Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Cle Elum 7

Getting prepped!

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Exciting things are happening at the sanctuary! We are preparing to break ground on Phase 1 of our expansion plans! Today JB moved our temporary clinic/break room (AKA the Desert Fox travel trailer) just outside the perimeter fence to make way for the construction that is imminent! We also have a special groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Saturday and a date set for construction to begin early next month! We will post a more thorough blog update soon, with the details of what’s to come with our expansion, but for now enjoy these photos from today.

Ellie the elk was on hand to supervise the trailer moving process:

Annie, Negra, and Foxie investigating the new empty space in their view:

Here’s what their view looks like now! Next up, this shelter is going to be transplanted to a new location at the sanctuary. Stay tuned!

Sanctuary Livin’

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Well, today Jody decided she couldn’t leave the Greenhouse for us to clean because she was REALLY comfortable. I mean, I couldn’t agree more…

It was pretty hot today and even Jamie thought it was too hot to walk around the Hill. So she napped and stayed on patrol around the Chimp House…

Jamie even built a fort in the Playroom so that she could have her privacy, but still be able to watch what everyone was doing…

Burrito was trying to be on his best behavior with the ladies…

And Foxie and the rest of the chimps were really excited for mid-day shaved ice! It was almost too hot to play with dolls, but rest assure Foxie found a way!

Celebration of 10 Years!

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Can you believe it, these chimps have been at the sanctuary for 10 years. Over the years whether it was by donation, volunteering, or following the blog we have seen tremendous change in their lives and well-being. In the beginning Foxie didn’t want to have anything to do with enrichment and now Foxie has found love in her dolls. Annie was reserved and had very little confidence and now she is more independent, bold, and confident. Negra was afraid of Young’s Hill and now she adventures to forage all by herself. And not to mention how they have been aging in reverse. It has been a privilege to watch the growth in these seven amazing chimpanzees. But really Negra says it best….

In addition, here are some photos to give you a sneak preview of what tomorrows blog might look like!

Burrito taking a breather from partying:

Foxie swinging with her new France Dora:

Negra searching for some mini bananas:

Negra enjoying some forage she found in a coconut:

Jody was the first to venture out to find what was hidden on the Hill:

Jody was very committed to foraging out there:

Jody got to take full advantage while everyone was preoccupied in the Greenhouse:

Foxie also went out on her own, well France Dora accompanied her of course:

This was just the start, there are more photos to come from our BIG celebration!

New Views

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So many things have changed for the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees in the last ten years since they moved from a research lab to the sanctuary.

One of the most striking is their new view.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

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The chimps’ good friend, Lisa Stuverud, sponsored today for them as a way to celebrate her own special day! Lisa shared this lovely message:

 “I turned 60 this year, a HUGE accomplishment for me so I made a list of many things I was grateful for, things that had helped me get to 60. One of the things was ‘I am grateful for having passions in my life especially when they sustain me’ and today the passion I have for all animals especially Jamie, Foxie, Burrito, Annie, Missy, Jody, Negra and everyone in and around Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporting their passion will sustain me. I have often said that these seven chimpanzees and the people who selflessly support them give far more than they could ever take by showing such resilience, healing, love, kindness and devotion. Today, that will sustain me once again and I am so grateful to have this shared passion in my life.”

Lisa, thank you so much for such a lovely, inspiration-filled gift for the chimps! We are so incredibly fortunate that the chimps are surrounded by so much love and passion for their well-being and grateful ourselves that you are part of their chimp family. All of us here wish you the happiest birthday yet!

Annie and Missy:

Burrito and Negra:

Jody and Foxie:

Jamie and Missy:

Follow the Leader

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After the chimps received access to Young’s Hill this morning, almost everyone went out! Missy and Annie were playing a fun game of what looked like, follow the leader. I am sure we are all familiar with this grade school game, where one friend leads and the other friend has to copy what they do. Well, I observed the chimp version of that today! As we all know Missy is very good at running, climbing, balancing, and just basically being a chimp. So in this game, naturally Missy was the leader and Annie followed, however as you will see in the photos Annie will do her own variations and what she finds most comfortable for her.

Missy starts of by climbing up Negra’s Cabin:

Then Annie follows:

Missy then walks the tight rope:

Annie follows, but decides to do it her way:

And gracefully sticks the landing:

While this game was happening, Jamie went for a perimeter walk accompanied by Foxie and Jody:

Burrito kept a close eye on everyone from his view up top:

And Negra, well she was too comfortable to get up (I mean really comfy):

I also have some extra photos I thought should not be left out!

Jamie put a sock on this morning and was running around and playing chase (this is the only photo she would let me take of her and the sock):

Jody:

Burrito following Jody on the Hill: