Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Food

Some good news for Jo

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We have some good news to share about Jody. The biopsy and other tests of the mass on her foot indicate that it is inflammatory in nature and likely not cancerous (cancer is rare but not unheard of in chimps and a previous test had raised the possibility). The challenge now is to get her, and her pal Dr. Missy, to leave the surgical site alone long enough for it to heal. That is a lot harder than it sounds.

Additionally, based on the most recent ultrasound, radiographs, and blood work, we will begin treating Jody with birth control, iron supplements, and herbal medicine for her fibroid and related mild anemia.

We’re so grateful to Dr. Erin and her colleagues for their continued care of Jody. Not that you would know there was anything wrong with her, the way she took charge during today’s lunch forage…

Missy and Annie:

Foxie with a slice of eggplant:

Negra:

Jamie:

Burrito was a joy to watch today. He immediately found two heads of lettuce and tried to eat them before anyone could even think about stealing them from him. But he couldn’t eat them fast enough.

Missy was fast approaching. She wouldn’t normally steal food from Burrito, but he employed a defensive move just in case. You can never be too careful.

As soon as his hands were free, Burrito climbed onto one of the platforms and continued to forage.

He came across a few pieces of chow in a pile of chow dust (what’s left in the bottom of the bin) that I had placed on the end of the beam and proceeded to vacuum it up.

He made his way back towards the greenhouse with his potato, eggplant, and Brussels sprouts, but the chow dust was too difficult to contain. With each breath it spilled out of his mouth and into the grass below.

Oh well. It was worth a try.

Foraging on the Fourth

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Foraging is all about strategy.

You start by evaluating each type of food. Watermelon: sweet, refreshing, can be consumed quickly. Corn: Delicious but time-consuming, gets stuck in your teeth. Primate chow: satisfies those carb cravings but leaves your mouth too dry to eat anything else. Lettuce: great palette-cleanser but not much bang for the buck.

Next you survey the landscape. Walking long distances requires time and energy so you’ve got to do the math. Just spitballing here but I’d say a watermelon at 200 yards is worth two corns within arm’s reach.

And finally, you need to understand the competition. Foxie’s got bad knees, so you can outrun her. But be careful, Missy will fight you for an ear of corn.

Then the moment arrives. The door opens and two acres of 4th of July forage lay before you.

The gang sets off to the far corners of Young’s Hill in a quest to stuff themselves silly.

Wait! Oh, no. As usual, Negra has been distracted by the first piece of lettuce she saw. Keep your eyes on the prize, Negra!

While the others race by her, she bites gingerly from her slice of iceberg, oblivious to all the awaits her.

Meanwhile, Jody and Missy each race to claim a stump covered in watermelon slices.

Jamie swiftly climbs to the top of the cabin for more corn.

Missy reaches the pinnacle of the Escher climbing structure to capture the watermelon atop the tallest post.

Meanwhile, Negra wonders if it can get any better than this. Warm sun, cool breeze, and a quarter head of iceberg lettuce.

Burrito races from structure to structure with his bounty…

…pausing only briefly at a vantage point from which he can survey the area for more treasure.

Missy scampers across the shaky bridge from Carlene’s Tower to Jamie’s Tower…

…and returns with more food than a single chimpanzee should be able to carry.

Jody is up to her ears in watermelon.

Annie’s up to her eyes in ears of corn.

And Burrito is attempting to walk and chew watermelon at the same time.

All the while, Negra happily savors her slice of lettuce. They just don’t grow lettuce like this anymore, do they?

Back in the greenhouse, Jody takes a much needed break from being upright.

And Jamie works to polish off her corn and lettuce. While I personally swear by typewriter style, Jamie eats around the full circumference before working her way down the cob.

Luckily for Negra, Jamie didn’t finish all of her corn. Negra later returned to the Greenhouse, emitting a sound somewhere between a whimper and an alarm call, as if she had seen a snake. As the gang turned to her to see what was wrong, Negra swiped an ear of corn from Jamie’s feet and waltzed into the Playroom. It’s good to be the Queen.

In honor of Diana

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This special day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees was sponsored by Candy Crannell in honor of Diana Goodrich (yep, our Diana! 🙂 ):

“Jane Goodall said, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” This is Diana and her devotion to the CSNW 10. You are very much loved and appreciated for what you do. Thank you.”

Candy, thank you so much for honoring Diana today and for contributing to the lives’ of the chimpanzees and the cattle who are so dear to her heart and for whom she works so tirelessly to help ensure that all their days forward are filled with hope, love, home and sanctuary.

