Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Burrito’s 34th Birthday Bash

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Burrito is so easy to shop for. All he ever wants for his birthday is food.

The other chimps were more than happy to help him celebrate.

Of course, it’s not a real party until someone gets upset. Even when there’s more than enough to go around, someone (ahem, Jamie) has to take more than their fair share.

Thankfully, Jody was mature enough to extend an olive branch to Jamie and move on. Jody should be awarded some kind of medal for what she puts up with.

Burrito managed to avoid the camera most of the day, but rest assured, he ate enough to last him until next January. Now, it’s time to sleep it off. Happy 34th, big guy.

Happy Birthday, Burrito!!

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We’re celebrating our first chimpanzee birthday of the year with Burrito, who turns 34 today! This special day of sanctuary for our beloved Bubs was kindly sponsored by Trish Loesch (you may recall her husband, John, also sponsored a day earlier this week thanks to Trish’s love for the chimps!). Trish shares this message: “Happy Birthday Burrito!!!  I hope your special day will bring you lots of happiness, love and fun with your friends!!!”

If you’ve been following the blog for long, you may have gathered that we do a lot of partying around here. Parties are a wonderful source of enrichment, anticipation and excitement for the chimps. But they are also much more than that. These seven amazing chimpanzees, everything that makes them the unique individuals they are, and all the incredible humans – each of you – who make their lives in sanctuary possible, are to be celebrated. Each and every day. So really, we need to party even more!

And I’m sure as long as it involves food – lots, and lots of food – Burrito is on board. For every adorable and charming move he makes, every ruckus he raises, all the crazy food squeaks, the deadly accurate spitting upon humans, the brain-rattling cage rattling, and heart-melting play stomps, play bows, head-stands, kisses and smiles, we celebrate this amazing guy. Burrito is an important part of this family and we couldn’t love him more. We’re so happy to honor him today.

Thank you so much for your generous gift, Trish! The fridge is stocked and the celebration of Burrito (and food!) is getting underway. Be sure to tune in later today to see the festivities!

Happy Birthday, B!! We love you so much!!

Burrito lookout

Thank you, John and Trish!

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This winter morning dawned (at least by my info) at -1 with a -11 wind chill! Dependent on where you are, it may sound horrifying or balmy. But these mornings are some of the most beautiful ones of winter here and the dry cold brings sunrises that turn the surrounding mountains and valleys pink, blue and purple. While all the humans are bundled to the extreme, when greeting the chimps this morning they were all bouncing through their comfy chimp house, safe, warm and excitedly awaiting breakfast service. Negra was sitting in her nest surrounded by several members of her chimp family who were grooming her, each of them wrapped in the morning sun just coming up over the hills and streaming in the windows.

This comforting day of sanctuary was sponsored for the chimps by John Loesch who shared: “My wife, Trish loves the chimps so I am sponsoring a day too!!!” (Trish has an upcoming day of sanctuary this Friday in honor of Burrito’s birthday!).

John, thank you so much for your generous gift and to both you and Trish for loving the chimpanzees! Your compassion makes a safe home filled with love, dignity, comfort and family the every day reality for the chimps. A reality they probably never had the chance to even imagine before arriving to the sanctuary. And we thank you and all who ensure the chimps’ lives are now filled with hope and bright, new horizons every day.

Negra in front of window

And yes, you heard correctly, ANOTHER party is in the works for this Friday! But of course! It’s Burrito’s birthday!

Happy Birthday, Manuela!

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It never ceases to amaze us, the love and care that abounds for the chimpanzees from wonderful people the world over. Today Manuela Santacreu is gifting the chimpanzees with a day of sanctuary in celebration of her 50th birthday! Manuela has been celebrating her birthdays with the chimpanzees for the past few years and it means so much to us and especially the chimps. She shared this message about her gift:

“Pour mes 50 ans, le plus beau des cadeau ce sera le bien être sur le visage de Foxie et ses compagnons ! Merci pour tout ce que vous faites pour eux, et pour le plaisir que me procure la lecture de leurs aventures sur FB!” (Translated with relative accuracy we hope 🙂 ) “For my 50 years, the most beautiful gift will be the well being on the face of Foxie and her companions! Thank you for everything you do for them, and for the pleasure of reading their adventures on FB!”

Manuela, thank you so much for your generous gift! We hope you’re having a beautiful day of celebration on your very special day. We are at the beginning of another arctic blast here at the sanctuary with temperatures near and below zero at night and only reaching low teens during the day so the chimps will be celebrating along with you from the warmth of their toasty chimp house.

Foxie and her beloved France Dora, enjoying warmer days:

The first sponsored day of 2017!

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Can you believe it? It’s actually 2017!

A new day of a new year – fresh and waiting for what is to come.

Friend of the sanctuary Kathleen, who has donated her amazing graphic design talents on many projects for the sanctuary over the last few years, has the unique privilege of having this day in her honor. 

David Guernsey sponsored today in Kathleen’s honor with this message, When asked what Kathleen wanted for Christmas, her reply was a gift to her favorite friends at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW. January 1st seemed like a fitting day as I know she shares your excitement in the expansion of the sanctuary property. Happy New Year CSNW.

Thank you, David, and thank you, Kathleen for all of the wonderful things that you do for your chimpanzee friends.

Here’s to Hope.Love.Home…Sanctuary for more chimpanzees!

I thought I’d bring back a video in honor of Kathleen from last year of BFFs Missy and Annie, because this kind of love and silliness is what sanctuary is all about:

and some bonus photos of Negra, because… Negra:

Negra standing 2