I guess yesterday’s Jamie-ween party was just so exhausting, Foxie couldn’t help but take a big yawn. Here she is holding the Dora doll donated by Bailey as mentioned in yesterday’s blog.
chimpanzee
Happy Jamie-ween!
It is no accident that the boss’s birthday is our biggest party of the year! Jamie’s (honorary) 35th birthday party has been pretty epic! In addition to caregivers being decked out in goofy Halloween get-ups, we had tons of mini pumpkins, pomegranates (a favorite), pinatas, several new pairs of boots from friends (1 from Linda Gere, 1 from Dick and Robbi Brown, and 1 from Tamela Burgess), and a giant pumpkin carved by the super artistic volunteer Stephanie.
It may have been the boss’s day, but that doesn’t mean she’s the only one that gets presents! Foxie’s new friend Bailey Ford sent her a brand new Dora the Explorer doll, which she wrapped in a cute box covered in stickers. Jamie opened it first:
but everyone knew it was for Foxie! She quickly took her Dora out to the hill for some exploring:
Stephanie is amazing at finding pinatas and decorations, and given that it’s her (and my) favorite holiday, Jamie-ween is always over the top!
and Jamie’s birthday decor would not be complete without a boot pinata!
Juice seems to be an all-time favorite party treat around here. Burrito was a squeaking machine!
Jamie with one of her new pairs of boots
For some reason Missy didn’t end up in a lot of our photos, but we did manage to get this one close up of her munching on a pomegranate.
We put out several mini pumpkins on Young’s Hill. They were filled with a mixture of pears and blackberries. Negra was the first to rush out the door when I opened it this morning. She was so excited about the mini pumpkins!
She would grab as many as she could in her hands and mouth and carry them inside to enjoy in the greenhouse. But as soon as she was done, she was back out for more! This went on all morning long (even hours later). She may not spend a lot of time on the hill, but I think it’s safe to say that she is feeling more and more comfortable, especially with the right kind of motivator!
Once their palates were set on pumpkins, there was no stopping Jody and Negra from diving into the big one! Jody munched on it for a while but once Negra was finished collecting mini pumpkins from the hill, she happily took over.
The large pumpkin has been passed around to everyone today, though. Burrito had his head in it earlier and then shared a little with Annie. I think we all know who is going to be sleeping good tonight!
Thanks so much to Robbi, Dick, Tamela, Linda, Bailey, Wanda and Stephanie for making today such an awesome celebration! Here’s to the boss!
Take Action Tuesday: Washoe and captive chimps
Today marks five years since Washoe, the first nonhuman to use a human language, passed away in Ellensburg (just 25 minutes from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest where the Cle Elum Seven live). Like Negra, Annie, and possibly Jody, Washoe was captured from Africa. She was supposed to be used in the space program, but when that didn’t work out, she was instead the center of a language project. Now we know that captivity is never a good place for chimpanzees. When Washoe became too strong to handle, she had to live in a cage for the rest of her years. Sadly, that is the fate of any captive chimpanzee—those living as pets or used in entertainment will eventually have to be imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit because they simply are not meant to live in a human world. Biomedical chimpanzees are already in cages, some no bigger than a coat closet.
I first started working with Washoe and her family in 2005 as a college student. She taught me humility and to take everyone on their own terms, and she blurred the line between animals and humans. The way I see the world and my place in it has definitely changed forever—it was because of her that I realized how amazing these beings are and became a chimpanzee advocate. I met the Cle Elum Seven shortly after they came to CSNW in 2008, and was moved at how resilient and forgiving they were after everything they’ve been through. Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy, and Negra have been an inspiration. They have been through so much, yet they still find time to laugh and play. They can finally walk outside with sun overhead and grass under their feet—something we definitely take for granted. I can’t imagine living my entire life inside bars and I am so proud of the Cle Elum Seven for how brave they have become in the last four years. I know it is our duty to give them and all other captive chimps a good life. We took them from their natural and rightful environment from the forests of Africa, stuck them in cages, bred them, and exploited them for a cheap laugh or invasive research, all without regard to how they are just like you or me. They are beings who deserve to be taken on their terms, treated as equals—not forced to perform on TV or be injected with viruses because of humans believing they are superior.
Let’s speak up for captive chimps. Let’s release them from biomedical research. Let’s get companies and productions to stop using chimpanzees in their advertisements or movies. Since we can never return them to Africa, let’s at least give them a better life in a sanctuary where they can be taken on their terms, treated not as lesser beings but where their needs are of the utmost importance.
Help 100 chimpanzees get to a sanctuary by signing this petition—we need 1,250 more signatures to reach our goal of 5000! Write a letter to this TV show that teaches kids it’s OK to have a pet chimp. And don’t forget to join our Take Action: Eyes on Apes list to stay up-to-date on issues and action alerts!
Negra approaches her cabin
As J.B. mentioned in yesterday’s blog, Jackie and I caught Negra approaching her new cabin. Unfortunately I didn’t have our camera on me and didn’t want to miss the shot—so this was taken on my phone. I apologize that it is not the best quality and the chimps are pretty small. But, it is super awesome to see Negra sizing up her cabin and getting reassurance from Foxie and Jody. At one point all seven chimps were in the shot. I thought that was also super awesome so I took a screen shot and labeled all the chimps so you can see them all at once.
I can’t wait until Negra makes it all the way inside the cabin!
Happenings on the Hill
Earlier this week, Burrito did some more exploring of Young’s Hill with Jody.
Jamie climbed to the top of one of the bouncy bridge posts.
Missy and Jody played chase.
Once Missy picked up the pace, though, Jody couldn’t keep up.
The biggest news of all is that Negra ventured out to check out her cabin yesterday. Luckily Jackie and Debbie captured these photos or I would have had a hard time believing it. She didn’t make it all the way inside the cabin, but it was a big first step for her. You just never know when Negra is going to switch things up and try something new.
We’re not the only ones that get excited when the chimps do something out of their comfort zone – the other chimps get excited too. As Negra sat by the cabin, she was greeted by a parade of her friends who came by to reassure her with hugs and kisses.
Happy Birthday to Pam Lehnert from Jill!
Jill Estep has sponsored today in honor of her friend Pam Lehnert’s birthday. What a nice gift!
Pam, as many of you know, has been involved with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for a long time. She and her husband Marc attended the open house we had before the chimpanzees arrived in 2008. She’s contributed countless hours, in kind gifts, and creative ideas to make the sanctuary’s events a success. Our events literally wouldn’t be the same without all of Pam’s hard work.
Today, however, the chimps and her friend Jill want Pam to take some time off and enjoy her birthday, whether that’s by savoring her favorite foods or running with abandon. Let Missy be an inspiration – she manages to do both at the same.
Vote for Crafty Projects
Back in July, I posted about a “Pinterest Challenge” asking crafty people to take some misprinted sanctuary shirts and make something new out of them. Several people responded. Then the fire hit. Following up with crafters, updating the challenge, and spending any time on Pinterest ended up being sacrificed for other work.
We did, however, receive three quite phenomenal projects that I’m excited to share with you right now. Please comment on this post with a vote for your favorite (#1, 2, or 3), or, if you’re undecided, tell us what you like about each of them.
#1
The first project we received was hand delivered at the Troll Olympics by volunteer Carrie Parker, so she gets the award for the fastest-craft-turn-around. Her speediness did not take the place of quality, though! These better-than-bandana reversible sleeves thread onto your canine companion’s collar to spruce up his or her look and advertise the sanctuary. Aren’t they neat?
#2
The second project we received was made by friend of the sanctuary Blanc Weber. She contacted me and said she wanted to use the shirts for a crocheted basket. Not being all that crafty myself, I couldn’t picture what that would look like. I had no idea you could transform ordinary t-shirts into such a cool and sturdy basket! Blanc said Foxie could use the basket for her troll dolls, but I’m not sure I can bear to give the chimps this creation.
#3
The third and last project we received was an adorable tote bag hand stamped by former volunteer and wonderfully creative human Jenny Chang. You can probably guess my favorite part of the bag – the troll-inspired pink hair on one of the chimps. The straps of the bag, which I did not capture in the photo, are braided and long, making this a useful cross-shoulder tote, in addition to being a one-of-a-kind craft.
Okay, vote away!