Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

A big week!

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We’ve got a big week full of excitement planned here at the sanctuary. This Thursday we are celebrating the 11th year of the chimpanzees’ arrival at their forever home in Cle Elum. Of course, the chimps’ party planning committee is working hard to make the day special for them!

Here’s Jody during last year’s party forage:

We also celebrate Negra’s honorary birthday on the same day (June 13th). This week she will be turning 46 years old!

As if this wasn’t already enough excitement, staff, volunteers and many amazing supporters are all ending the week together in Seattle at HOOT! our big gala fundraising celebration. There are just a few tickets left in case you haven’t purchased yours yet. This year everyone gets to participate in the big day, even if you can’t make it to the actual venue. First, you can start by previewing what’s going to be up for auction here. Then, starting tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m., you can get involved in the auction and start pre-bidding online!

So much to celebrate, we can’t hardly wait!

Happy Birthday, Donna!

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Today we have a lovely day of sanctuary sponsored by long-time friend of the chimps, Donna Dinsmore! Donna shared this note about her wonderful gift:

“This is my birthday and I would love to have the chimps celebrate it with me!”

Donna, thank you so much for sharing your special day with the chimpanzees! What a generous thing to do! Your support over the years has made a lasting difference in the chimps’ lives and we’re so happy to celebrate with you. Have a beautiful, chimp-style day!

Jody:

Foxie and Jody:

Another day in sanctuary

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Negra weighing the cost of getting out of bed versus the benefit of eating breakfast:

Foxie’s first stroll around the hill:

Negra got plenty of sun today:

Annie preferred the shade:

Jody bringing her lunch forage haul back to the greenhouse:

Annie blowin’ in the wind:

Jamie dissecting a cucumber. Why do the humans keep leaving the peels on?

Jody laying down to eat while watching the rest of her family forage on the hill:

Today is for Becky and Karen

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This day of sanctuary was gifted to the chimpanzees by our wonderful friend, Robin Lundy! She shared this note about her gift:

“I am sponsoring this day for my friend Becky and her sister Karen. June 8th would have been Karen’s 61st birthday. Although Karen and Becky were perhaps not as rambunctious in their interactions with each other as when Foxie and Jamie wrestle themselves into the shape of a furry pretzel, or when Missy and Annie chase each other around Young’s Hill to grab each other’s toes, nevertheless, they were each other’s best friends.”

Robin, this is so lovely. Thanks so much for choosing to celebrate the special gift of best friends and sharing that with us all.

Becky, we hope your heart is full of joy, love and comfort on this special day. We’re so happy to think of you and Karen and are grateful to think of her legacy rippling out to make a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives.

Annie and Missy:

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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We’re so lucky to have a double day of sanctuary sponsorship today! To start the day off is a lovely gift from long-time friends of the chimpanzees, sisters, Julie and Karen Olson! Julie sponsored today for Karen with this message:

“I want to sponsor a day for the chimps in honor of my sister Karen Olson’s birthday. She is the biggest animal lover I know. She is the one who introduced me to the chimps. She never misses a day keeping up with their adventures. I never miss a day either! Happy birthday sis!”

Julie and Karen, we so appreciate the love and support you both bring to the chimpanzees’ lives! Karen, may you have the best birthday yet! Happiest of hoots to you!

This guy:

Beyond Love

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Burrito loves food, but there are times when love doesn’t adequately describe their relationship.

With hands full and mouth stuffed, he retreats,

to a quiet, still place.

In these moments, he looks heavenward in a state of transcendence,

and with each bite slips further the surly bonds of earth and time.

Suffering and desire cease to exist. The boundaries of self begin to dissolve.

In these moments, there is only one thing. There is only food.

Unfortunately, every meal has to come to an end.

In memory of Robert Ruggeri

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Rachel Ruggeri sponsored today in memory of her father, Robert Ruggeri, and shared this beautiful note about her gift:

“Today would mark my father’s 83rd birthday. And though he passed away six years ago in July, he is ever present in our thoughts and a part of so many of our conversations. My father loved to laugh and he found so much joy in the everyday antics of animals, most especially primates. He would be comforted knowing that the gang of seven now joined by the bovine bunch had found a future filled with peace and independence at the sanctuary in the quiet hills of Eastern Washington. I like to think that my father has also found that sanctuary somewhere in the ether…high above the clouds, but still within a distance to see all the beauty in the world he left behind. We miss him each and every day, but know that “sanctuary” is where we all ultimately aspire to be…”

Rachel, thank you so much for remembering your father in this way and for the difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives by doing so. We’re honored to celebrate Robert’s legacy and wish you and your family a day of comfort and joy-filled memories as you hold him in your hearts.

Negra:

Foxie and Missy:

Jamie:

Burrito:

(clockwise) Honey, Betsy, Nutmeg and Meredith (front):

Jody, Foxie and Annie: