Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

csnw

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Julie Olson sponsored today’s day of sanctuary for the chimps and her sister, Karen Olson! She shared this message about her gift:

“I wanted to sponsor a day for the chimps in honor of my sister’s birthday. I know this is a gift that truly means a lot to her. She loves all creatures great and small!”

Julie, thank you so much for always thinking of the chimpanzees and including them in your family celebrations!

Karen, we hope this is the best birthday yet! We’re so happy to celebrate your special day with you and are so grateful to you and Julie for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts and for the difference you make in their lives.

Happy Birthday from all of us here at the sanctuary! This guy is always up for a celebration (as long as it involves food, playing and food!):

New Views

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So many things have changed for the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees in the last ten years since they moved from a research lab to the sanctuary.

One of the most striking is their new view.

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

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Paul and Jenara Miller sponsored today for Carrie Miller!

“Happy Birthday to Carrie, who introduced us to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW!”

Paul and Jenara, how kind of you to celebrate Carrie by including the chimpanzees and adding to their lives! Thank you so much!

Carrie, we hope you have the best of birthdays yet!! We are so grateful for all the love of Burrito and his family that you share not only with them, but with the humans of your world as well.

Your pal, Burrito, in all his much adored “Burrito-ness”:

Intensity

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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

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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.

An early heat wave

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The summer heat has arrived a little early this year (for at least the moment). We are supposed to spike into the mid 80’s this afternoon, which seems unusual for May in Central Washington! To keep cool, the chimps move to lower spots around the sanctuary, spread their limbs wide, and melt into relaxation poses. Jamie asked for frequent drinks from the hose during our morning cleaning routine, and even Negra took a few sips from the hose that Katelyn offered her. The chimps have constant access to water spigots, but seem to really enjoy that special hose drink. Purely coincidentally, tonight’s evening enrichment food puzzle involves ice!

Annie has been maintaining this horizontal lounge position all day long:

Conveniently, grooming with Missy can also be done without getting up!

Despite the heat, Katelyn caught Negra cuddling with this little stuffed toy this morning. We jokingly consider it her sponge to mop up brow sweat 🙂