Are you sick of seeing Missy and Annie play? I didn’t think so! These two are always wrestling and having a good time. Here’s a video that is bound to brighten your Tuesday afternoon:
chimpanzee sanctuary
Today is in memory of Dr. Mel
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored in memory of Dr. Mel Richardson by Laura Handzel. Laura shared: “I’ll miss Dr. Mel and his smile. I’m grateful for everything I learned from him and for all he did for the animals, especially those at CSNW.”
As many of you are aware, the animals of the world (human and otherwise) lost a dear friend in Dr. Mel recently. While our loss is immeasurable, so is his legacy. Dr. Mel’s was a life well lived and a model of how to walk in the world as a human. Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and all of us here wouldn’t be the same without being so fortunate to have been a part of his extraordinary life.
Laura, thank you so much for honoring Dr. Mel in such a thoughtful way.
Here is another fan of living life to the fullest, Dr. Mel’s Pal, Jody:
B is for birthday and that’s good enough for Burrito
To celebrate the birthday boy today we tried to make sure his day was filled with things that he enjoys most. Enrichment for the party included scarves for playing tug-o-war with, the bedbug popper toys he likes so well, and wooden toys for biting to his heart’s content. Party decorations included streamers, paper, boxes, and more streamers. Volunteer Patti Sims contributed birthday pinatas and, for the coupe de grace, food! Truly, when it comes to Burrito’s favorite things, food is right up there on the list. So in his honor we made today about the food he loves. There was pineapple smoothie for breakfast, a chow and Brussels sprout forage in the party room, a leek and cucumber lunch forage in the front rooms, baked squash for dinner and healthy food snacks served throughout the day. In addition to his food themed day, Burrito also enjoyed plenty of games with human and chimpanzee friends alike! I don’t know about you, but I think he looks pretty well satisfied with the day’s festivities.
And while most of the photos we captured of the day involved the birthday boy, I can assure you that the other chimpanzees enjoyed the party as well!
Foxie foraging for chow (It’s what’s in the yellow party box):
Jamie foraging for chow, or possibly the Brussels sprouts:
Thank you, Susan!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Susan Cooper. Susan shared the following thoughts: “I love Sundays. On Sundays I think about things that are truly important to me. Sunday is the day I spend at home, thinking about those I love and taking care of my 5 rescue dogs and our home.”
Susan also shared how moved she was by our recent video about Foxie and the inspiration she provides for us all. It means the world to us when others see how special the chimpanzees are. Thank you so much, Susan, for thinking of Foxie and her chimpanzee family on your special Sundays, and for all you do for animals!
More love for Connie!
Today was sponsored in honor of Connie Lamm (formerly Connie Robertson) by Mary Neal, who wanted to share what “a wonderful person” Connie is! You may recall that a day of sanctuary was recently sponsored for Connie in honor of her marriage to Bill by her fellow chimp house volunteers. Connie never misses an opportunity to help her chimpanzee and human friends in whatever way she can so it comes as no surprise that the love for her keeps pouring in.
Connie works tirelessly to improve the lives of the chimpanzees in countless ways. From being a volunteer caregiver to keeping the chimpanzees’ refrigerator stocked with produce pick-ups, to helping organize fundraising events and sharing her passion for the sanctuary with everyone she meets. And we can’t thank her enough!
Mary, thank you so much for honoring Connie in such a generous and thoughtful way!
Happy Birthday, Don Young!
Today we’re celebrating Don Young’s 75th birthday. Don and Karen Young have been endlessly generous in their support of the sanctuary and the Cle Elum Seven. Among many other things, Don and Karen provided the contribution that allowed us to break ground on what is now known as Young’s Hill. Each time the chimpanzees step outside onto their two-acre open air habitat, we feel so thankful to the Youngs for making it happen. See Diana’s blog post from this morning for more on Don and Karen.
Karen sponsored today for the chimps in honor of Don’s birthday, so we threw a lavish party to celebrate. The weather was unseasonably nice today, so first thing this morning we set up parties in the greenhouse and on Young’s Hill. The chimps foraged for coconuts, pineapple, kiwi, beets, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and fruit smoothie in Dixie cups.
Although the weather was beautiful for January in Cle Elum, it was still a little cool for Negra, so she chose to stay in the greenhouse:
But everyone else went outside and foraged for breakfast on Young’s Hill:
Burrito gathered some Brussels sprouts:
And Jamie collected some beets:
The real prizes of the morning were the two whole coconuts. Missy quickly found one of them:
and looked for a safe place to enjoy it:
She was soon joined by Jody:
Jody was very happy to find the second coconut a little later:
There was plenty of coconut to go around, and everyone eventually got a chance to enjoy some.
Foxie:
Annie:
We can’t possibly count the ways in which we’re grateful for Karen and Don’s generosity. The Cle Elum Seven wouldn’t enjoy the life they do without them. Happy birthday, Don!
Cheers!
Happy New Year’s Eve! We want to thank Jody Ubert for sponsoring today for the chimpanzees. Jody, you’ll be happy to know that we had a wonderful little New Year’s Eve party for the chimpanzees today, complete with party streamers and plastic champagne flutes with sparkling apple cider. The chimps loved them!
Today is also the last chance to donate before the end of the year. If you’re on our mailing list, you received this message in your inbox this morning, which includes a link to the Foxie Inspires Us video. Foxie and her friends are in a Holiday Pal competition, too, and I think it’d be really great to see all seven chimps with two full candy canes by the end of 2013. Check the progress here, and support your favorite pal before the ball drops at midnight tonight!
Here is Foxie enjoying some of the cider from today:
Thank you to everyone who has made the last five and half years of sanctuary so wonderful for the Cle Elum Seven. Cheers to you and yours, and have a Happy New Year!
