Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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chimpanzees

Willy B on Repeat and Highlights of the Day

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The video above is a pretty good follow-up to the snippet of Willy B that I shared within this video a few weeks ago.

I took the footage for today’s video last week, but didn’t want to usurp Foxie’s birthday so I saved it for today.

For a glimpse of actual happenings today, visit our Instagram page, and behold some highlights below from the breakfast forage on Young’s Hill.

Missy slacklining on fire hose

 

Missy dismounting from the fire hose, showing off the benefit of opposable toes.

 

Jamie was just scratching her face in that image above, but I like how it looks like she might be saying, “oh, geez, Missy”

Jody once again dominated the willow forage:

and Negra seemed to be just fine with our secret lettuce-for-breakfast-outside weight loss plan aimed to slim her down a bit:

Day of Portraits

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Unlike yesterday, the chimpanzees were very lively today and I was able to grab some better photos!

The chimpanzees were given access to Young’s Hill just a couple minutes before breakfast. But five minutes was too long for Jody. She was the first one out and immediately began foraging for some local plant life that grows on the hill.

Jody must have also anticipated Negra waiting for her. She initially brought two back, but ended up with one, and Negra with the other.

Later on in the day, I found Foxie out in the Greenhouse.

Though this one is a little blurry, I still like the pose in it and would consider it a crime not to share anyway.

Also unlike yesterday, I was able to finally capture Willy B in all his handsome glory. I had to be quick though because after hearing the shutter of the camera, he raced to the caging to see his portrait.

Batting A Thousand

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I was sure batting a thousand today in terms of not being able to get any decent photos. Though, that may have actually described today’s feel. Not that there’s anything is wrong with it or anything bad happened, but it was just quiet. Really quiet. Suspiciously quiet.

The only decent photo I was able to get was right after breakfast of Burrito and Foxie trying to spy on their neighbors.

Once cleaning was over, that was it. The ladies all decided to keep quiet and to themselves in the most difficult of spots around the sanctuary to get photos. As evident by Honey B here.

It’s enough to know who it is, but not enough to get a decent photo of.

There were, however, two strapping gentlemen who were within sight. As some of you know though, these two gentlemen can be extremely difficult to get photos of. Each for their own reasons.

In one of many failed attempts to get photos of the Group of Seven, Burrito insisted it was not photo time, but another play time. I had to opportunistically get whatever photos I could during our play session.

Wait for it….

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A very blurry kiss to the camera!

So I tried my luck on the other side, again, in one of many failed attempts to get photos of the Group of Three.

As you may know, Willy B usually likes to be very close to the camera and makes it difficult to take photos of him. But I gave it my best attempt.

First he allowed me to snap this photo.

I had to show him what I was able to capture. Apparently he liked it because…

Wait for it…

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He wanted to kiss it!

Again, like the prior Burrito kiss photo, he was super close and out of focus. I thought it was just interesting both of them had done the same thing by trying to kiss the camera.

And one last “model” shot of Willy B. Though close to the caging and camera.

UPDATE:

I was able to get some photos during dinner that tells a semi-interesting story.

First, I was able to capture sweet Annie enjoying her corn at dinner. (Make note of the piece of corn at her feet.)

Then seemingly out of nowhere, Missy comes by and swipes the corn that was at Annie’s feet.

Annie didn’t seem too worried about it. If you looked closely, you can see only the very top of the ear of corn was left.

But also…

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Annie spotted the cob Missy was given earlier for dinner. Coincidentally it was with roughly the same amount of corn kernels still left. So I guess that’s not really stealing. More like a long roundabout form of trading.

Tutorial: How to Clean an Enclosure

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The blog often shows the highlights of each day, but we don’t always show the less-glamorous aspects of our jobs. As caregivers, most of our work day is actually spent cleaning, securing, and maintaining the spaces that the chimpanzees live in.

Just confirming that an area is safe for humans to enter is a chore in itself, and then each enclosure requires daily attention so that the chimps can be healthy, comfortable, and entertained. On top of that, there are always dishes to scrub, toys to wash, puzzles to prepare, and paperwork to organize.

This evening, I chose to demonstrate our standard procedures for cleaning and sanitizing a chimpanzee enclosure so that you can all partake in the fun!

Golden Rays of Sunshine

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This morning’s sun gave off the most incredible golden rays. When the chimpanzees were given access to Young’s Hill, it was no wonder why all of them rushed right out the door.

As Jamie went on her morning patrol of the day, Annie remained behind to watch the others explore the hill.

And who did Annie see? Why Queen Negra enjoying the sun with a doll of course!

And there is nothing better than a passerby game of tag with Burrito!

Foxie and her Orange Blossom doll also ventured outside.

But she eventually went inside to enjoy the cooler indoors.

Willy B also spent most his day lounging around on his favorite leopard print blanket. (Seriously, he loves this blanket! Thank you to one of our volunteers who donated it!)

As I write this and try to get a few more photos for today, I’m starting to realize staying indoors lounging around is the cool thing to do. Literally, the cooler thing to do.

Though the bigger news is that Jody was able to return to her group today! We are still monitoring her foot before she gets access to the outdoors area, but we are hoping that happens soon.

Moving Along

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This weekend, y’all were treated to a pair of vivid stories: J.B.’s about a quiet moment with Jamie and Diana’s about an unusual predicament involving a snake. If you didn’t read them, what are you waiting for?

Today’s blog post isn’t really a story. Instead, I’m changing directions and just providing a few unrelated updates.

As Jody heals up from her recent trip to the sanctuary’s clinic, we have begun to let her have socialization sessions with the other chimps in her group. These meetings are a standard practice for us;  controlled visits like today’s allow for the chimps to groom and play without a barrier. (Of course, the others can always see and interact with Jody through the steel mesh that separates their areas.) Since we’re concerned about Jo’s incision site staying clean, its safer for her to have just one companion at a time. This morning, Foxie darted into the front rooms and excitedly groomed with Jody for a couple of hours.

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the building, the second phase of the expansion project (Phase 2) is well underway. Although the construction team has not yet poured the foundation, one can already see the outlines of two new indoor playrooms, two new Greenhouse-style enclosures, and the central hallway. There’s obviously a lot to be done, but it’s encouraging to witness the steady progress and even more exciting to imagine multiple groups of chimpanzees hanging out in the area when it is complete.

Finally, the day ended with a rambunctious crescendo: Jamie’s delight at an area full of grab bags. Grab bags are one of Jamie’s favorite enrichment items, so she absolutely lost it when we let her group back into the Playroom to gather, process, and savor the valued puzzles hidden inside. As usual, she tried her best to monopolize everything and ended up sitting in the middle of the Playroom surrounded by the remains of ransacked enrichment (much as a dragon would sit on a hoard of gold that it had plundered from the charred remnants of destroyed cities). That’s Jamie’s style, sometimes. Fortunately, we always put out enough enrichment materials to give the other chimps more opportunities.

Even after we locked up the chimp areas, changed out of our scrubs and prepared to leave the sanctuary for the evening, Jamie was still sitting amid her mountain of grab bags, apparently content.

Episode IV: A New Soap

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Okay, so it isn’t Episode IV. It’s not actually the fourth in a series of anything. Furthermore, the soap isn’t even new soap.

However, this blog post is something like an episode and it does indeed contain soap, so there’s all that to consider. I think my stupid pun works for the title, and I would appreciate it if nobody complains. Keep your eye-rolls to yourselves.

Today, the chimpanzees were particular about whether or not they wanted to shift out of enclosures. Shifting is a necessary step that allows us to safely clean the areas and resupply the chimps with enrichment materials, but we sometimes need to work around the decisions that the chimps make. After all, we can’t make them leave an area if they don’t want to. This morning, everyone was out of step- especially with Jody recuperating in Front Room 1 after yesterday’s procedure, sweltering outdoor temperatures and the construction crew hammering away outside of the new wing.

[Note: Jody recovered quickly, as she usually does, and was eager to socialize with her friends through the mesh today! She spent the day eating, watching movies and lounging in front of the fan.]

Because Willy B., Mave and Honey B. were reluctant to leave the chute this morning, we had to clean their indoor rooms in an unusual order. The three chimpanzees still had access to Front Room 5 as we cleaned Front Rooms 6 and 7 right in front of them. Honey B. isn’t one to be left out, so we created a cleaning station for her that, unlike the tool sets that the humans use, was durable and safe enough to be given as enrichment. The kit consisted of a sandbox filled with soapy water, various brushes, and a couple of towels. We are aware that Honey B. has an affinity for cleaning, so this setup is far from novel. Still, it kept her busy while we completed the daily chores.

Honey B. seemed to have a blast, although Willy B. and Mave were mostly indifferent. Mave preferred to lounge in the corner with a plastic toy and Willy B kept trying to see his reflection in the camera lens. These three chimps are a great example of how the efficacy of enrichment items varies among chimpanzees, especially those with different backgrounds and personalities.