Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Cle Elum 7

Cheers!

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Happy New Year’s Eve! We want to thank Jody Ubert for sponsoring today for the chimpanzees. Jody, you’ll be happy to know that we had a wonderful little New Year’s Eve party for the chimpanzees today, complete with party streamers and plastic champagne flutes with sparkling apple cider. The chimps loved them!

Today is also the last chance to donate before the end of the year. If you’re on our mailing list, you received this message in your inbox this morning, which includes a link to the Foxie Inspires Us video. Foxie and her friends are in a Holiday Pal competition, too, and I think it’d be really great to see all seven chimps with two full candy canes by the end of 2013. Check the progress here, and support your favorite pal before the ball drops at midnight tonight!

Here is Foxie enjoying some of the cider from today:

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Thank you to everyone who has made the last five and half years of sanctuary so wonderful for the Cle Elum Seven. Cheers to you and yours, and have a Happy New Year!

Sounds of Sanctuary

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Although it is true that chimpanzees are often much more quiet than one might assume based on experience with them in the media, chimpanzees can also be quite loud when expressing themselves, given the right circumstances. As a matter of fact, the daily routine of sanctuary life is accompanied by sounds that a caregiver comes to rely on.

When I arrive at the chimp house in the morning the chimpanzees are often still sleeping, or enjoying a quiet morning. Not soon after though, Burrito usually makes some noise in the front rooms. Perhaps he’s letting everyone know that the day is about to begin? At any rate, the morning for caregivers consists of breakfast making with the blender whirring in the kitchen and the sounds of a chimpanzee community getting ready for the day. Burrito’s way of greeting the day is certainly unmistakable.

Meal times usually involve food grunts, squeaks and, of course, some chewing. The rest of the day can run the gamut. When the mood takes them the chimpanzees will spend time grooming together, playing, or occasionally engaged in aggressive displays and each of these activities are often attended by distinct chimpanzee vocalizations. To get a feel for what I’m talking about check out today’s video and make sure to have your volume turned up and your listening ears on!

Sleepy Lips

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There’s usually not much obvious difference between Negra awake and Negra asleep. Even when she’s awake, she’s often lying in a nest with a blanket draped over her head. But you can always tell when Negra is ready to close her eyes because her lips start looking too heavy for her face.

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Happy Birthday, Tracy!

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The chimpanzees have been gifted with a day of sanctuary today sponsored by their friend, Tracy Headley! Today is Tracy’s birthday and she shared the following message: “I can not think of a better way to celebrate my birthday, than to celebrate Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.” Tracy, you do so much for the chimpanzees and we are touched by your generous gift to them on your own special day. We think you should celebrate Foxie-style by doing a few back flips, hanging upside down, and throwing in some pirouettes for the heck of it!

Thank you so much, Tracy, and we wish you the happiest of days!!

Foxie and Dora

Welcome, Christmas!

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Christmas (and a whole lot of troll dolls) arrived in the chimp house this morning! And thanks so much to volunteer caregiver, Patti, an amazing fireplace, loads of decorations, and an incredible Christmas lunch!:

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Foxie checking out one of the stockings:

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Patti, made the most incredible Christmas lunch, complete with field roast and cashew gravy, cranberry sauce in pumpkins and sparkling apple cider!:

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Negra enjoying her Christmas dinner as the trolls look on:

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Missy enjoying some Brussels sprouts:

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See if you can spot Annie:

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A big hit of the day were these giant cardboard tubes which came courtesy of Santa’s elf (and volunteer caregiver, Seana), which she stuffed with paper and nuts:

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Foxie gazing adoringly at one of her many new trolls:

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And in true holiday fashion, Burrito was too full to move by the end of dinner, but that didn’t stop him from making room for pumpkin and Brussels sprouts that lay within arms reach:

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Annie’s feet as she takes a rest after the celebration:

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And for all of our Jody fans, no worries, she enjoyed the Christmas extravaganza as well, she was just avoiding the paparazzi today. Thank you so much to volunteer caregivers, Patti and Seana, for making the chimpanzees’ day so wonderful, amazing supporters Jayne R. and Pam O. for supplying trolls and decorations, Laurel H. for sponsoring today, and to everyone else who contributed to today’s festivities. And from my heart (which in Grinch style grew three sizes the day I met these chimpanzees) thank you to all of our supporters near and far who help us give the chimpanzees the kind of days they deserve. From all of the primates here at CSNW, we wish you the happiest of holidays!!

The Scavenger

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Chimpanzees are natural foragers, but Burrito also has a little bit of scavenger in him. He can often be found hours after a meal prowling the area for any bits of food the other chimps may have overlooked. Today shortly before lunch, he found a peanut that had been missed at breakfast. A single peanut may not seem like much, but for the guy who lives for food, it’s big news.

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