Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

8th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day

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We love made-up holidays around here (holiday = party for the chimps). For the last 8 years, the chimps’ good friend Monica Best has sponsored April 23rd as Love a Chimpanzee Day. (It also happens to be Monica’s birthday!) Unless you’ve followed our blog for awhile, you probably haven’t heard of Love a Chimpanzee Day; that’s because it didn’t exist until Monica dreamed it up.

To celebrate CSNW’s 8th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day, we decided to throw a luau party, because there’s never a bad time to throw a luau party for chimps you love. The chimps enjoyed a feast of bananas, oranges, fruit smoothie, and pineapple coconut water for breakfast in the greenhouse.

Missy:

Burrito:

(Burrito was especially happy to see former volunteer caregiver Stephanie, who stopped by for a visit!)

Negra:

Jamie:

Jody:

Annie:

(Annie really had lounging down to an art today…)

Thanks as always to Monica for conceiving of and sponsoring this delightful holiday (and happy birthday)!

Four Reasons to HOOT!

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Here are four reasons to join us at HOOT! on May 13th at Sodo Park in Seattle.

These photos were taken today as the chimpanzees explored and enjoyed their home. Take a moment on this Earth Day to appreciate their happiness.

Their sanctuary life is only possible with the support of so many people out there, and our annual gala plays a big role in raising funds for their care and our exciting plans for the future.

If you haven’t gotten your tickets to HOOT! yet, don’t delay – buy them now! If you are unable to attend, we’ll miss you, but you can still take part by making a donation. We’ll also have just a few items available for bidding online – details coming soon.

 

hoot logo

 

Annie eating fresh spring grass:

annie eating grass

 

Burrito taking a brief break from foraging for lunch:

handsome burrito

 

This is a very contented face on Jamie:

Jamie happily sitting

 

Jody has the best drooped lip face!

Jody with drooped lip

Happy Earth Day! Thank you for helping us grow!

 

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For Earth Day and the chimpanzees!

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This day was sponsored by Debbie Bloom in honor of the chimpanzees and this beautiful Earth we all share. She shares this lovely message about today:

“In honor of Earth Day it seems appropriate to celebrate all of these beautiful creatures. They bring such joy and intrigue into our lives – especially mine. I only wish that I could read their minds.” 

Debbie, on this day in which we’re given a special opportunity to honor and celebrate this amazing earth, and to protect and preserve all we cherish, we love that you’ve chosen to include the chimps. Thank you so much for honoring the special individuals they are and all they bring to our lives just by being themselves.

There is so much to love on this earth. Especially these seven chimpanzees. Safe, thriving and loved in a beautiful world to call their own, thanks to each of you.

Annie:

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Jody:

Missy:

Negra:

Details

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Annie was kind enough to let me take some photos of her in the greenhouse this afternoon during lunch. In close, tight shots like these, my attention is often drawn towards some of the differences between us – notice her protruding brow ridge, her flat nose, her elongated palms and fingers, her small thumbs, and her opposable big toes. Of course, you can’t help but notice the similarities as well – her eyelashes, her fingernails, the wrinkles in her skin.

Later, I found Jamie sitting in the “portrait studio” area and she was gracious enough to let me photograph her for a while. One notable difference between humans and chimps is that most chimpanzees have dark sclera – that’s the portion of the eye surrounding the pupil and iris. There’s something about the contrast provided by the dark sclera that makes the iris almost glow in a certain light.

In honor of Bryan Pease

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor in honor of their friend, Bryan Pease! They shared this special message about their kind gift:

“Bryan is a good friend who advocates for animals and humans. Although, his birthday was April 8th, today activists around the world are speaking out for animals in laboratories. Today we honor Bryan who has been a huge voice for animals in labs, we honor the animals, especially the seven chimps at CSNW. Bryan is one of the top rated civil rights attorneys in San Diego and has met the stringent selection criteria of the national rating agency SuperLawyers. He is a public interest attorney focusing on government transparency and accountability, freedom of speech and assembly, and environmental, animal and consumer protection. In the June 2016 California primary election, over 23,000 registered Democrats voted for Bryan to be their San Diego County Democratic Central Committee delegate, giving him the most number of votes in the county out of 73 candidates across six state assembly districts. Bryan has fought for many San Diegans who would not be able to afford an attorney if it weren’t for Bryan’s pro bono work. For his entire legal and professional career, Bryan has worked tirelessly defending the public interest. He has successfully fought for environmental and consumer protection, defended against employment and housing discrimination, and enforced the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition to running his own law firm, Bryan has taught as an adjunct law professor, inspiring law students to pursue public interest law. Bryan also regularly provides pro bono legal services to homeless veterans and small nonprofit organizations. Bryan has also served as a board member of Ocean Beach Peoples Co-Op from 2008-2015, OB’s largest employer, and for the past 10 years, he has been the volunteer executive director of a nonprofit thrift store in San Diego that benefits animal and environmental protection causes.” We love you Bryan! Love Kery & Terran.”

Kery and Terran, thank you for adding to the chimpanzees’ lives by celebrating such an inspirational human as Bryan and for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts. To you both, as well as Bryan, thank you for all you do for our fellow humans and animals and for making the world a better place for us all!

Jamie:

Foxie:

Burrito:

Jamie, Missy, Burrito, Annie and Foxie:

Annie and Missy:

Jody:

jody leek

Negra:

 

Happy Birthday, Matt!

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A day of celebration and sanctuary was sponsored by Sharon Langone in honor of her husband, Matt! Sharon shared this wonderful message about today:

“I’d like to sponsor a day in honour of my husband Matt whose birthday is 18th April. It’s also our anniversary, married 9 years! We both love the chimps and one of the highlights of our day is checking the blog to see what the gang has been up to.”  

So much to celebrate! Matt, we hope this is the happiest birthday yet for you!

Sharon, thank you so much for sponsoring such a special day for your family and including the chimpanzees, we’re so touched! And Happy Anniversary to you both from all of us here at CSNW! Have a wonderful day!

Good friends, Burrito and Jody:

Pine Cones with Peanut Butter

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One of the challenges that we have at our particular sanctuary is that we have one individual who tends to claim highly-prized food items that are meant for everyone.

Pine cones with peanut butter, one of our evening enrichment items, are are a good example.

We make extra before spreading them around in an attempt to ensure that everyone can get at least one. Sometimes the other chimpanzees choose to leave them in favor of other food if they are part of a dinner forage, like they were last night. No matter what, though, Jamie tends to end up with more than her share…

 

Jamie hoarding pine cones

 

She does really, really appreciate them, though:

pine cone contemplation

Jamie lips to pine cone

Jamie eating a pine cone

Jamie eating pine cone 2