Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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In anticipation?

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While all of the staff here at CSNW have a great deal of experience with chimpanzee behavior, we obviously can’t get inside the minds of the chimps and know what they are truly thinking. But, my non-scientific side of self sometimes really wishes I could!

One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked since construction on Young’s Hill began is whether or not I think the chimps know that Young’s Hill is for them. Part of me wants to say “Of course! They must know that everything we do around here revolves around them, right?” I would have to guess that the installation of the climbing structures (which look very similar to the one in their current outdoor area) had to be a good sign for them, but again, we can’t get inside of their heads, so as smart as I know they are, I just cannot say for sure.

But I think we now have a pretty good reason to believe that at least some folks do, in fact, know.

During construction of the raceway (the tunnel that connects the current outdoor area to Young’s Hill), the chimps had to be locked out of the outdoor area. A couple of days later, J.B. was checking to make sure a key worked on one of the locks near the raceway (not the one that unlocked the raceway door, mind you). As soon as he pulled out the keys and walked towards the caging, Jamie, Jody, and Foxie all jumped up and started hugging and breathy panting in excitement! J.B. said that Jody and Foxie eventually walked away, but that Jamie sat at the raceway door gesturing towards him, banging on the cage, and tugging on the door for at least 10 minutes.

So, guess what, they know.

My heart sung when I heard about this! I’m sure part of me knew it all along, but it feels so validating and real now… and makes the wait for the day that they finally go out that much more agonizing!

So, when I took the following photos of Negra looking out towards the work happening on Young’s Hill today, I couldn’t help but wonder “Does she know, too?” I’d be willing to bet she does, and that they’ve all been “rolling their eyes”, so to speak (chimps don’t really roll their eyes), when they heard us discussing whether or not they “know” that Young’s Hill is for them.

No pressure, J.B. 😉

Thanks so much to J.B. and all of our hard working volunteers that have come out to help be a part of making “The Hill” a reality! You guys are going to make Negra’s day!

Grooming Missy

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Missy is such an avid groomer. On a quiet afternoon, we usually catch her grooming somebody. It’s nice to get groomed in return, though, and here’s some pictures of that.

Annie grooming Missy’s hand

Burrito grooming Missy’s face

Chimps using tools

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Chimpanzees naturally use tools in free-living Africa. One common example of tool use is “ant fishing” or “termite fishing” — when a chimpanzee takes a stick and dips it into an ant or termite mound to gather up some tasty insects. At CSNW, we have a simulated termite board which we fill with things captive chimpanzees enjoy, such as fruit puree or peanut butter.

As part of our sanctuary philosophy, we strive to allow for “species specific” chimpanzee behavior. This can involve providing adequate space and climbing structures for a natural behavior like brachiation, and it can also include providing enrichment that allows them to use their instinctual chimp behaviors, such as nesting or tool use.

The other day, Jackie and I presented the chimpanzees with a puzzle: how to get drinks from buckets outside the caging. They quickly grabbed hoses to use for tools, as you’ll see in the video.

Mop Heads!

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Supporter Tamela sponsored today in honor of the caregivers of CSNW! The following is what she wrote:

Here’s a big pant hoot salute to all the wonderful caregivers and volunteers who wash, scrub, and clean for the chimpanzees. Thank you for all the mundane, exhausting, never ending, backbreaking work you do.

To honor us hard-working, dirty caregivers, she named today “Mop Head Day”. So, 18 mop heads arrived at the sanctuary the other day with tons of little toys tied to them. And in case the mop heads weren’t exciting enough on their own (though I imagine they would have been), mixed nuts were hidden inside various toys. It’s been an interesting, and very comfortable day around here at CSNW.

Thanks so much, Tamela! Pant Hoots to YOU!

Foxie & Grace play chase

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We, obviously, have some especially lovable chimps around here, but when I witness super cute games like the one in the video below, I have a hard time deciding who I love more– the chimps or the caregivers.

The chimps are excellent at keeping our priorities straight. When Negra is ready for her nightbag, she is READY for her nightbag, and will let it be known that nothing will satisfy her until she gets it. Foxie is a good “prioritizer”, too. She will often toss us a troll right as we are getting ready to lock up at the end of the day. Perfect timing! She also frequently “stalls” us when we are cleaning. And her caregivers will pretty much do anything to appease, no matter how sweaty they get!