Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Cle Elum Seven

Waiting Out the Storm

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For the last couple of days, we’ve gotten a much needed break from the hot and dry conditions here in Cle Elum. It’s been overcast and cool, with some rain and thunder. While the chimpanzees don’t love to be outside when it’s raining, they do seem to love cool, gray days, so they’ve been enjoying exploring Young’s Hill whenever the rain stops for a bit. When it starts up again, they head inside and cuddle up with some blankets or a favorite doll. Katelyn snapped these photos yesterday of Jamie and Negra keeping dry indoors.

Jamie:

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Negra:

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Happy Birthday, Becca!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Lars Foster-Jorgensen in honor of his fiancee, Becca Hine’s, birthday! Becca makes weekly trips across the pass from Seattle to dedicate her time and care for the chimpanzees and is currently in training as a volunteer caregiver. She is even choosing to spend her birthday here caring for the chimpanzees! (While this may sound like all fun and games, though it is in part, it’s also a lot of cleaning and very hard work).

Lars shared the following message for Becca:

“Happy Birthday to Level 3 volunteer, Becca Hines! Her dedication to primate care and conservation is inspiring. and we wish her a happy day with the CSNW Seven!”

Lars, thanks so much for including the chimpanzees in Becca’s special day! And Becca, from all of the primates here at CSNW, we hope you have an amazingly happy day! Thank you so much for all you do for us and we’re so happy to have you as part of the team. May all your wishes come true.

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Foxie in the photo booth

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One of the chimpanzees’ rooms has THE perfect light for photos. If we are fortunate enough to not only catch one of the chimps sitting by the window in this room, but also willing to have their photograph taken, we are almost guaranteed some great images. Of course, these good looking chimpanzee people also make it pretty easy.

This series of Foxie reminds me of a photo booth strip:

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The train

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There is a train that goes along the river that is in the valley below the sanctuary. Negra often likes to watch the train go by at her window spot from the playroom—the train can be seen on the south side of the building and Young’s Hill. Jody however, was on the north end of the hill this morning when the train started to go by. We don’t always hear the horn blowing (because there aren’t any large train crossings near us) but you can sometimes hear a slight screech of the wheels against the tracks.

When Jody heard that this morning, she got a little spooked, and approached Jamie for some reassurance by reaching out and hugging her back. Jamie grunted (sorry, the photos don’t show that!) to sort of affirm, “yes, I heard that, too, and it’s okay.”

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Still somewhat spooked, Jody retreated toward the safety of the greenhouse.

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But before she could reach the building, she saw the train passing by, and I think she was comforted in seeing that the strange noise was really coming from something quite normal in their lives.

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Let’s Get It Started

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Even though the chimpanzees enjoyed a fabulous day long celebration last Friday for Foxie’s birthday, they’re not done partying just yet. Life in the sanctuary today was sponsored in honor of supporter Erin Yuhas’ birthday. Erin also donated some fun enrichment items and decorations for today’s affair. Thank you, again, Erin for your generous gift! The chimpanzees seemed to thoroughly enjoy their breakfast forage in the greenhouse this morning.

Jamie was quite content to forage her breakfast:
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And to relax in the cool playroom after a successful party:
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Annie and Foxie took particular advantage of the chow forage included in breakfast. Here is Annie:
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And Foxie:
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Foxie also continues to enjoy the new troll dolls she has recently received:
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Burrito tried to carry as much food as he could all at once:
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Missy found one good spot and stuck pretty close to it:
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While Jody was a woman about town this morning. She enjoyed the forage from the top of the greenhouse to platforms below and afterwards relaxed with a good book.
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Negra, who has just recently started showing an interest in enrichment items, took a definite shine to the donated stuffed monkey in these pictures. She carried it around with her for most of the day, bringing it to meals and napping with it in between.
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A Surprise for Foxie

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Tomorrow is Foxie’s 38th birthday, and we’ll be throwing a big party to celebrate. We’re going to fill her day with the stuff that makes her happiest, including this impressive collection of new troll and Dora dolls:

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Foxie hasn’t seen the new dolls yet. We want them to be a surprise on her big day. Be sure to check back tomorrow to see how she likes them!

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