Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Zen Sand Garden

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Supporter Michelle C. recently sent the chimpanzees a very unique gift – a piece of the Florida beach along with some little shovels. Today we set up the gift from afar in the sandbox table.

Looking at the set up reminded me of those zen sand gardens that are sold to business executives. This one, of course, catered to Jamie (note the boot).

sand in sand table

Sand with boot in sand table

There’s a video in the middle of this post of Jamie truly looking pretty zen as she played in the sand. The other chimps weren’t sure what to make of the stuff. They’ve had sand before (one of my favorite memories is Jody laying in the sandbox in the greenhouse on “Spa Day” ). But the chimps had probably never encountered the soft white sand of the Florida beaches.

Jody and Foxie getting a closer look:

Jody and Foxie inspecting the sand

 

Annie joining the inspection:

Jody, Foxie and Annie inspecting the sand

 

Jody digging in:

Jody sifting sand

 

And Jamie getting zen:

Jamie with two shovels in sand

Jamie hands in sand

Jamie shovelful of sand

Jamie putting sand in boot

Sad news about Annie’s son Damien

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Damien, one of Annie‘s sons who was at the wonderful Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida, recently passed away. Damien’s death was due to kidney failure that developed after an injury.

Please visit the Save the Chimps site to learn more about Damien as well as Ted, another chimpanzee who also recently passed away.

We were all very sad to learn of Damien and Ted’s passing, and our hearts go out to their caregivers. Save the Chimps is the word’s largest sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees, and the staff are faced with the deaths of loved ones too frequently.

Here is a quote from the notice about Damien’s death: “He grew into a magnificent adult, and was one of the few chimpanzees at Save the Chimps who spent more of his life in sanctuary than in a research lab.”

Thank you to all at Save the Chimps who gave Damien a sanctuary life.

damien