Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

First sight

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On Wednesday, Mave, Honey B, and Willy B were able to access the chute for the first time. This is the overhead tunnel that will connect the Phase 1 enclosures to Young’s Hill once we finish extending the electric fencing. Prior to Wednesday, the three new chimps had only gotten glimpses of the Seven from a distance as they rounded the lower corner of Young’s Hill on their patrols. And the Seven had not been able to see the three at all. On Wednesday they got their first real look at one another.

This “pre-introduction” went about as well as we could have hoped. Yes, there was plenty of screaming. And yes, there was a lot of displaying. Not to mention threat barks, fear grimaces, and requests for reassurance. All to be expected. More importantly, by the end there were also pant-grunts, head nods, genital bounces, and even a little flirty hand-waving (this last one may not be found in the primatological literature but you will know it when you see it). These are all positive signs that the actual introduction process stands a decent chance of being successful. But we won’t know until we try. So stay tuned!

The enchantment of a summer afternoon

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The chimp house was a flurry of happenings this morning. With two groups of chimpanzees currently living in separate areas while Mave, Willy B and Honey B complete their quarantine, we’ve had to get a little creative in dividing everyone up to care for the chimps and their respective homes. Add in visits with old friends and new, and construction as our good friend, Gary McInnis of Sage Mechanical, and his wonderful colleagues, work hard to wrap up completion of the new tunnel which leads outside from Phase I and will allow Mave, Willy B and Honey B to venture into the fresh air and sunshine while they await the end of their quarantine and their chance to enjoy Young’s Hill. The chimp house was a hive of activity.

So this afternoon when things suddenly grew still and quiet after lunch it was as if a spell had been cast. An enchantment had fallen over the chimp house.

I went out to the greenhouse and Missy quietly came over and asked me to groom her and a few minutes later Burrito decided to join us. It’s always a gift when the chimpanzees invite us to interact with them, but when other chimpanzees approach we will typically disengage so they can spend their time bonding with one another. Their relationships with one another are always the priority in our minds. But this afternoon, Burrito and Missy seemed happy to include me in their grooming session and as we three sat huddled closely together in one shady corner of the greenhouse, everyone else relaxed and dozed around us in the summer breeze filled afternoon. It was so quiet. So still.

Negra:

Burrito grooming Missy’s brow:

Annie rested nearby:

Jody fell sound asleep. I watched her for some time, in awe really. Her tiny feet clasped together, the breeze ruffling her hair and the leaves of the bamboo. She took a deep sigh, her body twitching in some dream only she will know:

Sweet Foxie, her eyes growing heavy:

To hear the chimpanzees sigh in ease and contentment, to watch their hair blow in the warmth of a breeze as they doze and dream in this home, their home, that you make possible for them…in that enchanted space my heart just swelled with thankfulness for it all.

A Tale of Two Pineapples

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“A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.” – Charles Dickens

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Volunteers Miranda and Elizabeth prepared breakfast this morning, with the centerpiece being a pineapple-strawberry-protein smoothie. The chimps ate their raw fruit and then drank every last drop of the bright pink smoothie. Of course, we couldn’t just throw the prickly pineapple tops into the Vitamix and we didn’t want to toss them in the compost bucket, either. Because the weather was so pleasant this morning, we ended up hiding the pineapple tops out on Young’s Hill at lunch, along with a forage spread of beets, carrots and potatoes. The chimps gathered themselves (and their dolls) and headed out to forage with gusto.

Of all the chimps, Jody is known for her expertise as a forager. We predicted that she would find at least one of the hidden treasures among the grass.

Surprisingly, Annie was the first to find a pineapple (the one that had been placed on a structure in the middle of the Hill). She triumphantly carried it back down the slope to the Greenhouse.

Negra found the second one since it was hidden in her favorite spot (a straw-lined cabin ear the bottom of the slope). She also carted her pineapple and vegetables back to the shade and shelter of the Greenhouse.

Annie’s pineapple wasn’t hers for very long before Jody casually took it from her. Annie didn’t seem to mind, though.

Jody reclined on the lower deck and relished every spiny leaf of the pineapple top. She held it lovingly and slowly picked it apart.

Neggie was a bit more industrious. Her mechanical breakdown of the pineapple top was quick and purposeful. She ripped off each spine and chewed it to a pulp before spitting it on the deck below. She soon had a pile of peels and discarded wadges at her feet, then chomped into the juicy core.

Jamie was not interested in either pineapple, preferring to eat beets and supervise from afar.

Burrito, meanwhile, ate anything and everything that he could find.

 

On the hunt for wild greens

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The chimpanzees made a group dash for Young’s Hill this morning after breakfast, everyone filing up the hill along the perimeter together. Then to our delight, they all decided to hang on the upper structures, Jamie’s Tower and Carlene’s Tower together. But Ms. Jody was on the lookout for something exciting to eat. And being “Farmer Jo,” as we endearingly call her, naturally, she came back with a prize.

Jody and Burrito:

This technique 🙂

And two bonus Negra and troll photos:

Our newest family members, Honey B, Willy B, and Mave continue to loosen up and settle in more with each passing day. I arrived this morning to find Honey B racing and ripping and flailing around playfully, much like Foxie does, instigating a game of chase. I wasn’t able to capture any photos today, but they all enjoyed an afternoon of selfies and checking out some recent videos. I showed the video from Missy’s birthday bash last Friday which they all wanted to watch a few times. They seemed to really enjoy the jazzy music so I also showed this older one of Foxie and her belly button and troll doll which appeared to be a personal favorite of Willy B’s. Every time it ended he’d bounce up and down frantically which I took for “Play it again!” So of course, I did. I even noticed him rubbing his toes together while he watched it. 😉

Door Drama

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The seven resident chimps have something new to occupy their time: neighbors.

With Willy B, Mave and Honey B settling in next door, Burrito and the gang were busy trying to peer through the cracks above and below the Howdy Door. Last week, we locked a metal insert into place so that the door is a solid barrier while the new arrivals are quarantined. This additional surface restricts their ability to interact and see each other, but chimpanzees from the two groups can still hear each other. This is especially noticeable whenever a chimp displays or hoots and the individuals in the adjacent area react accordingly.

As seen in the above video, Foxie was particularly nervous about the door today. She kept returning to it and listening until something happened to make her retreat. Burrito was also inspecting it periodically, usually with his hair piloerect.

On the other side, Willy B seemed interested in the door and occasionally drummed a response. Mave has a habit of politely knocking on the door with her knuckles. So far, only Honey B seems more invested in watching the human caregivers and exploring her new surroundings.

As the days go by and the quarantine period progresses, the prospect of beginning the introduction process grows closer. It’s difficult to determine how each individual will fare when allowed to meet a complete stranger. The Howdy Door and adjacent enclosures will help the integration of the two groups to be a gradual and controlled procedure, enabling us to cater the environment to each chimpanzee’s needs and preferences. This way, when the doors finally open and the groups merge, none of them will be strangers anymore.

Lending a Hand

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It’s amazing how much Honey B, Willy B, and Mave have changed since they arrived on Sunday. No matter how much it benefits a chimpanzee to be relocated to a sanctuary like CSNW, it is still a stressful and bewildering experience. A certain amount of anxiety or even fear is understandable until they become familiar with the new environment, a new routine, and new caregivers. But we’re happy to see these three adapting quickly. This morning, as I was donning quarantine gear just outside the door, I could hear playful foot slaps on the floor. When I opened the door, Honey B was jumping up and down with a huge play face and Mave and Willy B were engaged in a pretty exuberant game of chase (who knew Mave could move so fast?). I have no doubt they miss their former caregivers, who love them very much, but for the first time it seemed like they were starting to feel at home here at CSNW. Little do they know there will be a lot more to become familiar with once their quarantine period is complete…

On the other side of the building, the one-and-only Missy was celebrating her 44th birthday! It was a day filled with running around the hill, playing with her best friend Annie, and tomatoes for every meal. A busy day and poor internet connection conspired to prevent me from putting together a second video, but we should be able to share that with you in the days to come.