Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Remembering Ned and Noreen

by

We are so lucky to have two days of sanctuary sponsored for the chimpanzees today! The first, is graciously sponsored annually by Joan O’Flaherty in memory of her parents, Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty, on the date of their shared birthday. Joan shared this message about today:

“My parents loved animals and supported conservation so they would be supporters of the sanctuary and enabling the chimpanzees to have lives worth living.”

Joan, thank you so much for choosing to make the chimpanzees’ lives better with each passing year as a way to honor your dear parents and their legacy, which clearly lives on in you. We’re so grateful to you and hope today is one of comforting and joy-filled remembrance.

Burrito and Negra:

Mave and Willy B:

Burrito and Foxie:

A very windy day

by

Today was so windy it could, quite literally, push your car off the road. However, wind means spring is coming to Cle Elum! I personally can’t wait, but Burrito is going to have a hard time not having snow delivered to him every morning. We don’t know what will happen when the snow runs out, but I’m sure the chimps will be as happy as the caretakers when the sunny days arrive.

In memory of Voyo “Joe” Jovanovich

by

Today was sponsored by Linda Jovanovich in memory of her dad, Voyo “Joe” Jovanovich (2/29/1920 – 5/22/2010).

“Remembering my favorite Leap Year Baby, my dad, who left us at age 23 1/2 and would have celebrated his 25th (!) today. Love you always, Dad!”

Linda, thank you so much for such a sweet remembrance of your dad and for making a difference in the chimps’ lives as you celebrate him. May today be full of comforting and joyful memories.

Honey B and Willy B:

Burrito and Foxie:

Burrito and Jody:

Chimpy Business

by

It felt like Spring today. The sun was out and there were virtually no clouds in the sky. Just like in Spring, Jamie and her group wanted onto Young’s Hill right away to finish their breakfast chow outside.

Jamie was really happy to enjoy her chow outside.

She really, really, really seemed to enjoy her chow outside.

But after her last bit of chow was finished, it was back to business. Jamie, Foxie, Annie, Missy, Jody, and Burrito patrolled their outdoor enclosure. On their way back, they were greeted by Negra, who was waiting for them on one of the platforms.

Though patrolling can be serious business, Missy and Annie chased each other all the way down.

As the others made their way back to the indoor enclosures, Foxie decided to get some alone time.

Burrito, on the other hand, was on a mission to find the last snow patch on Young’s Hill.

As they were heading inside, Missy tried to get a peek on her neighbors.

Unfortunately for Missy, her neighbors decided to be inside at the time. Honey B was grooming Willy B. It seemed like it was a sweet, tender moment between two friends. But as you know, these chimpanzees can rarely contain their shenanigans. This is demonstrated in this photo series:

Grooming

Thinking about tickling Willy B.

Commence tickling!

Personally, my favorite part of capturing this sequence of events is you can almost see the shift in Honey B’s thought process. This tickle session lasted for a couple minutes before it turned into a pretty epic game of chase.

From our family to yours, we hope you have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Nancy and Darrell!

by

This day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees was sponsored by Krissy Brasfield, one of our amazing chimp house volunteers, in honor of her parents, Nancy and Darrell Brasfield! Krissy shared this lovely note about her gift:

“I’m sponsoring this day in honor of my folks’ 75th birthdays! Mom’s is today, the 27th, dad’s was on the 25th. My folks are both very compassionate animal lovers, and passed that love on to me. Now, they are living vicariously through my volunteer experience at CSNW – reading the blog, watching the videos, and listening to me yammer on incessantly about every little detail about my new chimpanzee friends! I hope that they get the opportunity to visit the sanctuary some day! I love you, mom and dad! Happy Birthday!”

Krissy, you so clearly hold the chimpanzees in your heart and consistently think of ways to contribute to their lives. From our hearts, thank you for all you do.

Nancy and Darrell, happiest of birthdays to you both from all of the primates here at CSNW! We’re so glad to be able to celebrate your special days with you!

The boss of Krissy (and us all), beautiful Jamie:

On one occasion this winter when we were running low on snow at the sanctuary, Krissy made a special snow delivery for Burrito from the next town over!

Annie, Missy and Foxie:

The Elusive Honey B

by

Honey B is anything but shy.

This bright, enigmatic chimp seemed to arrive at the sanctuary with one setting: investigate.

For example, Honey B constantly inspects human personnel for new cuts, scrapes, bruises, hangnails, freckles, accessories and even tattoos, which she then insists on eagerly grooming. Her first reaction to new volunteers is to spit water on them, measure their reaction, and then stare at them as if they were a peculiar piece of art in a museum. This not-so-warm welcome seems to make people feel a bit uneasy at first. To quote volunteer Becca’s reaction after meeting Honey B last fall, “I feel like she knows my SAT scores.”

Honey B tends to be the first chimpanzee to enter new areas after they have been cleaned and provisioned with enrichment materials, and she was the first to figure out the drinking fountains in her new home. Even when meeting new chimps, her strategy seemed built around a framework of testing boundaries and pushing buttons. Curiosity may proverbially kill felines but it somehow hasn’t gotten Honey B yet.

Her apparent rule that everything needs to be investigated in depth also applies to cameras and phones. While other chimps may be more curious about the reflective camera lens (like Willy B) or nervous about having their photo taken (like Mave), Honey B seems intent on somehow obtaining the camera. Her immediate reaction is to charge forward, get as close to the camera as possible, and ask the caregivers to let her groom the camera body. On rare occasions, she has asked me to drop a camera or phone in the food chute (which is not going to happen). We can only imagine what she would do with a camera, but it’s not impossible that she would actually attempt to take photographs with it. She’s learned how to clean by observing humans, so maybe the visual arts are next.

This tendency of hers to hover by the camera makes capturing portraits of her a challenge. Today, I got lucky. When I unlocked the wing of the building where Honey B and her two companions now reside, the three of them were sitting by the window in a beam of morning sunlight. I coincidentally had the camera by my side (armed with a groovy Canon lens that was generously donated by a supporter who saw it on our Wish List), making it a truly serendipitous moment. Honey B held still for a quick photo shoot as Mave lazily picked through her hair and groomed her shoulder. Perhaps I have Mave to thank for that whole moment.

Anyway, you’re all being treated to a rare portrait of Honey B as the cornerstone of today’s blog post. Enjoy.

Chasing Happiness

by

Snow one day. Warm(ish) weather the next. This has been the weather pattern this winter. When we drive up to the sanctuary on the mornings with a fresh layer of snow that accumulated over night, we usually walk in to the sounds of Burrito excitedly trying to get our attention. He usually wants the freshest of snow. On the days when the weather is warmer and the snow begins to melt (like today), there always seems to be more sense of urgency to get our attention to hurry us to bring him as much snow as he can hold.

Even when you think there is no possible way he could want any more snow, he let’s you know it is definitely not enough.

Later, when the group of seven went on Young’s Hill this morning, Missy and Jody began a game of chase.

When Jody was done playing, Annie tagged in and a pretty epic game of chase and foot grab.

On the other side of the Chimp House, Willy B was in a super playful mood. He wore out the staff and volunteers in long games of chase. I had to sneak these photos of Willy B during one of his breaks from his games.

Honey B, on the other hand, decided which enrichment she wanted to use.

In the end, she chose to bundle up in a sweater she was given this past Christmas.

Watching the chimps decide which enrichment they want to use is one of the best moments. As Honey B did today, she picked up several enrichment items, inspected them each carefully, and decided what she wanted.

But the best enrichment is a grooming session with your friend in your fort.