Enrichment

Happy Birthday, Kathy!

July 27, 2016 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kathy Sorensen! The chimpanzees are so fortunate to have so many people who contribute to their lives in so many ways and we are so grateful. Kathy shared this beautiful message about today:

“I am sponsoring the chimps to celebrate my 60th birthday. I visited last year around my birthday and this year being a significant day for me I thought how better to celebrate! I get such joy each day from the group. Their new adventures and freedom are exciting and peaceful at the same time. I am so glad I found them and the organization.”

Happy Birthday, Kathy! Thank you so much for giving the chimpanzees this special day along with your own, helping to ensure that the hope, love, home and sanctuary made possible for them through people like you is something they get to celebrate and relish every single day of their lives. This was such a lovely thing to do and all of us here at CSNW hope you have the best birthday yet! Thank you so much for sharing your life and your heart with these amazing chimps!

Jamie surveying her home from the crow’s nest of Twister:

Missy and Jamie playfully brachiating (swinging arm over arm) through the green house:

Jamie, Burrito, and Foxie patrolling the perimeter of Young’s Hill together:

Jamie enjoying a magazine:

Jamie nesting with a beloved cowboy boot:

Back to a few older favorites

July 25, 2016 by Keri

Many of you have probably already seen yesterday’s blog of Foxie with her new doll. Watching the video again, I’m reminded of a question I am often asked regarding how long Foxie carries the same doll before she picks a new one. The answer is, it varies. Sometimes she carries the same doll for days in a row, bringing it with her on walks on Young’s Hill and sleeping with it in hand. Other times, it seems she goes back and forth between which doll(s) she likes best; leaving one behind only to come back to it later in the day. And still, at other times, her fascination in a particular doll is short lived. Luckily, Foxie has a plethora of dolls to choose from each and every day.

This morning, she had the same “new” doll she was given yesterday, but by this afternoon, she was back to holding a few of her older favorites.

Foxie Gets a New Doll

July 24, 2016 by Elizabeth

A Moment of Peace

July 23, 2016 by Diana

Negra is not normally a “greet the morning with gusto” kind of a person. Like myself, she is more of a, “can I please have just 10 (make that 20) more minutes of quiet before getting out of bed” kind of a person.

In the summer months, she changes her morning routine, though. Often before the humans arrive in the morning, Negra drags herself out of the nest she’s slept in on the catwalk or the loft of the playroom, and makes a new nest on top of the tall structure in the greenhouse.

For some reason, most of the other chimps remain in the building, which allows Negra to have some glorious peace and quiet and alone time before the ruckus of the day begins.

This morning, she even had a little snack leftover from the night enrichment the previous evening.

Being able to witness moments like this is what makes my heart burst out of my chest for the love I have for Negra and the gratefulness I feel for everyone who shares this love.

Maybe we could just have 10 more minutes?

Save

It’s a Burrito thing

July 10, 2016 by Keri

On any given day, Burrito usually has some sort of enrichment object that he carries around with him. Some days it’s a wooden toy…

Last week, it was a plastic toy bucket….

and a toothbrush…

Today, it’s a white and green scrub brush.

Both Foxie and Jamie have their “thing” (dolls and boots, respectively). Burrito has his toys. And, when he’s feeling playful, he will put the toy in his mouth and bite it. This is often accompanied by a quick nod of his head and a foot stomp directed toward one of his human caregivers. It’s Burrito’s invitation to play a game of chase and it’s pretty hard to resist!

Bubbles

June 27, 2016 by Elizabeth

Once in awhile we make bubbles for the chimps with a small drop of non-toxic dish soap. They seem to like how the bubbles feel in their mouths.

Year Seven

June 19, 2016 by Keri

Continuing the trip down memory lane in celebration of the sanctuary’s 8th anniversary, today is all about the Cle Elum Seven’s seventh year of sanctuary.

The seventh year of sanctuary would include moving the veterinary clinic under the newly constructed pole barn…

…adding a new climbing structure to Young’s Hill. It would be the tallest structure built on the hill to date. It is comprised of two climbing towers (Carlene’s Tower and Jamie’s Lookout), which are connected by a swinging bridge…

Jamie’s Lookout

Carlene’s Tower

…and perhaps one of the biggest highlights of the seventh year of sanctuary has been the addition of Positive Reinforcement Training (click on the link to read JB’s description of PRT at the sanctuary.) I think Diana summed it up the best; “Our ultimate goal with this program is to give the chimps the opportunity to participate in their own medical care, and to make it a positive experience for them.” The information gained from these training sessions is critical to providing the best care possible for the chimps.

Click on the link to read more about Negra’s progress in the PRT program.

The chimps also had some new visitors on Young’s Hill this year, including Hank the Hawk and Bernard the Eagle.

And here are some more highlights from the seventh year of sanctuary.

Thanks to the handy work (destruction) of whom we can only guess was responsible (most likely Jamie), the chimps got a new and improved bridge in the Playroom.