Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Lunch with the chimpanzees

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Most meals at the sanctuary go remarkably smoothly considering we have seven hungry and eager chimpanzees to serve at once. Occasionally, someone swipes someone else’s food or a scuffle breaks out, but more often than not, peace reigns.

That’s not to say that all the chimps always wait patiently, though. In this video, you’ll see some of the ways the chimps get our attention during meals and tell the server to please hurry up – hand clapping (Negra), vigorous head nodding (Missy), and blowing raspberries (Foxie). This video is longer than most of the ones we post, but hopefully it will give you some idea of what it’s like to be present at mealtime at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

Just another day in sanctuary

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There has been a whole lot of napping going on in the chimp house today. Well, at least for the chimpanzees. Our recent high heat is taking a break and though it’s still warm, the wind has been cool and refreshing. We were thinking the chimpanzees should be out on the hill enjoying the comfortable day, but they had other thoughts. And really, how nice is it to enjoy napping peacefully on a warm day with a cool spring breeze blowing through the house?

Jamie fell sound asleep while we cleaned the playroom, but made sure to keep one foot on her recent gift of new black cowboy boots from the chimpanzees’ (and humans’) good friend, Tony Garza:

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Jody fell asleep in a sunbeam in the greenhouse:

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The chimpanzees often hold their feet as they sleep which I find so endearing:

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Annie, who has taken to nesting next to Negra in the afternoons (though Negra was in a darker spot that didn’t photograph well, she was nesting just to the right):

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After a brief forage in the play room, Jamie decided to take another nap in front of the barn doors, her hair (and the trolls’ hair) blowing softly in the breeze:

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Though the other chimps were in unfriendly photo spots, Missy was tucked away in a cozy nest in the loft, Burrito was sound asleep on the catwalk with a rainbow slinky in his mouth, and Foxie was in a sunny corner of the greenhouse playing “toss the Dora.”

Just another day in sanctuary. And another day with our hearts full of gratitude.

Today is in memory of Jean Davidson

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored in memory of Jean Davidson. Today’s sponsor shared this lovely message about her gift for the chimpanzees:

“Jean was a wonderful friend who lived to celebrate her 100th birthday. She loved animals, and would have celebrated the seven chimpanzees I’ve fallen in love with!”

To our sponsor, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees in honoring Jean’s memory. I think we would all hope to be remembered by our friends and loved ones in such a thoughtful and meaningful way. It’s incredible to think about the difference each life makes. The people one person can bring together in the most unexpected ways and whose life continues to make a difference to so many, even after they’ve gone.

In celebration of our sponsor, her dear friend, Jean, and of course, the chimpanzees, it seems fitting to revisit the joy that can only ensue with Burrito’s patented “Blanket Fling”:

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Take Action Tuesday: Help Chimpanzees in Liberia

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Take Action Tuesday banner

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is part of a coalition of organizations working to help 66 chimpanzees who had been left to starve on a small group of islands in Liberia. Many of them were used for decades in biomedical testing by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), who suddenly pulled their financial support for their care this spring.

Some of the chimpanzees were captured from the wild and many were used for hepatitis testing just like the Cle Elum Seven went through. The NYBC financially benefited from the research they conducted using these chimps. After determining that the chimpanzees would no longer be used in research, they released them onto islands near the laboratory where they rely on a water supply maintained by humans and require food to be brought to them.

Our role is to help spread the word about this issue in order to ensure that the NYBC restores funding. Their actions have been unconscionable, and they have not communicated a plan to save these chimpanzees who are dependent upon humans for their survival. One of the few public statements they have made, via PR representative Victoria O’Neill in this New York Times article is, “We never had any obligation for the care of the chimps, contractual or otherwise.”

In addition to the hardheartedness of this statement, it contradicts previously made public statements by NYBC representatives that acknowledged their responsibility to these chimpanzees and their commitment to their lifetime care.

We, along with coalitions members headed by the Humane Society of the United States, are urging the NYBC to reinstate funding immediately and discuss a long-term solution with animal protection groups and chimpanzee experts.

The New York Blood Center is a nonprofit organization, however they are not hurting for funding. Their CEO makes $1.2 million per year, and they have $450 million in assets with a total income of $407 million last year alone.

 

There are three ways that you can help TODAY:

 

1. Sign this petition asking the NYBC to reinstate funding.

 

2. Donate toward the immediate care of the chimpanzees. These emergency funds will be distributed for food, water, and other supplies as well as to those on the ground working to ensure that these chimpanzees receive the care they deserve.

 

3. Spread the word far and wide! Social media is a powerful tool – please share this information with all of your networks.

 

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Photo from May of chimpanzees eating fruit delivered to them by a human caregiver. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal
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Caregivers loading a boat with food to deliver to the chimpanzee islands. Photo credit: Agnes Souchal

 

Important Rituals

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Jamie has trained her caregivers well. She has created an entire routine centered on her many-times-a-day perimeter walks around Young’s Hill, and her human friends are required to participate in this routine fully. (For a video of the entire process from start to finish, see this post.)

After a perimeter walk, she usually meets her walking partner in the greenhouse, where she gives him or her a thorough grooming. Jamie leaves no stone unturned.

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When she’s satisfied with her work, she asks us to put the boot we wore on our walk up against the caging so she can groom that.

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After this, Jamie’s done with us for the time being, and we get a short reprieve before we’re summoned to repeat the process from the beginning.