People sometimes ask how we interact with the chimpanzees through the fencing. While there are plenty of things to do that don’t involve any physical contact at all (chase!), there are safe methods of physical contact that allow us to tickle or groom — or be tickled or groomed by — the chimps. To make sure everyone stays safe, our fingers never penetrate the plane of the fencing. In this video, Jackie, our newest caregiver, uses a decapitated troll head (!!!) and a piece of bark to groom and tickle Foxie.
chimpanzee sanctuary
Exciting Foxie stories
On Saturday, the night of the Cle Elum Seven’s one year anniversary, Jackie and I were hanging out with the chimps after dinner and we witnessed two amazing things. I do not have photographic evidence of these events, but I was so glad that Jackie was there to also see them.
First, long after the other chimpanzees had finished eating, Jamie was still hanging onto a bit of cantaloupe. Jamie seemed content to delay finishing her fruit as she carefully inspected Jackie’s boot. After several minutes, Foxie came over. There were probably a dozen troll dolls that were part of the party enrichment, and Foxie had three of them with her, one that still had on a wedding dress. Foxie put this troll doll in Jamie’s free hand, while looking away. Foxie continued to hold onto the troll doll until Jamie’s fingers closed around the doll. Then Foxie pulled her hand away and very slowly and carefully took the cantaloupe that was sitting by Jamie. If you’re a regular blog reader, you know that Jamie is pretty possessive of her food, and she is the highest ranking chimpanzee. This means that other chimps, as a rule, generally do not take food from Jamie. But this really appeared to be a trade. Apparently troll dolls served as a version of currency between these two!
The second equally amazing thing that occurred also involved Foxie. Jackie and I were handing out blankets in the front rooms, and Foxie took one through the fencing. This in itself is a bit unusual, but not unheard of – sometimes she’ll playfully take blankets or clothes, and then drop them. Every once in a while she’ll play a quick game of tug of war. But Foxie took this blanket (a very big fleece one) and eventually climbed up to the bed in Room Four and began to nest!! The blanket was long and hanging off of the bed, and Jamie immediately came into the room and began to pull on the end hanging down. Foxie’s played for a bit, at one point trying to still nest by wrapping the blanket around her, while Jamie continued to pull on the blanket. After a while Foxie dropped the blanket and Jamie left. Then Foxie got up and walked into Room 2, passing several blankets along the way, and picked up a pink one. She carried the pink blanket back to the far room, went back to the bed, laid the blanket down, and laid down on top of it.
It was a beautiful sight to see, and so special that it happened one year to the day after she arrived at the sanctuary. I’m so excited for what year two will bring!!
One Year Later
We’ve all been reflecting on how much the chimpanzees have changed over the last year and going through old photos and videos of when they first arrived. Sometimes photos tell the story better than words, so I put together this video.
Happy Birthday Negra and a very happy anniversary to the Cle Elum Seven. I look forward to many more to come!
Negra’s new life
Tomorrow we are celebrating Negra’s honorary birthday and the Cle Elum Seven’s anniversary of their arrival to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
Negra is about 36 years old. She was captured in Africa as an infant and brought to the U.S. to be used in biomedical research. She had four babies during her decades in research. She had over sixty liver biopsies while being used as a test subject for hepatitis vaccines. She has spent the vast majority of her life in small cages in various laboratories. She lived without access to the outside. Without windows. Without the chance to feel the sun on her face.
I think this photo, taken a couple of weeks ago, illustrates what sanctuary means to Negra:
You can support Negra today and wish her a happy birthday by giving a donation on her fundraising page. CSNW couldn’t exist without the support of so many. You provide the chimpanzees with a new life.
$7000 goal update
Just wanted to point out that we’re up to $3995 towards our $7000 anniversary fundraising goal and 12 people (including Negra) now have fundraising pages! Thanks for all who are fundraising – Pam, Tamela, Margaret, Susan, Courtney, Jackie, Sara, Grace, Michelle, Nicole and Jeani (hmmm, all women…)
Check out all of the wonderful and creative pages here and see what some folks are offering in return for donations. There are only 20 days left to raise $3000, so I hope you’ll consider giving to someone’s page today if you haven’t already.
Can you believe the one year anniversary and Negra’s birthday celebration is in three days?!
Chillin’ outside
It’s a little overcast in Cle Elum today, but that didn’t stop the chimps from spending some time outside. Jamie patrolled the outdoor area wearing her troll scarf, Missy engaged Diana in a game of chase, and Annie had a quiet moment with a mirror.
Nesting and Resting Outside
I decided to add some text within the video below. Foxie is really coming along with her nesting! And, seriously, who can resist Negra? Don’t forget about her birthday, which we’re celebrating on June 13th, and our $7,000 fundraising goal for June. We’re almost half-way there – $4,000 more to go!
