Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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chimpanzee

The Sun King

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Despite having a bit of a sideways blowing snowstorm yesterday, we found most of it melted today. (Don’t worry, Burrito has eaten his weight in snow so far today as the shady spots still hold plenty for snacking). The sun is in full bloom, but we have a freezing prequel to the infamous spring winds of the area that have been thundering through the sanctuary like a freight train all day. Even though everyone has access to their outdoor areas, the wind is just too much for any of the chimpanzees to tolerate being outside in it seems, so everyone has been melted into their individual sun puddles on both sides of the chimp house.

Behold, Willy B, the Sun King:

Celebrating Nutmeg’s 5th Birthday

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This month, we celebrated the joyous anniversary of Nutmeg’s birth. Nutmeg completed his fifth trip around the sun on February 10.

Nutmeg and his bovine companions arrived at the sanctuary in the fall of 2018 and have been inhabiting the spacious pasture ever since. Even though he weighs well over one-thousand pounds, this tawny giant is still a mama’s boy. Despite his attachment to his mother, Betsy, we’ve enjoyed watching him grow more independent, hardy, and adventurous over the past 15 months. He still likes to hang with the herd, but he’s been exploring the sanctuary’s farmland and learning to love the outdoors with the support of his bovine companions. He’s also slimmed down quite a bit, and now sports a thick winter coat that has proven quite handy in recent months.

Normally, the cattle graze and browse the surrounding landscape during the warmer seasons and then receive supplementary hay and alfalfa during the winter. We pay close attention to their conditions so they can maintain a healthy weight. Last week, to celebrate Nutmeg’s birthday, we gave the cattle a few scoops of something special. The birthday mix was a rare treat that contained alfalfa, beets, oats and minerals. Nutmeg practically inhaled his portion before slurping the last few handfuls of grain directly off the tailgate. He’s quite the food connoisseur and he seemed to appreciate the special event.

In addition to keeping the sanctuary protected from fires by removing fuel from the landscape, these quirky creatures are a charming addition to the CSNW family. We couldn’t be happier to provide a peaceful home for Betsy, Honey, Meredith and Nutmeg. As I mentioned in the video, Nutmeg and the cows are looking for Bovine Buddy sponsorships that help us to maintain a safe and enriching environment for chimps and cattle, so please visit this page if you are interested in contributing to their care.

Also, please enjoy the included photos of this handsome dude.

Happy birthday, Nutmeg!

Nutmeg

Jody on a Mission

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Today was The Big Melt, or at least One Big Melt (more snow is on the way according to the forecast). The roof was dripping all day and the patches of snow on the ground seemed to grow smaller with each passing minute.

For Jamie’s group of seven, that meant time on Young’s Hill.

I was going to write out a whole narrative to go along with these sequential photos below, but I thought I’d let you all enjoy them on their own and write the narrative yourselves.

It starts with a determined Jody (as seen at the top of the hill behind the yellow bamboo in the photo at the top of this page).

Missy background, Jody foreground (hiding behind the structure)
a blurry, still determined Jody in the foreground with Missy behind her
Jody with the ice, Missy facing her

Missy in the foreground after Jody had passed, Annie in the background

I don’t know for sure, but I would bet that Jody did not share any of her ice ;).

Later in the day, we opened up the doors from the chute to the fenced-in courtyard for Willy B’s group of three. Mave approached confidently, but turned back around before getting to the end of the chute. Honey B insisted on grooming all of the humans who seemed to be standing around for no reason, and Willy B went to the top of the chute, looked down, and then went back inside to play chase with Kelsi.

So, today was not the day for the three to bravely explore their outdoor habitat, but we will keep offering them the chance.

Cleaning Up

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Honey B, like many other sanctuary chimpanzees, enjoys cleaning. Last week, we did a “deep clean” of one of her indoor enclosures and spent time scrubbing the track to the door that leads to the upstairs play area. Honey B watched us intently and later decided that the door track needed just a bit more work.

An Edible Landscape

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Yesterday, Diana and myself shoveled pathways onto Young’s Hill. It was still pretty cold outside, and we didn’t see any of the chimpanzees go out. After a day and some sun, the snow began to slightly melt. With some wider paths created with the melting snow, the chimpanzees decided to venture out today. Negra (of all people) was the one waiting by the door to Young’s Hill and was very eager to head out. After a few feet, she realized she was alone and reached out to Annie for some reassurance, which Annie obliged.

Once reassurance was given, Negra was okay.

Once Annie was out, she was immediately followed by Missy and Foxie.

For Negra, Foxie, and Missy, their first order of business was to sit in the sun on the platform and take in the snowy landscape.

Annie, on the other hand, went straight for Negra’s Cabin.

Annie seemed quite cozy there and stayed in Negra’s Cabin for some time. For the others though, there were was a bounty of edible landscape to be had. Foxie decided to take her bounty on the go.

And like the den mother she always is, Jody had to monitor those out on Young’s Hill to ensure they came back safe.

We just passed out their nighttime enrichment (Kongs) to wrap up today. Jamie grabbed her Kongs and bolted for Young’s Hill before I could close it.

She just returned and seems pleased with her last patrol of the day. The rest of the chimpanzees are already snug in their nests and I can see on our security monitors Jamie has started to grab some blankets of her own. Until next time, friends!

Happy Birthday, Jan!

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Today was sponsored by Linda and Jody Shuger for Jan Carroll! Linda and Jody shared this message about their gift:

“CSNW is Jan’s #1 charity and Burrito is her #1 favorite chimp! Sending some gifts to Burrito so he can celebrate with Janet since his birthday was not too long ago! Happy Birthday Janet and Happy Belated Birthday Burrito!! Love, Linda and Jody”

Linda and Jody, thanks so much for including us in your celebration of Jan and her love for the chimps AND for giving us another opportunity to celebrate our guy, Burrito (whose birthday was on January 6th)! We so appreciate your heartfelt generosity and the joy you’ve helped bring to these lives.

Happy Birthday, Jan! We hope this is the best one yet and just like the chimps’, may your each year ahead be better than the last. Thank you so much for loving these special chimp people.

Burrito:

Eat, Play, Love

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Burrito is really such a snow fiend. His first order of business for us today was to give him his pre-breakfast snow. When he gained access to the Greenhouse and Young’s Hill, he seemed unsure if he wanted to venture outside to collect his own snow.

He then thought of the most perfect plan. He can sit in the Greenhouse, and just have his human caregivers deliver him his post-breakfast snow. That way he had access to the outdoors, but the pesky wind would be blocked by the winter paneling, and he could enjoy.

Really though! He really loves snow.

Jamie, being the Boss, also wanted to partake on the snow harvesting the humans were doing for Burrito.

As usual, Negra decided to stay inside, nice and warm, under a blanket in the Playroom.

On the other side of the Chimp House, Honey B and Mave have been in super silly moods lately. They engaged in an intense play session with tons of laughing.

Willy B was not a fan of all the noise they were causing as he was trying to take his pre-lunch nap.

Luckily for him, Honey B and Mave stopped playing and began grooming.

It’s days like today when all the chimpanzees are happy, that my day feels complete and I have a constant smile on my face.