Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee sanctuary

Take Action Tuesday: Split-listing may be removed!

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EOA take action tuesday

This morning the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)  announced that they are proposing to remove the split listing between captive and free-living chimpanzees, making ALL chimpanzees endangered. This potentially will have a major influence on how chimpanzees are treated in this country. It will certainly have an impact on invasive research and most likely entertainment as well.

Read our press release on the proposal and see this news article featuring a photo of CSNW’s resident, Jody (read her story here).

At this moment, the FWS  has only made a proposal and this does not guarantee that it will be passed.  The FWS is currently accepting public comment, so we need your help! Please leave a comment here to express your thoughts on this issue. Let them know that chimpanzees should be regarded as an endangered species and that the hundreds of chimps still in labs and entertainment truly deserve to be in sanctuaries. Spread the word!

 

A Gentleman’s Tea Party

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Today I brought in some new “garden tool” themed enrichment for the chimpanzees so we decided to throw an impromptu garden tea party in the greenhouse this morning.  JB and Diana contributed beautiful roses from their garden which the chimps love to smell and eat, and we brewed some berry tea to put out in teacups.  And in perfect serendipity, Zibby Wilder, a former board member for the sanctuary (featured in this video of when the chimps first arrived almost five years ago!), came for a visit and just happened to bring fresh grapevines which the chimps were very excited about!  Being the only fella at the garden tea party, Burrito had no problem problem joining in to enjoy the treats and he was the perfect gentleman.

web burrito cute look at camera GH (dm) IMG_9019

web burrito hand grab tea cup rose GH (dm) IMG_9015

web burrito sip tea hide cute GH (dm) IMG_9018

Happy Birthday, Eric!

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Today was sponsored in honor of Eric Jensen whose family shared the following message:  “Happy Birthday to an impy chimpy kind of son who we are so proud of.  Love, your parents.”  What a wonderful way to honor your son on his birthday! Thank you so much for thinking of the chimps.  Have a great day, Eric, and lots of pant hoots to you!

web Burrito walk face camera Young's Hill YH IMG_6662

 

Sunny sanctuary days

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Last week Katelyn posted about Jamie’s reaction to a relief from the rainy days of May. I have to admit, I’m right there with her! I, too, have anxiously been awaiting the warmth of the central Washington summer. Working here brings an added satisfaction to each sunny day as I have the pleasure of anticipating and watching the joy of the chimpanzees as they forage and spend time on Young’s Hill. Never having been deprived of the sky, the wind, the grass, and the sun I simply can not imagine what an amazing contrast this is to the chimpanzees today but I appreciate every opportunity, every day that gives them one more gift of freedom. Here is Missy, enjoying Young’s Hill in the sun.

web Missy walk climb log triangle look toward camera YH IMG_8899

web Missy in wild mustard YH IMG_8837

web Missy in tall grass YH IMG_8817

What a difference a day makes

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We have been having many days of much needed, but seemingly never ending, rain here at the sanctuary.  And let me tell you, Jamie has had a bee in her bonnet for days.  And when Jamie’s not happy she makes it well known.  I can’t really blame her as it’s hard to be stuck inside after we have had so many beautiful days recently.  As caregivers, it is always first in our minds as to how we can make the days better for the chimps, particularly when they aren’t able to go outside.  Yesterday, despite our best efforts, Jamie was a grouchy lady and let it be known in no uncertain terms that she wanted nothing to do with any of our suggestions.  But today the humans and chimpanzees finally awoke to sunny skies.  Everyone was in a good mood and JB even got a laugh from Annie, who typically reserves those for her raucous games of chase with her best friend, Missy.  We put a breakfast forage on Young’s Hill to make the most of the day and the chimps were all lined up waiting for the door to open.  They immediately all filed through the raceway together with Negra (!) in the lead. Everyone spread out, foraging through the now significantly taller grass, food squeaking with joy (we are hoping to have some great footage of this from the GoPro camera on the hill soon).  And then much to our surprise, we spotted Jamie trying her hand at tightrope walking across the fire hose bridge!  While this is usually a classic Missy move, I’d say Jamie is giving her a run for her money.  And the best thing yet? That bee that’s been in Jamie’s bonnet seems to have flown off.

web Jamie tightrope firehose yh I IMG_8613

web Jamie tightrope firehose yh II IMG_8614

web Jamie tightrope firehose yh III IMG_8615

web Jamie tightrope firehose yh IV IMG_8616

I love Jamie’s face in this last picture.  It almost looks as though she’s giving herself a little congratulatory cheer.  I would look like that as well if I had just been able to do a tightrope walk across the fire hose bridge!

web Jamie tightrope firehose yh V IMG_8623

Happy Birthday, Michael!

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Today was sponsored by Michael Miller.  Michael generously chose to celebrate his own birthday by honoring the chimpanzees today!   We have the best supporters.  Thank you so much, Michael!  We all send loud and raucous pant hoots wishing you the happiest of birthdays and a big birthday forage!

web Annie bipedal hold watermelon forage green grass Young's Hill YH IMG_8512

The Many Sides of Burrito

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There is no denying that Burrito is one of the sweetest guys around.  I mean, just look at this face.  When he wants to play with us he will often try to pass toys or scarves through the caging for us.  The other day he happened to pull up a flower and hand it to me and then offered me a kiss.  Now he may or may not have been just grabbing what was in reach, but nevertheless, my heart melted.  And there are the raucous games of chase and tug of war.  During one particularly spirited game the other day he started laughing so hard he fell over backwards! Which, of course, made me laugh so hard I had tears coming down my face.

web Burrito close up greenhouse GH IMG_7916

But just like all of us, Burrito has many sides to his personality.  When we open the door to the chimp area in the morning he typically displays loudly and vigorously, rattling the caging, charging through the playroom clapping, throwing things, and pant hooting at the top of his lungs, getting all the ladies stirred up.  He has also been known to bang relentlessly on the caging throughout meal time, and upon occasion, will even try to poke us as we are serving none other than the Boss, Jamie.  Mind you, we are the ones who get in trouble from Jamie for this.  And with me being one of the newest staff members here at CSNW he also likes to let me know his opinion of my new ability to move and unlock doors.  There have been many a morning that as I am opening or closing doors in the chimpanzee areas that he climbs up the caging directly in front of me, bangs, and spits water (with excellent aim I might add) right in my eye.  I know, who could believe such stories of this sweet man chimp?  But all of this is normal, healthy, male chimpanzee behavior.  Burrito is reminding me that this is his home and that just because I have the keys does not mean I am in charge.  It means that he feels safe and secure enough to claim this as his territory.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.