Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Is there anyone sweeter than Annie? I think not!
Take a few minutes to share some moments with our beloved Annie. From a play session with Burrito, to a lovely afternoon breeze in her nest, a drink from the hose (perfect for summertime!) and a shouting match with the neighbors!
Sounds like a pretty good day, to me.
I love watching the chimps learn new ways to participate in their own healthcare. We’ve had a KardiaMobile device for a little while now, thanks to a generous donor who purchased it from our wish list, but only after making sufficient progress with other medical behaviors was our PRT team able to begin setting their sights on training everyone for cooperative EKGs. In theory it’s a simple behavior to train, since it doesn’t involve any pain or discomfort, but getting a chimpanzee to sit still for 30 seconds straight, while at the same time getting their friends to wait their turn, can be a challenge. Kudos to our training team and to our current EKG champion, Willy B. But watch your back, Willy—once we adjust the platform to accommodate ol’ stubby fingers (aka Terry), you may have some competition!
Hey, speaking of wish lists and generous donors…if you’d like to help supply the sanctuary with food, enrichment, medicines, supplies, and other necessities, please check out our Christmas in July drive and help empty our wish lists!
Getting licked by a cow is like being licked by a 1/2-ton cat (but without all of the kicking and biting afterwards). Their tongues are very rough! When their coats are longer, cow licks can result in some beautiful abstract impressionist artwork.
When Jamie is in a good mood, the sun breaks through the clouds, the flowers begin to bloom, and the birds sing a joyful chorus. Happy Good Mood Jamie Day to each and every one of you.
Research has shown that chimpanzees utilize a wide variety of gestures to communicate with one another and that the meanings of these gestures are often understood by people with no training in chimpanzee behavior, suggesting the possibility of a universal ape vocabulary.
As Dr. Catherine Hobaiter states, “They target them to a specific recipient, and they do that with a specific goal in mind. Several gestures are very similar to those of humans: having your palm up is a begging gesture and pushing away with your hand means “go away,” she says.
With all due respect to Dr. Hobatier, I think she misses some of the more subtle nuances in each of these examples, so allow me (and Mave and Dora) so translate further:
Mave: I love you Dora. You know, I don’t say that enough. I love you. And I would do anything for you.
Dora: Gee, thanks Mave.
Mave: Would you do anything for me?
Dora: I guess so, sure.
Mave Can I have your fennel, then?
Dora: Get lost! You already had one!
Mave. But I love you.
Dora: I know, thanks.
Mave: Anytime, friend. So, about that fennel…
Dora. I’m outta here…
As avid CSNW blog readers know well, most veterinary procedures for chimpanzees are traditionally carried out while they are under anesthesia, and we don’t like do anesthetize any more than we have to. So we, along with many of our colleagues, try to find ways for chimps to willingly cooperate in their own care. That can take the form of positive reinforcement training, the use of specialized devices for diagnostics and treatment, or, in some cases, both. Take a peek at our team snapping some x-rays of Rayne’s finger in an effort to rule out a fracture and direct the course of treatment.
We got a bit of a late start moving the cows this year but they are finally enjoying the first part of their summer pasture rotation. This year they’re back on the south pasture, next to the Bray, which was inaccessible and remained fallow during the last few years of chimp habitat renovations. Once the weather warms up, they’ll move to the upper pond pasture where they’ll have plenty of shade.
Normally, the running of the cows is a more exuberant affair, but this year things were a bit different. First, a lot has changed between the winter and summer pastures, and cattle aren’t big on change. They’d much prefer to follow a familiar path. Second, Meredith was held back this year so that she could be walked along a route that would be safer and easier on her arthritic feet, and cattle are less confident without their herd mates. And of course, this is the first year that they are moving to the summer pastures without Nutmeg.
But everyone made it (with one short detour), and Honey and Betsy were quickly reunited with Meredith. Now they can kick back and enjoy summer.
The Sweet Sixteen Online Auction is now live! Check out the amazing selection of works from talented artists, including this beautiful oil on canvas portrait of Nutmeg by Leslie Bell:
