Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Update on Burrito

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To keep you all informed, it was decided to perform a procedure on Burrito earlier today. As mentioned before, Burrito was well enough to rejoin the Girl Gang a few days ago, however he was still battling a slow healing toe injury. After monitoring it for a couple of days, our veterinarian and local orthopedic specialists suspected it could be something serious. After conducting some x-rays on his toe, it was confirmed to be an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis), which unfortunately meant amputation to remove the affected bone  and stop any possible spread of the infection. Our vet and specialists were able to quickly conduct the procedure with no complications. He is currently recovering in one of the front rooms and is expected to make a fast recovery. In fact, he was sitting upright on his own almost instantly after the procedure. With this last nagging problem behind him he should be back to 100% very soon. We will continue to keep you updated as he recovers.

With the flurry of human activity happening regarding Burrito, it was business as usual for the rest of the chimpanzees.

The girls were given access to Young’s Hill. While Jamie, Missy, and Jody decided it was a good time to patrol, Annie decided it was a bit too chilly for her to go around the entire hill.

Similarly, Negra decided to not attempt to go outside, and covered herself with blankets instead.

On the other side of the sanctuary, there was a lot of silliness going on. First, we found Honey B inside a box we gave them as enrichment with Willy B drumming away on it. They both had the biggest play faces I have seen. It was one of those moments that come and go as quickly as you see them. I was able to capture a few shots later on with a Honey B playing peek-a-boo. Sorry for the horrible quality of the photos, but I tried to capture what I could with the only camera I had on me at the time: my phone.

Honey B would poke her out every so often to make sure we were watching.

She then decided she needed to decorate her newly constructed box fort with a stylish pink shovel.

For Daniela and Runyon

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Today was sponsored by Ellen Greene in honor of Daniela Garofalo with this lovely message:

“This donation is in honor of my dear friend, Daniela’s birthday. Because of her, I formed a close bond with her special canine companion and family member, Runyon.”

Ellen, thank you so much for celebrating your dear friends, Daniela and Runyon, by choosing to add something special to the lives of the chimpanzees. We love seeing the beautiful circle of compassion and care that exists between all species.

Happy Birthday, Daniela! May your and Runyon’s day be a beautiful one filled with what, and who, make your heart full.

Foxie and Missy:

Honey B and Mave:

Annie, Missy, Burrito:

Burrito (foreground), Missy (center), and Annie (rear)

Flashes Of Fur

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It was a busy day in the Chimp House. We spent most of the morning cleaning up after Burrito’s super birthday bash yesterday, as well as training new interns enrolled in the Captive Care Certificate at Central Washington University.

When I found time to check in on the chimpanzees, it was almost difficult to find them. The Seven mostly kept close together the entire day, in nearly every hard to see spot in the nice, warm Playroom. It was almost like spotting glimpses of Sasquatch at the sanctuary. An arm here. A flash of fur there. A head poking out around the corner every so often.

Negra, on the other hand, is a tried and true type of person. She spent most of the day in her favorite spot in the Playroom soaking up as much sun as she could while waiting for caregivers to finish cleaning and preparing lunch.

Willy B also spent most of his day resting on one of his favorite benches in the Phase 1 area, waiting for the caregivers to finish cleaning and preparing lunch.

I did spot Honey B and Mave a couple of times out in the Chute area, but Honey B decided playing games of chase with me instead of allowing me to take photos (other than today’s main photo) was a better plan.

Happy Birthday, Bubs!

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Hearts near and far are full of love and celebration today for Burrito on his 37th birthday! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that we couldn’t be more grateful, or more full of joy to celebrate this beloved guy, especially after all he’s come through. We even received the gift of a second day of sanctuary sponsorship from dear friend of all the primates here, Kathleen Corby! She sent this beautiful message for Burrito:

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BURRITO! Last year you had one too many trips to that beautiful new medical clinic. May this year be filled with good health, laughter, love, joy, chase games, tug sessions, Slinky madness, and food, food, and more food! Love you sweet boy. Happiness always…..”

Kathleen, thank you so much for adding to this special day!! We so appreciate your amazing presence and support in the chimps’ (and humans’) day to day lives.

Given Burrito’s penchant for snow snacks lately, he must have been doing a snow dance for his birthday all night because this is what we arrived to, along with Burrito blowing raspberries and pointing out the window. Burrito speak for “I need a snow snack immediately, please!”

For the first portion of the party we built crazy snow snacks with frozen grapes and cherries which all the chimps loved. That is, when they could get in to sneak some from the boss, who dragged both the table and the big plastic turtle pool into a corner and went to town. Jamie really had an amazing un-birthday for herself today! 😉

Second party (like second breakfast if you’re a hobbit…or Burrito…or me…) was spaghetti boats for lunch made by Anthony! Burrito LOVES spaghetti!

Naturally, because it was a grand celebration of all things Burrito, all of the chimps, and most especially Burrito, chose to spend their entire day in the warm cozy loft together where I could capture nary a photo!! They’d run down for a snow snack and scurry back upstairs to their nests and each other. But who could blame them?

But for third party, Chad managed to capture a couple photos of Burrito enjoying his birthday dinner forage and holding onto his grab bag.

(Of course, Mave, Honey B and Willy B got to partake in the parties on their side of the house right along with the seven, enjoying snow buckets, spaghetti boats, forages and whole apples! They were more excited over those whole apples than just about anything I’ve seen from them yet).

Despite not being able to capture much on film, to be honest, it made my heart swell just to see Burrito back with the girls, ensconced in their embrace and being groomed by them most of the day, napping near them, eating with them. Finally. Back with his family. And I kinda suspect, Burrito himself couldn’t have wished for a better birthday this year.

Happy Birthday, Bubba!! We love you so very much!!

Happy Birthday, Burrito!

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This very special day of sanctuary was sponsored by Eric DeHart in celebration of Burrito’s birthday!

“My family and I love all the chimps. However, Burrito is my favorite!”

Eric, thank you for sponsoring such a special day and for loving Burrito and his family! We’re so grateful for all the love and care that surrounds them all and truly appreciate your generous gift.

Words could never fully express the profound joy and gratitude we feel today as we celebrate beloved Burrito on his 37th birthday! If anyone was ever deserving of a whole lot of birthday hoopla, it’s this guy. He’s come through so much all these long months and we’re absolutely thrilled to see him returning to his old self and finally back with the girls just in time to party.

Happy Birthday, Bubba, we just love you so much.

Burrito and Foxie:

Happy Birthday, Manuela!

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Manuela Santacreu sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and shared this lovely message about her gift:

“Avoir cette jolie pensée pour les chimpanzés aujourd’hui illumine mon anniversaire! Je leur souhaite une longue et belle vie et souhaite à toute l’équipe une excellente année.” **Please pardon any inaccuracies in translation: (“Having this lovely thought for chimpanzees today lights up my birthday! I wish them a long and good life and wish the whole team a happy new year.”)

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and wishes, Manuela! We so appreciate you always sharing your own special day with the chimpanzees and the lasting difference you make in their lives through your generous heart. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays from all of us here! May your new year ahead be full of beauty.

Beautiful Miss Honey B:

Queen Neggie:

Sweet Jo:

In honor of all primates

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Nathalie Garcia-Russell has started the chimpanzees’ New Year off with the gift of a day of sanctuary in honor of all primates!

Thank you so much, Nathalie! We so appreciate your generous heart and the difference your gift makes in the lives of the chimps and cattle here! All of us here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest wish you, and all our fellow primates, the happiest and most fulfilling of years ahead. Happy New Year!

Jamie:

Mave:

Negra: