Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimpanzee

Terry and Willy B

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Today we did a re-intro involving Terry, Rayne, Honey B and Willy B and it went really well! It’s always been a question of how the chimpanzee males will react to each other in a group setting and where they will fall within the dominance hierarchy. Today, Terry exhibited a lot of submissive behaviors (pant-grunts and bobbing) to Willy B who seemed to appreciate the amenable gestures.  While we don’t know what that means for future introductions, it was certainly a step in the right direction.

Willy B and Terry spent the afternoon playing and grooming with each other and took nice breaks to play with Rayne and Honey B.

Terry and Willy B:

Leeked Photos

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As you can tell from the title, there is some leeked content. I guess this kind of leekage isn’t so bad ;).

Please enjoy these photos of Cy eating a leek:

Terry really liked his leek too:

Bonus photos!

Cy:

Rayne basking in the warm greenhouse sun:

Willy B staring at himself through the camera:

Honey B is ready for bed, and bids you a goodnight:

Forage For Ages

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For the first time in what feels like forever, we have had some consistent sunny days with the temperatures in the 60s. A sunny day with slight overcast in 60º weather and the slightest of breezes are the perfect conditions for the first forage on Young’s Hill of 2022!

Annie:

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Jody:

Missy:

Negra:

Annie and Missy:

A Splash of Color

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It’s going to be a busy Monday here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest- a produce delivery, a facility inspection, some staff training, ongoing construction work, and all the usual chores- so today’s blog post is short and sweet.

Here’s a photo of Foxie enjoying the views from “The Portrait Studio” (Front Room 4), complete with a colorful doll companion.

Green House Naps

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Today was a warm, sunny, and windy 56F degree weather day, perfect to enjoy from inside the green houses. All three green houses were packed with chimps napping and relaxing all afternoon. Jamie and her six friends went on multiple walks around the hill only to come back and relax again. Willy B, Mave and Honey B got access to the Courtyard where Willy B spent a big chunk of time basking under the warm sun. He did not seem to mind the Spring wind at all. The girls remained in the chute enjoying the day. Lucky, and the other five members of her group spent almost the entire day in the green house as well. With optimal napping spots up in the platforms, and raisin board enrichment as extra enticement, it was no surprise that it was just the place to be all day. Even the cattle and Barn Kitty were spotted enjoying this day in the most relaxing ways.

Gordo using a chopstick to get raisins from the raising board enrichment his group got today

Rayne napping…until she heard the “click” of the camera…sorry 🙁

Lucky resting but watching my every move from the platform in the green house

Dora napping

Jamie on the top platform of the original green house, next to a boot…of course!

The cattle in their most relaxed form courtesy of Caregiver Chad who took this photo today while on cattle care.

Even Barn Kitty was into the sun’s warmth for some nice resting time

Chimp ID: Dora

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Today we will round out our Chimp ID Series of the Lucky Six! Though she is last in this series, she is certainly not the least. Today is all about none other than Dora!

When Dora first arrived here, she was a bit of an enigma to the caregivers. She was very quiet and reserved, and wanted no interactions with the humans outside of meal time. Though she loves spending time with her chimpanzee family, she also enjoys were alone time equally as well.

Lucky, Dora, and Rayne eating breakfast.
Dora grooming Terry.

As the months went on, Dora really started showing her personality to the human caregivers. She let them know that she indeed loves to play.

Just like a certain someone we all also know well, she is tiny but fierce. Dora is in the fact tiniest member of her group. But despite her small stature, we have seen her step up to the big guys in her group if they get too rowdy.

In fact, today Willy B began displaying in the Oakwood Greenhouse while she was grooming Terry in Riverview. As Willy B was displaying, Dora was the first one to begin to respond to his displays with pant hoots and a swift kick to the caging that separates them.

For us caregivers, it is this tiny body that allows us to identify her easily. But as you may have noticed, though she has a tiny body, she has big eyes. Her eyes are very unique to her group. This is another feature we use to tell it’s Dora.

We are really only starting to get to know Dora, and can’t wait to see her shine!