Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Jamie has kept us busy with perimeter patrols all day today. So as not to displease the boss by slacking on my true duties as a caregiver, here are just a few photos from this morning.
Foxie swapped her red headed “Kate” doll for a lost and found Dora doll mid-way through her morning hill exploration.
How Foxie started her walk:
How she ended it:
Lovely Negra:
Time to get back to work!
Today was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the barn doors were open! Words could not describe the day we had, but pictures can!
This photo was actually from last week but Jamie just looks so good I coudn’t resist:
Jamie and I sauntered around Young’s Hill mid morning and afternoon:
Annie made bird noises and relaxed all day in the Greenhouse:
Missy looking fierce:
Foxie enjoyed some carrots and chow:
Jamie had lunch with her boot and was skeptical about the broccoli… (However, she did like it):
Burrito:
Negra and Jody spent their day napping in the greenhouse and a little in the Playroom. While napping in the Playroom, I did preform a jig for Neggie while she laid in the sun. Too bad there is no video to show how much she enjoyed the show…
Jody napping:
Whenever we add a new feature to the chimpanzees’ home, we have to make sure it’s chimp-safe and chimp-proof. Jamie and Foxie can both be relied upon to give any new structures a thorough once-over; Jamie because she wants to try to take them apart, Foxie because she wants to make sure they’re safe.
Spring is in full swing at the sanctuary! Old friends returned from the long winter and we’ve seen the first butterflies, bees, and even our friend, Ellie, the neighborhood elk is back from her roaming. The air is literally humming with bird flight and birdsong and buds and flowers are finally unfurling under a bluebird sky and warming sun. We’re suddenly supposed to see temperatures in the upper 70’s, near 80 by week’s end. Also springing up over the weekend was the chimpanzees’ brand new play structure on Young’s Hill!
The new structure was funded by donations from HOOT! 2017 from Pat Cattolico, Meg Lunnum, and Richard and Lisa Stuverud, who donated during the event at the Care Corner towards a “new small structure” – J.B. maybe has a different idea of “small” than most people!
With plans and materials in hand, we had an incredible group of volunteers spend their weekend to help J.B. execute his plans. After a great crew on Saturday to include Andy, Drew, John and Ray, we were fortunate to have another amazing bunch to finish things up on Sunday, which included chimp house student volunteers, Caroline, Ruth and Blanca, and members of our local community, Natalie, Greg and the Habitat for Humanity crew! If you saw the Sponsor-a-Day post earlier today you had a glimpse of the building in progress, but here’s a few more perspectives of the process:
Even pine trees and raspberries were planted on the hill (we’ll see if they survive Jody’s adventurous eating habits!).
So with today being our ninth annual honorary “Love a Chimpanzee Day” (thanks to long-time friend of the chimps’, Monica Best), naturally, the only thing left to do was throw a big party! We had a breakfast forage on the structure and the chimps’ had an amazing mix of fresh jackfruit (!), oranges, tomatoes, watermelon, banana, grapes, primate chow, and the cherry on top? One whole fresh coconut placed at the very top of the structure.
When I opened the door to the hill the entire family headed out together with Negra leading the way out of the raceway! While everyone else headed straight for the structure, Negra made a stop at her cabin first to check for treats:
Missy was first up!
Everyone quickly made their way to the top. Here’s Jamie:
Missy with a beloved WHOLE tomato!
Foxie:
Missy:
Either no one immediately noticed the coconut at the top, or everyone was just played it cool until they saw an opportunity to grab it without attracting the attention of the others. Jody walking right on by (for now):
Foxie and Dora:
Missy and Jamie:
Missy:
Even Negra made it up the first couple of levels:
Jody and Foxie:
Annie!
And it was Jody who veeery carefully snatched that coconut! Somehow she kept it together all during the forage, acting nonchalant while keeping an eye on boss lady, Jamie (who being the boss, per chimp society, has the right to claim that coconut from anyone). Once Jody made it back to the greenhouse she could no longer contain her excitement and stopped to give us all a bouncy greeting and then sit with her spoils while making her classic “dinosaur” noises (low moans, Jody style). But she ended up leaving the coconut behind to head back out for more of the forage and who do you think was sooo happy to find that coconut unguarded??…
Burrito!! In the end, Jamie did wind up with it, but by day’s end everyone got to share in a second coconut.
To be honest, we have SO many photos of the construction of the structure, the chimps’ first moments checking it out last night and today, that these are the tip of the iceberg. There will be many more photos in the days to come.
To be able to continually improve the chimpanzees’ home with new and exciting forms of enrichment, to make each year of their lives better than the last, to see so many individuals come together to support the chimps in so many different ways, it’s nothing short of a privilege and honor to witness and be part of. From our hearts, we thank all of you who made this possible for the chimps.
And oh! I almost forgot! What are we going to name this new climbing structure?! We are spinning some ideas around, but we welcome your suggestions for possible names!
Well today was full of anticipation! By 9 am J.B. and our amazing volunteers were out building this SPECTACULAR climbing structure and yes that word does have to be in all caps because it is that stunning. The structure has a little bit of everything for every chimp and these chimps could not wait to get out on Young’s Hill and check it out! However, the chimps could not go out on the Hill until it was done. They waited so patiently and found ways to stay busy! Jamie monitored the volunteers cleaning and the volunteers helping with the structure, Neggie napped in the nice and toasty Greenhouse, Burrito played chase, and Missy, Jody, Annie, & Foxie played some wild games! Jody was half pilo all day just from all the excitement, she was so excited she was even playing like crazy with Missy today. For not being able to go on the Hill most of the day these chimps were in great moods!
Jody a little pilo:
Negra:
We really put our volunteers to work today:
Volunteer working hard:
The chimps loved the final product:
Alex Purins sponsored today’s day of sanctuary for Sandra to wish her a happy birthday.
It’s probably safe to say that there is nothing better on this planet than spring at the sanctuary. The doors are thrown open and a warm breeze blows through the chimp house. The chimps alternate between napping in sunspots and frolicking in the bright green grass outside on Young’s Hill. Everyone’s feeling light and free.
Spring has put an extra bounce in Burrito’s step today. Each time a caregiver passes by, he stomps his foot playfully and passes them this sock for a game of tug of war. Life is good.
