Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Tis the Season

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One frequently asked question we’re asked, well, frequently, is how the chimpanzees cope with snow. Snow is not a part of wild chimpanzees’ environment, to be clear.

However, save for maybe a few months as infants for Negra, Annie, and perhaps Jody, the seven chimpanzees here know nothing about the life and environment of wild chimpanzees. They grew up, for the most part, indoors. And for the last decade (at least) before coming to the sanctuary, they didn’t even have a window to look out.

So, to answer the question about how they cope with snow, I’d say they’ve adapted very well! As a rule, chimpanzees generally don’t like to get their feet wet. However, if the snow is not deep, the chimpanzees at CSNW go right outside, explore, and often collect some of the wintry treat to enjoy back in the greenhouse.

The visual of chimpanzees in snow is still sometimes strange; but they are, after all, honorary citizens of Cle Elum: Heart of the Cascades.

After ten years, a trek in the snow is probably just as normal as walking through the tall pasture grass and planted bamboo in the spring and summer.

And they look darn good against a backdrop of white.

Burrito

 

Annie & Burrito

 

Jody

Speaking of snow season, thank you to everyone who has donated so far in our year-end fundraising! I’ll have some more updates about that soon. I’ve been overwhelmed by all of the generosity from so many people. It really does a heart good to have the support of inspiring, amazing, and caring folks who are rooting for the Bring Them Home Expansion to continue as quickly as possible so we can provide a home for more chimpanzees!

Did you know that artist and friend of the chimpanzees Maragaret H. Parkinson has a special offer of a painting to a lucky person who donates $1,000?! Check out the original 12×12″ oil painting “Rainbow Ele” ©️ 2018 below and get in touch ([email protected]) if you would like to take advantage of this truly amazing gift!

Jamie’s Mission

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This morning, as I was putting away a squeegee, I accidentally knocked a broom off of the tool rack. I watched it slide to within inches of the playroom caging and before my brain could finish processing the thought that Jamie might be able to grab it, Jamie grabbed it.

Now, the most important thing to convey here is that Jamie really likes to stab and/or threaten to stab humans when she obtains contraband like this. So the first thing you do in this situation is take a big step back. Then you watch helplessly as she tries to knock smoke detectors off the ceiling (a real possibility) and jimmy open every door and window in the chimp house (not going to happen with a broom stick, thankfully).

But today was different. As soon as she had the broom she walked off with clear purpose and intent. And the whole gang gathered behind her as if Jamie had given the cue and the secret plan they had been hatching for weeks was finally called into action.

Their mission: To see inside the new addition.

We’ve given them glimpses into the new quarantine and introduction area connected to their playroom before, but during the construction process we’ve largely kept the door covered with a piece of plywood to protect workers from getting spit on and to keep the building heat in. Clearly we didn’t consult the chimps about that plan, and they were forced to take the matter into their own hands.

 

 

Snow and peanut butter

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Cold, wintery days always bring a change for the chimpanzees and while they always have the choice to go outside when they want, if it’s too wet or cold, they often prefer to keep their forays short and return to the warmth of the chimp house for indoor activities. As caregivers we’re always trying to stay a step ahead to meet their anticipated needs for any given day and knowing the chimps will probably be spending more time indoors sets our wheels turning on how to keep their active minds busy and engaged and how to jazz up their days.

We often utilize food puzzles during the day as an added activity and thought today was perfect for two chimp favorites: buckets of snow with a few raisins buried in them and dipper tubes with peanut butter. Dipper tubes are small PVC pipes that we screw into the caging from the outside and the chimps use their fingers or a tool to get the contents out. Kind of like indoor mini termite mounds minus the termites. 🙂

Beautiful Annie was quite enjoying her peanut butter “termites”:

Bonus photo of Jamie napping: