Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Each Christmas the chimpanzees receive their own potted pine tree as part of the festive decorations. We leave it in the greenhouse for them to enjoy during the rest of the winter months, and then we can plant it on Young’s Hill in the spring. Slowly, but surely, the chimps prune a little bit off the tree almost every day.
Annie:
Here’s what the tree looked like its first day with the chimps:
And here it is today (decorated with some enrichment):
Jamie and her beloved cowgirl boots during a morning nesting session:
Most meals for the Cle Elum Seven include fresh fruits and vegetables, along with primate chow biscuits. Nuts and seeds are also given to the chimps each day. And on occasion, we prepare special treats for the chimps and today was one of those special occasion days. We served the cake that was made for Dr. Elliott Sumers birthday. Cake ingredients included grated butternut squash, homemade applesauce, chow “dust”, and raisins, then topped with more applesauce, coconut flakes, and banana chips.
To say that the chimpanzees enjoyed the cake would be an understatement!
Jamie
They loved it so much they couldn’t stop licking the plates even after the cake was gone!
Missy
Negra
Jody even brought her plate with her when she ventured outside onto Young’s Hill.
Burrito was pretty excited about the almond milk too!
Tonight, we are also trying a new evening enrichment for the chimps, which we’re calling “grab bags”. It is inspired by a children’s birthday party I went to recently, when each child received a small bag filled with an assortment of goodies and toys; each bag different from the others. Included in tonight’s grab bags, are things like socks with nuts and seeds hidden inside, crumpled up paper with peanut butter smeared on it, kongs tied inside bandanas, etc. We hope they like them!
And here are a few pictures of Annie and Foxie looking beautiful as ever today.
Annie
Foxie
It’s hard to predict how the chimpanzees will interact with the enrichment we offer each day. For Jamie, the absolute highlight of this week has been the new sand table featured in Tuesday’s blog post. Jamie continues to be thoroughly captivated by it. Yesterday we added some buckets of soapy water to the mix.
Feeling stressed out? This long winter got you down? We know just the cure! There’s something quite Zen about watching Jamie play with fresh new sand. Make sure to view with sound for a little bit of calming enrichment!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Nicki Walters in memory of her husband, Bill Walters. Nicki and Bill have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we’re honored to celebrate Bill and the difference he made in life. In fact, we are privileged to celebrate the difference his life made here at the sanctuary every day. Nicki shared this special message about Bill:
“We lost Bill last year in July but not before he got to see in person the amazing Twister & the beloved Chimps playing on it. Missy was first up! It all started by sponsoring a day in honor of his Birthday, that ended up spreading to last more days. He loved animals and life and is very missed but knowing a tribute that benefits the magnificent 7 named after him with his nickname truly provides peace and happiness to all who loved him. This is a tradition that will continue on. He loved what all of you do, thank you for helping to give him so many bright spots on the dark days with your incredible posts and to all who made the Twister possible.”
Nicki, thank you so much for choosing to honor and celebrate Bill’s memory with the chimpanzees. All of us here at CSNW hold you and your loved ones in our thoughts and hearts.
I believe most of us have the desire to somehow say we were here, to mark our time and to know that our life made a difference – that we left the world a better place for having been here. The possibilities are as far-reaching and unique as each one of us. And I think all of us will leave having made differences we will never be aware of. But for seven chimpanzee people who live on a hillside outside a small town in eastern Washington, Bill and his loved ones made a difference which will continue to ripple throughout all their days forward.
The chimps’ first inspection of the Twister:
Missy, first to the top!
Bill and Nicki watch the unveiling:
Annie and Missy playing chase underneath:
Jamie keeping watch over her home from under her beloved crow’s nest:
Foxie and Dora on an adventure:
Burrito’s courage:
Jody:
Missy (top) and Annie (below):
The Twister quickly became an important part of Jamie’s daily routine territory checks. Weather permitting, it’s the first place she heads each morning and the place she ends her day…or in many cases, her evening:
