Cle Elum 7

Today is for Toby

May 9, 2015 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by dear friends of the chimpanzees and humans alike, Pam Lehnert and Marc Warner, in honor of their beloved pup, Toby. Pam shared this touching message about Toby:

“Today celebrates the 1-year anniversary of adopting Toby, our 1 1/2 year-old lab mix puppy. Toby has many ties to CSNW, as our friend Jamie Davis (husband of former CSNW Executive Director, Sarah Baeckler) worked at the Oregon Humane Society and “found” Toby for us just days after last year’s “HOOT” gala; Toby’s favorite sitter is CSNW staff member Katelyn; and he has become best friends with Wilson and Abbey, JB and Diana’s dogs they adopted last year. Seeing these three shelter pups thrive in their forever homes is another example of “HOPE. LOVE. HOME… SANCTUARY”. Watching the progress of each of the chimps these past seven years at CSNW made for an easy choice to only consider adopting from a shelter when we decided to add to our pet family. Our lives are made richer every day by Toby – and everyone at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.”

Pam and Marc jokingly referred to themselves as “foster failures” after adopting Toby’s feline sibling, Chloe. Immediately smitten with this saucy lady, their foster home quickly became Chloe’s forever home. The individualized love and care Pam and Marc provide Toby and Chloe is truly heartwarming to see. All of our lives here are made richer for knowing this wonderful family.

Pam and Marc, thank you so much for all you do for all those around you, to make their lives better, both human and non. We truly appreciate you! And thank you for thinking of the chimpanzees in celebration of Toby’s new life!

Toby and his best friends, Wilson and Abbey:

And another guy who loves to play, Burrito:

Happy Day

May 7, 2015 by Elizabeth

Today is warm and sunny at the sanctuary and the chimpanzees are in great moods. Annie and Missy spent much of the morning like this:

The Misfit

May 4, 2015 by Elizabeth

If Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest were a high school, Burrito would be the guy wearing the wrong clothes and saying the wrong things.

Chimpanzee groups operate under a strict set of social rules. Wild chimpanzees learn these rules as children by watching the older members of their group. Most of the chimps at the sanctuary, despite having grown up in entirely unnatural circumstances with limited exposure to other chimps, seem to have some understanding of these rules. But Burrito hasn’t read the rulebook. He doesn’t even know where to find a copy.

Burrito’s hormones and millions of years of evolutionary pressure are giving him bad advice. As a male chimpanzee, he is instinctually driven to show everyone he’s in charge. He does this multiple times each day through intimidating dominance displays. Wild male chimps have these same instincts, but their instincts are tempered by social learning. A free-living male chimp might get the following message from his brain: “It’s time for a display, but the alpha’s over there, so steer clear of him, and be sure to keep it short and to the point.” The message Burrito receives seems to be less nuanced: “GO!!!”

None of this is Burrito’s fault, of course. He was born in a laboratory and lived most of his life alone. He never had peers to learn from. Consequently, he has all of the instinct and none of the experience. This has gotten him in some trouble with the other chimps at the sanctuary, and he often seems out of his element. But he has come a long way. At the age of 32, surrounded by a stable group of chimpanzee friends, he is learning the skills and lessons he should have learned as a kid. He is fitting in more and more everyday. Burrito is finally growing up.

The Hermit

April 30, 2015 by Elizabeth

Negra is the grandma of the Cle Elum Seven.

She is not the kind of grandma who bakes you cookies, but the kind who tells you to get your life together and grumbles about those kids on her lawn. Negra knows exactly who she is and what she likes. She is stuck in her ways. She appreciates comfort and routine and predictability (and peanuts and lettuce). She is highly suspicious of change. She will not tolerate your shenanigans.

Negra chooses to spend about 80% of her time in a big, soft nest in the same spot on the playroom catwalk, in front of a window that looks out over the valley. The playroom is warm and dry and safe, and Negra sees little reason to leave it.

But for a few short months out of the year, the conditions in the greenhouse are so perfect that even Negra can’t resist. She ventures out early in the morning to enjoy the warm sun and gentle breezes, and that’s usually where we find her when we arrive at the sanctuary to start the day. Soon enough the weather will change again and Negra will be back in her nest inside, buried under piles of blankets. But while it lasts, we’re thrilled to see Negra get out and see what the world has to offer.

6th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day

April 23, 2015 by Elizabeth

We threw a big party this morning in honor of Love a Chimpanzee Day and Monica Best. Monica and her mom Linda don’t live locally, but they gave us some cash and told us to go buy all the chimps’ favorite foods for today’s festivities.

We decked out the greenhouse in streamers, which are a staple of any good party. Then we set out a forage of some favorites: leeks, bell peppers, green onions, beets, and fruit smoothie.

Annie:

Negra:

Jody:

Missy:

Foxie:

You’re the best, Monica. You always know how to make the chimpanzees feel loved. Happy Birthday!

The Folks Behind the Curtain

April 20, 2015 by Elizabeth

We’ve talked before about how much we rely on volunteer help to do what we do here at the sanctuary. Since last week was National Volunteer Week, we thought it’d be a good time to mention it again.

Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the chimpanzees’ care. Every good thing we are able to do for the chimps is made possible, or easier, by volunteers. They are dedicated, selfless, compassionate, and tireless. They are the chimps’ advocates and caregivers and friends. Their work is not always glamorous, but it always makes a difference.

Our volunteers work hard everyday to create a home where Jody and the others can kick back and put their feet up.

We are so grateful!

Foxie the Brave

April 16, 2015 by Elizabeth

In the three and a half years since we opened Young’s Hill, the chimpanzees’ two-acre outdoor habitat, the chimps have become more and more comfortable with the wide open space it provides. It didn’t happen immediately for many of them. After living for thirty years in climate-controlled buildings, touching nothing but steel and concrete, it takes time to adjust to the feeling of wind through your hair, or hot sun on your back, or rain. Not to mention how vulnerable and exposed they must have felt in such a huge space – it wouldn’t have been surprising if one or more of the chimps decided not to venture out at all.

But they did go outside, and they have continued to go outside on most days since we first opened the hill. They have gradually become more at ease with things that they wouldn’t tolerate in the early days, like wind and rain and cold temperatures. Almost four years later, they’re still making strides.

In the last couple of weeks, Foxie has been pushing the boundaries of her own personal comfort zone and spending more time alone on Young’s Hill. Until recently, she has stayed near the bottom of the hill, closer to the familiar chimp house, during her excursions outside. The other day, though, I was on a perimeter walk with Jamie and we found Foxie all alone at the very top of the hill, calmly and methodically exploring. I thought she might be relieved to see us, and join us on our walk back down to the chimp house, but she remained up there by herself, walking around in the grass. There are certain moments when one of the chimps surprises you in the best way, and that was one of them.

Today really feels like spring in Cle Elum – warm temperatures and a pleasant breeze – so we set up a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. Foxie was one of the last ones to remain outside after the others had gone back into the greenhouse with their food.