chimps

Mask Madness

August 10, 2022 by Kelsi

What I love about my job the most is that every day is never the same. You really never know what will be sitting in the foyer for the chimps when you come back from your weekend or what new interest they have. Through sanctuary the chimps get the opportunity to evolve and change, while also being able to have consistent steady things in their lives. For example, Foxie loves troll dolls! Because of our kind donors, she will always have troll dolls in her life, but she has also gotten the opportunity to expand that interest into other types of dolls. While her enrichment and opportunities have grown and evolved into new things, her dolls will always be there to comfort her and that will never change!

Recently, someone donated a troll doll mask! Foxie liked having her caregivers wear it for her, but to our surprise Gordo thought the mask was the funniest thing! The moment he saw it, he erupted into a game of chase! He would make us run all around the chimp house with it on (safely of course!). In between chasing he would playfully spit and bounce up and down while laughing! Donations like this are so wonderful, because even though it was terrifying for the humans to look at ;), it was an enriching opportunity for Gordo. Honey B really loved it too! She was playing chase and following me around while I wore it, she even gave out a sweet little kiss!

We are so LUCKY

July 8, 2022 by Jenna

Lucky [luhk-ee]

chimpanzee

1. kind-hearted

2. engaged

3. first to greet her caregivers when they walk in the room; knows how to make someone feel special

4. observer of her surroundings

Lucky is truly one of a kind. And as cliché as it sounds, we are so lucky to know her.

When I first started at CSNW as staff, Lucky always made such an effort with me. Every time I saw her, she would storm across the room, no matter what she was up to, just to say hello. She was the head of the welcoming committee for me and she doesn’t even know it. She does this with all of her caregivers. She is easily excited and genuinely happy to see everyone 24/7.

You may have noticed in some previous blog photos or videos, Lucky uses blankets to scoot across the floor. You can see this behavior here (around 0:43). She will gather a few blankets, tuck them under her thighs, and use them to help glide herself across the floor. Closely related to rocking, this is a common behavior for chimpanzees in captivity. To phrase it in the simplest way I can, she does this as a comfort mechanism. As someone who was born in a laboratory, not raised by her own mother, and will live the rest of her life in captivity, it is understandable for her to seek comfort in any way she chooses. I believe even we, as humans, have our own individual ways to comfort ourselves in both good and stressful times. And that is okay.

As seen in the photo above, this is one of Lucky’s signature poses. Anytime you see a photo of Lucky from this angle, just know she is staring down whoever is behind the camera. Simultaneously, she is doing a motion with her mouth where she alternates sucking in her cheeks/lips. I presume that she is deep in thought every time I see this face.

We love you, Lucky!

Playing with Missy

June 8, 2022 by Kelsi

As many of you know Missy is what we call a chimps’ chimp. She will have these amazing long play sessions with her chimp friends. But as for us human friends she will bless us with a play session from time to time. So when you get to play it doesn’t matter how long it lasts, it’s just special that it happened!

Bonus photos!

Jody enjoying some yellow goats beard flowers:

Negra foraging for grass:

Gordo was hanging out in the sunny warm Riverview greenhouse. Look how handsome he is!!

Gordo grooming himself:

The Boss Has Returned

June 7, 2022 by Chad de Bree

First thing is first. I want to apologize to you all! With all the excitement of planning, setting up, and watching Dora’s birthday celebration yesterday, I forgot to provide all of you, our wonderful supporters and followers, an update on Jamie’s recovery. Dr. Erin said she was recovering so well that she could be reunited with her family, and just in time for the Tiny Forage Celebration yesterday. I will take the blame on that one.

Yes! The boss has returned and it was as if nothing had happened during her absence. She seamlessly reestablished herself in her group with no fuss from the others. We are still monitoring her recovery sites to make sure everything continues to heal properly and no one messes with it too much. *ahem*Dr. Missy*ahem*

With Jamie’s couple day absence, she has been eager to get back to her morning patrols around Young’s Hill.

While we were on our first patrol of the day, I watched as both Missy and Annie foraged for morning prickly lettuce.

With it being such a nice day, Missy and Annie’s morning foraging made it seem like it was a great day to hold a lunch forage. Since we had some leftovers from yesterday’s celebration, and they seemed excited for that menu, we included that into their lunch! (With the addition of bok choy.)

As they went onto Young’s Hill, Jamie was carrying a bag of primate chow that was given to her earlier. As she made her way up the hill, she decided she couldn’t be bothered carrying around her bag of chow. Once she left her bag behind, there was a very exciting food grunting of the one who snatched it up. It was none other than Negra!

Jamie seemed to think carrying around her chow occupied her hands, which she needed to grab as much food as she could:

Missy made her rounds collecting as many tomatoes as should could:

Jody made off with a nice haul:

After finishing the extra bag of chow she “found,” Negra’s eyes were set on bok choy:

And then there’s this guy:

He was enjoying his forage and got a good amount…

Until this…

After having his fill, he noticed this caregiver taking photos.

And the Bronx cheers began:

It was off to the races for us and that ended my photography duties on that side of the Chimp House for the day.

It was a pleasant day all around!

*Bonus Photos*

Willy B, Dora, and Mave in a grooming line:

Rayne eating her dinner corn:

Once again, I want to thank everyone involved in making yesterday possible. Without your support and donations, we wouldn’t be able to throw such a successful party! There are other way to help as were continue our day-to-day tasks and prepare for our next celebration (Honey B’s birthday June 11th!). Be sure to check out our wishlist to see what we need to continue providing the best care that we can for these 20 (bovine included) unique personalities.

She’s Back… Again?

June 1, 2022 by Kelsi

This morning Negra was reunited with her group! Everyone was so excited to welcome her back. Jody, Missy, and Foxie gave her warm greetings and immediately went to check out how she was healing! Negra was able to spend the morning sitting out on Young’s Hill and napping in her favorite spot in the green house. Unfortunately, in the early afternoon between the chimp nurses and Burrito displaying and scaring Negra, some of her external sutures were not holding up too well. We decided to isolate her again until Dr. Erin could come take a look. So Negra spent the afternoon watching Lord of the Dance, nesting, and having her caregivers dance for her as well ;).

Negra finally back on the Hill this morning:

Negra enjoying Lord of the Dance:

Busy Chimp House Day!

April 27, 2022 by Kelsi

As Chad wrote on Sunday, this week has already proven to be busy for the entire chimp house. I think today’s blog is all about Burrito!

As an intro update, so far so good!

Mave and Terry grooming:

Cy and Willy B grooming:

Lucky:

Much to Celebrate Today

April 17, 2022 by Chad de Bree

After a week of snowy conditions, there was the break in the weather where it was sunny and warm enough to celebrate today.

When Missy’s group were first given access to Young’s Hill this morning, everybody went out and explored the Hill. In fact, Negra was the first one out, if you can believe it or not! As the chimpanzees scattered across their outdoor enclosure, I saw Missy at the very top on the furthest structure surveying her domain.

Later on in the day, the weather still held out for a forage outside. Today was filled with paper eggs containing nuts, carrots, sweet potatoes, mini bell peppers, and hard boiled eggs for all!

Here is one of the paper eggs as seen in Willy B’s enclosure for reference (of course they celebrated too!):

Initially we caregivers thought Jamie’s group would run out onto the hill, grab what they could, and head back to their greenhouse since a slight, chilly breeze began to pick up. We were wrong! Every single one of them stayed out for quite some time, enjoying their forage.

Jamie: