Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
…and how you can help!
Here’s a link to that list of suggested businesses from our auction committee mentioned in the video: https://bit.ly/390Ui8x
And here’s a link to the 2020 Goals document: https://chimpsnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-Individual-Donor-Needs-ChimpsNW.pdf
And here’s a photo of Honey B getting ready for bed, really just wondering what YOU’RE doing:
“May the roof above you never fall in and those gathered beneath it never fall out.” ~Irish Proverb
Though things have been a little tight here in terms of staffing, we still try our best to bring some excitement to the chimpanzees’ lives. With today being St. Patrick’s Day, we decided to throw them a little party. On today’s menu: “corned beets” and cabbage. We roasted some beets and boiled some cabbage and potatoes. 
After we cleaned the Greenhouse, we set up the party for the Seven. Burrito was really into the cabbage and potatoes and went around picking up any the others may have dropped.
Missy on the other hand grabbed a plate for her own to enjoy at her leisure.
And she made sure not to spill any of her plate even while climbing up the structures. (Now that’s talent!)
Like Burrito, Negra had her own preferences. She really was enthusiastic for the beets and potatoes. She fit as many as she could in her mouth before returning to the Playroom.
While Jody seemed to really enjoy the cabbage Negra left behind.
At first Mave was really unsure of the beets. But after she gave them a try, they became her prized item for today.
When the parties began to wind down, everybody thought it was a good time for a nap.
Even Foxie and her doll.
So from us to you and your loved ones, have a safe and joyous St. Patrick’s Day!
The Group of Seven have always intrigued me with each of their individual ways of eating. Some like to be upfront and center of every meal service. Others will grab their food and go.
This morning Negra wanted to take her banana to go onto Young’s Hill.
Almost immediately upon going onto Young’s Hill, she was instantly distracted by a passing train.
This is usually Negra’s M.O. She will almost always take her food to go. She will collect all her food and hold off on eating until she gets everything. Then she will use her hands, feet, mouth, you name it. Anything she can use to carry food to a location that is quiet and away from the majority of the crowd. As evident with this photo I took a few weeks ago during lunch time.
Missy, Foxie, and Jody will grab one item from the meal service, take it away to a quiet location to eat, then return for the next item being served.
Depending on the food, Annie varies her method almost every meal. Sometimes she stays near where the meal is being served to ensure she gets her share of the meal. Other times she will find a quiet location as well, as she did during lunch today to eat her beets.
Jamie and Burrito, on the other hand, are usually upfront and center most of the time. They usually won’t leave until they are served their chow or nighttime bags.
Jamie, at times, might follow Negra’s lead and save some of her meal to enjoy later. In this case, she needed a proper dining table to finish her sweet potatoes and nighttime bag of seeds, popcorn, and dried fruit.
Sometimes after a meal, Jamie will invite a caregiver to go for a walk around the hill. Today, after lunch, Jamie wanted to go for a walk around the hill. I obliged and joined her. However, instead of a walk, it was a sprint around the hill. I somehow was able to capture a photo mid-sprint.
This went on for some time. Up the hill. Down the hill. Then back up again. Then back down. Usually I can keep up with her. But with our extra preventive measures to ensure both the chimpanzees and humans safe from the current pandemic, I have slowed down considerably. I going to have to start running sprints on my own with a mask on to ensure I don’t get that “I’m disappointed in you” look like she gave me as we returned to the Chimp House again.
Yesterday, Diana wrote the blog about a routine only Jamie would have. As a dominant and strong-willed chimp who is usually an active participant in social drama, Jamie has a tendency to express herself by displaying in the Playroom.
Today, Jamie kept up her steady pace by unleashing yet another raucous display on the residents of the sanctuary. She certainly had everyone’s attention.
To complement yesterday’s video, I tried my best to capture some still images of Jamie in action.
The Jamie Method:
Immediately afterwards, Burrito used the same barrel to observe the neighboring chimps. He had a much more friendly demeanor.
The Bubba Method:
In the following hours, the seven original residents in Jamie and Burrito’s group sprawled out on the upper deck of the wooden structure in the Greenhouse.
Perhaps they had forgotten that their neighbors had an identical barrel on the other side of the building, but they were soon reminded. The seven chimps were suddenly awoken by a chorus of hooting and drumming. The source of all this noise was Willy B. As a large and dominant male, Willy is tactful in his use of displays. He doesn’t overdo it like some brasher males I have met, but he certainly makes sure that his performances are explosive, timely and poignant. Mave and Honey B have a knack for getting out of his way whenever he begins to drum. Willy B may have won this battle of displays.
The Willy B Method:
Willy’s display drew Jamie out onto Young’s Hill. From her vantage near the Greenhouse, Jamie could watch the chute for further activity.
Despite the increased workload due to our self-imposed quarantine restrictions, the sanctuary has been a kind of oasis lately. If you have to ride out a pandemic, you could do worse than to be stuck with these goofballs.
Outside of the sanctuary, there’s a lot going on right now.
Most of you are probably well aware of the uncertainty and trepidation surrounding COVID-19, and we have been altering our operations to ensure that this pandemic has no effect on the chimpanzees. If you’re wondering exactly how we are adjusting, I recommend reading this letter to our community that Diana sent out yesterday.
Obviously, we are doing our best to minimize the potential for pathogen transmission into the sanctuary while maximizing social distancing. Unlike many Washington state employers, however, we can’t just completely close down the office and have everybody work from home. Our staff needs to continue providing the chimpanzees with healthy meals, engaging activities, secure enclosures and clean surroundings, albeit now with a much smaller team of personnel than we are accustomed to. That’s okay, though. Our core team is pretty good at this caregiving stuff, and we don’t think the chimps have noticed that there are unprecedented measures being taken across the globe in response to a new and unusual coronavirus.
Today, I took some time after lunch to observe the chimpanzees as they foraged, relaxed, socialized and exercised. I also casually took some photographs to share with you all.
I always find that watching them go about their day is grounding and encouraging, and I am proud that we can continue to offer them a peaceful sanctuary home even in the strangest of times. Stay mindful, everyone.
This day of sanctuary was generously sponsored for the chimpanzees by Kelly Catlin Walker! Kelly is celebrating her birthday today by giving the chimps a gift!
Happy Birthday, Kelly! Thank you so much for celebrating your day by helping to ensure every day is one of sanctuary for the chimps. All of us here hope you have a beautiful day!
Jamie:
Mave:
Jody:
