Nickname: Annie Banannie
Age: 42
Birthday: September 10th
Role: The Lowest in the Hierarchy
Personality: sweet, gentle, sassy
What She Would Save in a Fire: her BFF Missy
Likes: fresh spring grass, men, bare human feet
Dislikes: being wronged, Burrito’s displays, losing track of Missy’s whereabouts

Morning Surveillance

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As staff and volunteers arrive each morning, boss Jamie often chooses to monitor the activity from the bench in the room we call the portrait studio. She can keep a good eye on both the kitchen and the parking lot from this spot.

Today she received some backup from her good friend Foxie.

Foxie brought along her newest doll (DJ Suki from the recent Trolls movie).

Some days are best for a nest

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The sun has filled the chimp house with light and the chimps with high spirits and shenanigans, but the spring wind is chilly today so the chimps have spent the afternoon enjoying sunny spots from the comfort of their nests this afternoon. Much how I spent my weekend, so who can blame them?

Jamie:

Jody enjoying a magazine:

Burrito keeping an eye on good friend, Jody, from afar:

Negra:

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Peas in a pod

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Missy and Annie are best friends. Though their individuality (especially Annie’s) comes out more each day and varies in several ways, it’s pretty unusual to see one without the other at least nearby. They will often nest near one another and upon occasion we’ve even found their nests woven together in a figure eight.

But if you know Annie and Missy, you also know that they spend most of their time together on the go. Play faces, laughter and mad games of running, chasing, wrestling, and climbing are the norm from sun up ’til sun down. Even when they are resting next to one another there is usually a game of slow motion slapping or tickling going on. So it’s a lovely treat to catch them in a still moment together, just enjoying one another’s company and the view.

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