Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Cle Elum 7

Intensity

by

What! Are you guys seeing this… Strawberries! These were thoughts going through Missy’s head as staff Katelyn discovered these gems in our garden. First strawberry of the year went to garden enthusiast Missy of course!

Missy uniquely sitting on the tire while she looks for strawberries:

While, Missy observed Katelyn in the garden, Jamie had other business to attend to. After our morning perimeter walk, Jamie and I hung out by the Front Rooms, mostly so she could keep an eye on the interns. Jamie isn’t always in the mood to have a camera taking photos of her; however, I asked Jamie if it was okay and proceeded to take some pictures. I often show her the picture taken so she feels included. She was pretty intrigued today so I continued to snap some photos and show her. I always love the intensity in her eyes. Jamie can be known to be a bit intense, whatever she is doing is with all her effort. As you can tell in our photo shoot today she was giving it all she had.

Jamie staring intensely:

Jamie relaxing in the Front Room:

Jamie smooshing her face (she was being pretty silly):

Jamie laid on a chair so she could get more comfortable, but still be able to watch the interns and self groom:

After a while she let me groom her head with a toothbrush:

Burrito had been quietly napping behind Jamie, once Jamie moved Burrito was ready to play!

In this photo Burrito was playfully shaking his leg and breathy panting quietly:

Then Burrito started shaking his legs and play slapping his head, Burrito later got up and we played a bit before Jamie wanted me to come back and finish grooming her head:

Bonus photos:

Negra enjoying the warm Greenhouse:

Jamie stealing Burrito’s smoothie while she drinks her own (don’t worry Burrito had some smoothie earlier):

The Boss’s Day Off

by

As the self-appointed boss, Jamie rarely achieves total relaxation. Between monitoring all the humans coming and going from the sanctuary, and keeping her chimp family in line, she has a hard time letting herself go. But this afternoon caregiver Anna found her looking pretty blissed out.

Particular palates

by

The chimpanzees each have their own unique food preferences. We’ve talked a lot about how Jody will eat a huge assortment of vegetation she finds on Young’s Hill. Foxie on the other hand, has more of a sweet tooth, so she will opt out of many types of greens, in favor of things like sweet potatoes and fruit. A lot of the chimps will eat produce that we humans would think of being really intensely flavorful, in much greater quantities than most humans would ever dream of eating.

I personally could not imagine eating a whole raw onion, but the chimps eat them without thinking twice.
Missy:

And pine tree is not on most humans’ dinner menus.
Jody:

We’ve tasted the wild prickly lettuce that Negra loves so much, and it is tongue twistingly bitter.

The one funny thing we have noticed is that the chimps don’t seem to like a lot of spices in their meals. We don’t cook things for them all that often (instead they usually eat a lot of raw produce), but when we do get a little adventurous with a cooked meal, the chimps are often skeptical, picking through their meals for anything suspect. They have no use for things like basil, oregano and cinnamon, so we generally leave things pretty simple.

Burrito eating all the parts of a lime this morning:

Nice Day

by

The chimps had a very nice day! Most of the day was spent out on the Hill or in the Green House. Everyone went straight out to Young’s Hill once it was opened, even Neggie ran out right away. Negra also lead the group out for the lunch forage today! However, it must be snake season because before anyone went outside some surveillance had to be done. Annie, who is terrified of snakes, looked out towards the Hill from in the race way, making sure her toes never touched the ground. Foxie, brave little Foxie, lead everyone out giving everyone the okay, but all the chimps made sure to keep their eye out.

Foxie:

Annie:

Negra wadging pineapple:

Miss eating chow:

Jody with a loose lip giving level 3 caregiver Jake some reassurance:

Annie bipedally walking and inspecting for snakes:

Missy, the good friend that she is, giving Annie some back up:

Foxie, Annie, & Missy going out to venture on the secure Hill:

Jody watching over everyone:

And enjoying the tall green grass:

Negra:

Missy (top), Annie (middle), Foxie (below) hanging out on the new structure:

Jamie doing her perimeter check:

Jamie and I also saw Jody and Negra along the way. They were foraging on some of the natural plants that grow on the Hill.

Jody:

Negra:

Foxie enjoying the sunshine:

Later, while cleaning was going on, we caught Jamie using a toothbrush to brush this dolls hair (It was a very sweet moment):

Days like today make my heart feel so full of joy, these chimps are simply amazing. Nothing makes you feel better than seeing happy chimps grooming and playing together all day.

 

Practice Makes Perfect

by

Jamie had a lot to do today. J.B was doing some work around the Chimp House so of course Jamie needed to monitor his work, but Jamie also had to get her perimeter walks in, as well as practice her tight rope walking.

Jamie started the day with making sure J.B. was doing his job (he was, as always):

Than Jamie and I surveyed the Hill (it was clear):

Once the Hill was secure, Jamie hit the logs to warm up her balance:

After Jamie was warmed up she decided to get straight to business:

Wow! She really nailed round 1, but this was practice so she had to go again:

Her technique was impeccable, so she tried again:

Wow, Jamie was flawless by round 3! Practice really does make perfect! But, with her busy schedule Jamie decided she needed to get back to work. This morning was nice and warm, so it wasn’t just Jamie out and about. Everyone made an appearance on the Hill at one point in the day, even Neggie came out to forage for some grass, or at least before the rain came.

Missy exploring on the Hill:

Annie lounging around:

Foxie was hanging out on the Hill too:

Foxie and Jody spent some time outside together:

But, Burrito was never too far behind Jody:

Negra made a nice nest and took advantage of the peace and quiet while everyone explored the Hill: