Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee sanctuary

Winter’s morning light

by

Our days here at the sanctuary couldn’t be sunnier or brighter. But Lady Winter is still reminding us she’s around for a little while longer with some extra cold temperatures during the night this week. If the temperature is predicted to drop below 20 degrees, we close off the greenhouse before we leave at night just to help conserve heat in the chimp house. With the mild winter we’ve been experiencing we haven’t had to close it very often this year, but this week has been in the teens at night. The chimpanzees wouldn’t be out there in such temperatures anyway, but this morning when we opened it up again during breakfast they were particularly excited.

The door to Young’s Hill was already open for them and the chimps decided to take their chow bags to go after breakfast and raced outside into the chilly morning. Well, Negra wasn’t about to race outside, but she did run up and peek out the door with a hopeful look on her face so it was a bit like our version of Groundhog’s Day, Negra style. Everyone else quickly came back and chose to sit in the raceway to Young’s Hill together where they could enjoy their chow with the sun on their faces.

This is often a favorite spot of Negra’s where she can luxuriate in the morning sun streaming into the greenhouse and this morning she seemed particularly happy:

web_negra_gh_morning_kd_IMG_9183

web_negra_rest_chin_arm_gh_sun_kd_IMG_9185

web_negra_eat_chow_gh_sun_kd_IMG_9193

Annie looked so serene as she enjoyed the sun coming up over Young’s Hill and spilling into the raceway:

web_annie_look_out_raceway_sun_kd_IMG_9187

web_annie_look_camera_raceway_kd_IMG_9203

web_annie_sit_raceway_look_down_kd_IMG_9200

Foxie:

web_foxie_play_face_look_out_raceway_kd_IMG_9225

web_foxie_closeup_sunlight_kd_IMG_9219

web_foxie_sunlight_look_down_kd_IMG_9218

web_foxie_hang_raceway_kd_IMG_9222

And Jody:

web_jody_sit_sun_gh_kd_IMG_9213

Jody was one of the first onto the hill and enjoyed the sun on her shoulders and the view of the valley as she ate her chow:

web_jody_sun_on_shoulder_yh_kd_IMG_9197

Thinking inside the box

by

Last night, volunteers, interns, and primate behavior students from Central Washington University got together to make some enrichment for the chimps. Their club is Primate Awareness Network—if you’ve been following the blog for awhile, that might sound a little familiar to you—they’ve hosted talks by CSNW staff during their annual spring speaker series several times.

We are so appreciative that they spent some time putting together boxes for the chimps, with nuts hidden in paper inside. The chimps seemed to enjoy their fun forage!


Annie:

web_annie_forage_but_pr_dm_IMG_9135

web_annie_forage_tissue_paper_flower_pr_dm_IMG_9166


Jamie:

web_jamie_open_box_forage_nuts_pr_dm_IMG_9154

web_jamie_open_box_forage_nuts_pr_dm_IMG_9143

web_jamie_eat_nut_box_forage_pr_dm_IMG_9170


Jody:

web_jody_forage_nut_in_box_pr_dm_IMG_9117


Negra:

web_negra_forage_nut_in_tissue_paper_pr_dm_IMG_9131


After Missy went through a couple of boxes, she surveyed the situation to see if anything else was up for grabs:

web_missy_qp_stand_look_down_pr_dm_IMG_9178

web_missy_qp_stand_relaxed_face_pr_dm_IMG_9181

Today is in memory of Leonard Nimoy

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Eric Dodge in memory of Leonard Nimoy. Eric has been a long time supporter of chimpanzees and a friend to the Cle Elum 7 for many years. And today he wanted to make a difference for them while honoring the many contributions of Mr. Nimoy.

As many of you are probably aware, Leonard Nimoy, perhaps best known for his role as Spock on “Star Trek,” passed away on February 27th. As an actor, director, writer, musician and artist, Mr. Nimoy leaves a lifetime of accomplishment in the arts and humanities and used his position from a creative, progressive and inclusive standpoint, often at a time when social issues were not directly addressed.

In honoring Leonard Nimoy’s many contributions in life, Eric also aptly noted the worldwide appeal of his character, Spock, to so many of us who struggle to fit into our communities. This brings to mind the chimpanzees who, having been raised in captivity, in some cases to include human homes, often find themselves struggling with a cultural identity of their own.

While nothing replaces the natural lives the chimpanzees were meant to live with their families, we are so grateful that they can now spend their days in a sanctuary all their own, finally getting to call the shots and be loved and cared for as the unique individuals they are. Every day we see how life in sanctuary allows them to more easily integrate their conflicting natures and just be themselves. Whatever that means to each of them.

Eric, thanks so much for thinking of the chimpanzees and continuing to make a difference in their lives!

Jamie:

web_Jamie_wear_troll_scarf_recorder_in_mouth_enrichment_PR_ek_IMG_0664

Jamie looking over Young’s Hill:

Content Jamie

Jamie, Foxie, and Dora:

web_Foxie_Jamie_dora_YH_jb_IMG_3368

To Each Her Own

by

Missy and Negra are good friends, but they are opposites in a lot of ways. Missy is petite and athletic; Negra is large and round. Missy is always on the move; Negra is usually napping under a blanket. Missy is social and outgoing; Negra likes her alone time.

Today after lunch Missy headed outside to Young’s Hill for some sprints (Jamie in the background):

web_Missy_run_Jamie_walk_in_background_YH_ek_IMG_8961

and some time with best friend Annie:

web_Missy_Annie_sit_on_log_bridge_YH_ek_IMG_8982

At the same time, Negra took advantage of the warm, quiet playroom for an afternoon siesta:

web_Negra_sleep_blanket_nest_poncho_catwalk_PR_ek_IMG_8998

web_Negra_sleep_blanket_nest_poncho_catwalk_PR_ek_IMG_9000

It brings us so much joy to be able to give these chimps the space and freedom to make their own choices, do what they like, and be who they are.

In memory of Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Joan O’Flaherty in memory of her parents’ birthdays. Ned and Noreen were both born on March 1st, though two years apart. Joan shared that Ned and Noreen greatly loved animals, the environment and conservation. For the past few years, Joan has generously sponsored this day in Ned and Noreen’s honor, as well as their anniversary, and feels they would have loved the chimpanzees.

It’s amazing to see the difference caring and compassionate people make in the world, even when they are no longer here with us. Joan, thank you so much for choosing to honor your parents by making a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives. We are always so touched and wish you much joy, comfort and love through your memories of them on this special day.

web_Jamie_Burrito_sit_together_close-up_raceway_doorY_kh_IMG_4195

The Blanket Fling

by

Burrito has a patented play move that is legitimately impossible to resist – we call it the blanket fling. He most often uses it when he’s trying to initiate play with a caregiver. The closest English translation I can come up with is “Heeeyyyyyy! Let’s get crazy!!” And get crazy we do.

web_Burrito_serious_blanket_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8871

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8866

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8863

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8864

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8875

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8867

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8862

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8876

web_Burrito_play_blanket_fling_raceway_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8880

web_Burrito_sit_in_raceway_hold_ceiling_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8853

web_Burrito_sit_in_raceway_hold_ceiling_look_at_camera_GH_YH_ek_IMG_8851

A complicated relationship

by

Foxie has a complicated relationship with her dolls. As most of you know, Foxie is rarely without one (or two or three). It can be very emotionally appealing to see Foxie exhibit maternal behaviors with her Doras and trolls, particularly when you learn of the five babies she had stolen from her while in the lab, as Debbie shared yesterday. There is no doubt that Foxie receives comfort from her dolls, but at times she also seemingly uses them to express her frustration.

As much as we see her kiss them, carry them on her back as a mother chimpanzee would do with her children, or become distressed when they are out of her reach, we also see her spend significant amounts of time giving them a good wallop. Foxie is very intense during these times and typically uses a tool to rapidly and repeatedly strike against the dolls. It’s very loud and many of the tools she uses get broken as a result. When she is engaging in this behavior she is very focused and isn’t often interested in much else that may be going on around her.

Notice the toy screwdriver in her left hand and the intense look on her face:

web_foxie_beat_doll_gh_kd_IMG_8819

web_foxie_beat_doll_with_tool_kd_IMG_8821

web_foxie_dora_rough_kd_IMG_8822

web_foxie_slam_dora_gh_kd_IMG_8820

web_foxie_beat_dora_gh_window_kd_IMG_8818

Foxie often remains serious and a bit distant for some time after these stormy displays:

web_foxie_dora_fierce_rm4_kd_IMG_8826

web_foxie_lean_toward_camera_kd_IMG_8827

web_foxie_dora_look_fierce_kd_IMG_8830

But then the clouds pass and you see the “Foxie light” return in her eyes. While this is really outside the realm of what we have learned about chimpanzee behavior, we could be tempted to try and psychoanalyze her behavior to death. But in reality we really don’t know what’s going on in Foxie’s mind. This is just Foxie. Like each of the chimpanzees, she is an incredibly strong, intelligent, resilient and courageous person and this is how she sometimes chooses to express herself. We love and accept her for exactly who she is, every minute of every day. And that’s all we need to know.

web_foxie_chew_rm4_kd_IMG_8828