Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

The Queen of late night

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While Burrito and Annie utilized their bipedal skills to navigate the growing grass on Young’s Hill in the hopes of finding a missed piece of forage, or a new patch of wild greens sprouting up…

Burrito:

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Annie:

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Jamie, of course, opted for something a little higher up.

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And in other news, if you’ve been following the blog for awhile you’re probably aware that as the weather grows nicer boss lady, Jamie, often keeps us out late walking around the perimeter of Young’s Hill with her. After the chimps are served dinner at 4:30 they typically start heading inside to collect their evening food puzzle and make their nests for the night (unless you’re Jamie). The humans’ day ends at 5:30 after the chimps are all safe inside and mostly asleep. But if anyone (again, Jamie) wants to stay out late, we stay until they are ready to come inside. But who do you think stayed out past bedtime this evening?…

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Yep, that’s Negra!! Sitting on her current favorite mound at the very top of Young’s Hill happily eating prickly lettuce! No matter the evening sky is growing darker with the threat of a storm coming, the Queen is in no hurry to come in. So it looks like we have a second boss lady in town. But that’s what sanctuary is all about. And this is probably a rare job where one’s heart grows a little bigger every time your bosses make you work late.

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Water and Ice Enrichment on a Hot Day

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There’s a whole crew of people here building a new structure on Young’s Hill today! We will do a big reveal on Monday, so start making your predictions as to what the structure will look like.

Because there are humans on the hill, the chimpanzees don’t have access. And today is HOT! It feels like summer. With these two circumstances combined, we needed to come up with something cooling and time-occupying for the chimpanzees. We decided on water and ice enrichment.

 

I’d say it was a hit.

 

Annie:

Annie drinking from table

 

Missy:

Missy picking up ice

Missy eating ice

Missy eating ice while looking at camera

 

Burrito:

Burrito next to table

Burrito chilling out

Burrito drinking water

 

Foxie:

Foxie with water

 

Jamie making up her own enrichment (of course):

Jamie with toothbrush and water 1

Jamie with toothbrush and water 2

Jamie with toothbrush and water 3

 

Companions

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The Hoot! Gala this year was a huge success! The generous donations of many supporters this weekend has left the humans at the sanctuary buzzing with excitement for the future of the sanctuary! If you missed our newest announcements, check out the video below!

As I walked around Young’s Hill with Jamie this morning, I stopped and watched the chimpanzees play and forage together. Missy and Annie were two that caught my eye first. Two long time friends, enjoying each others company.
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Annie and Missy have been best friends for years, but at some point there was an introduction and a beginning to their relationship. I cannot help but think about the other chimpanzees that may soon join the Cle Elum 7. We can only hope that they will form friendships like those that Missy and Annie have already established. Maybe even be a part of the Missy/Annie friendship?! When the newcomer chimpanzees get the chance to enter Young’s Hill for the first time, who will be their companion for their first outing? The possibilities are thrilling!

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MISSY on the 6th Day of HOOT!

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Since we are racing around getting ready for tomorrow, Missy seemed the perfect choice to acknowledge the eve of the HOOT! 2016 gala.

Missy with Hoot! logo

When Young’s Hill was first opened, we described Missy as “a spring that was coiled up for decades, just waiting to be released.” She embodies the idea that sanctuary is not just a place of comfort and safety, but also a place of opportunity. When Missy finally had the opportunity to run, she seized it and did not let go.

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In rare moments of stillness, which could easily be misinterpreted as resting or recuperating, Missy is in fact plotting her next adventure. Her eyes survey the landscape for the next hill to climb or the next tightrope to walk. Thirty years in a cage is a long time…too long to ever let an opportunity go to waste.

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We’re so excited about the opportunities before us this year, and we intend to move forward with every bit as much determination as Missy. Tomorrow at Hoot!, we will raise funds for the next phase of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest so that more chimpanzees can call this sanctuary home.

As chimpanzee research comes to an end, let us ensure that every chimpanzee can finally feel the joy that Missy has discovered.

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JAMIE and friendship on the 5th Day of HOOT!

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I had a realization not long ago. It occurred to me that Jamie is one of my best friends. We have mutual interests (shoes, being outdoors, eating grapes), we’re generally happy to see each other, we have routines that have developed over time, and I think we’ve established a mutual respect for one another over the years, which has been heightened by the two of us working on Positive Reinforcement Training this last year.

You may have gathered from previous posts, that Jamie is not exactly obvious best friend material… but that’s part of what makes our friendship all the more meaningful to me.

For this 5th day of HOOT! with just two days left before the big event, I share with you this photo of my friend Jamie:

Jamie contempative

I have another friend that I would like to acknowledge today. Pam Lehnert and her husband Marc Warner. I am indebted to them both for helping to make HOOT! 2016 not just your average event, but a beautiful and (literally) heart-filled one.

Pam has been an event volunteer since our very first gala in 2009 and there is no way I would be organizing this level of event without her help.

Pam and Marc not only gave their time and labor towards HOOT!, they also are Chimpanzee Champion Sponsors of the event!

A big thanks to them and to all volunteers who helped plan and will be working on Saturday!

 

JODY for the 4th Day of HOOT!

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HOOT! 2016 really is just around the corner! That means that we are working out the last details with multiple check-lists and lots of phone calls, texts, and emails flying back and forth among gala committee members, attendees, board members, and volunteers.

It’s times like these that I think about Jody and her managerial skills.

While most of the time Jody is quite independent and content to do her own thing, when there are group “projects” to do – like moving from one area to another for meals – Jody can always be counted on to make sure the other chimpanzees are on task. She’s not pushy; she always encourages “compliance” in the gentlest of ways, sometimes even using play to encourage a lagging friend to follow the group.

 

Jody urging Foxie inside

 

Jody is also the only chimpanzee of the group of seven who will lend a hand simply when we ask for it, just so that we can continue with the routine of the day.

 

It’s pretty difficult to choose, but I think this image of Jody is my favorite of the seven images that will be available for bidding on during the event’s Happy Hour.

jody hoot image

 

I’ve chosen Jody to inspire me today to get through my to-do list and remember the teamwork that it takes to accomplish just about everything in life. Maybe she’ll inspire you too.

Speaking of teamwork, today’s countdown is thanks to these generous Chimpanzee Champion Corporate Sponsors, who not only support HOOT! but are good friends to the sanctuary throughout the year.

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Karen Ducy Photography