Today is Diana’s birthday! She isn’t one who likes a fuss made about her, but in a form true to her heart, she set up a GiveBIG Washington fundraising page inviting you to celebrate along with her (and another amazing supporter, Monica Best!) by honoring the beloved ten chimpanzees and four bovines who call Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest home, and if you’re able, help however you can to raise funds for their life-long care.

Happiest of birthdays to you, Diana! From our hearts, thank you for your unwavering, inspiring, heartfelt dedication to the absolute well-being of Annie, Missy, Jamie, Foxie, Jody, Negra, Burrito, Mave, Honey B, Willy B, Betsy, Nutmeg, Honey and Meredith! I don’t think a day goes by that we don’t feel grateful to our bones for you and J.B. and all you do to ensure these chimp and bovine people we love so very much have the best lives possible.

Now may we all take a moment to celebrate someone whose resiliency and mere being inspires Diana’s heart, Queen Neggie:

The chimps celebrate Love a Chimpanzee Day!

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After yesterday’s light rainfall, Central Washington is positively bursting with green today! The majority of the deciduous trees seemed to unfurl their leaves overnight and I even got a whiff of cherry blossoms as I pulled into the parking lot this morning. This fresh wave of spring and a party for the chimps was the absolute best way to celebrate Love a Chimpanzee Day!

Over in the Phase 1 part of the building, Willy B, Mave and Honey B were treated to a special “Love a Chimpanzee” lunch that featured fresh coconut, an all time favorite! Honey B was seen cleverly stomping on her coconut chunk to get it to loosen up. For the 7 chimps on the other side of the building, watermelon bowls were a big hit on Young’s Hill and the most fun part of the day to photograph.

Foxie:

Foxie and Negra:

Negra:

Jamie:

Annie and Jamie:

Jody:

Jody and Burrito:

Missy (not pictured) was zooming around the greenhouse collecting whole tomatoes as fast as she possibly could. Happy Love a Chimpanzee Day!

Fall in Love with Mave

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Today, we present the Fall in Love with Mave video (link above)! As you know by now, becoming a Pal to one the of the chimpanzees or bovines at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is one of the best ways to support their ongoing care. In the spirit of the day, we hope there are a few people out there who’d like to be Mave’s valentine by signing up to be her Pal.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, the chimpanzee celebrated the day as they do most holidays – by stuffing themselves with delicious food. Today began with a special breakfast prepared by volunteer Patti, consisting of healthy waffles topped with peanut butter. Negra, as you can imagine, was thrilled. The new guys, on the other hand, weren’t sure what to make of this unusual Valentine’s day tradition. Honey B even returned her waffles to the waitstaff by pushing them back through the caging, but after trying them she excitedly asked us to pick them all up and hand them back to her. It’s a good reminder to always taste your food before sending it back to the kitchen.

Later in the day we set out forages of fresh fruits and veggies along with shots of fruit smoothie.

Negra (with Jody in the background):

Jody:

Foxie:

Missy:

Burrito:

 

Honey B:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wish list Wednesday!

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In case you haven’t noticed, the chimpanzees consume A LOT of fresh produce.
Jody:

On top of making sure they all get enough to eat, we also try to make sure there is plenty of variety.
Negra:

Burrito:

Jody:

Annie:

Missy:

Jamie:

Foxie:

Oh and did I mention we are now filling the stomachs of 3 4 new chimps (Willy B counts as 2 😉)?

If you are interested in helping us keep our fridges stocked full of a variety of delicious produce, check out our Amazon Wish list and send the chimps a gift card to our local Safeway store!

The chimpanzees and caregivers thank you!
Mave:

Summer’s End Begins

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The rain today did not feel like a passing summer shower. It felt like summer’s end.

Besides the rain, many smaller changes have become evident this weekend. As the temperature dipped, the mountains shrouded themselves in chilly fog and gray drizzle. The larches are abandoning their greenish hue in favor of warmer tones. The bucks that inhabit the woods around the sanctuary are showing off their new antlers, while this spring’s fawns are losing their spots and grow more independent by the day. The tourists in nearby Roslyn are sporting flannels and hoodies, not sunglasses and flip flops (and our staff and volunteers had to say a sad goodbye to this year’s edition of the Roslyn Farmer’s Market). In neighboring Ellensburg, new students are flocking to campus to begin classes next week; a handful of them will compose our next cohort of interns starting at the end of this month. The air itself seems to call for coffeehouse folk music and pumpkin spice everything. Autumn has made its first appearance of its three-month residency.

Meanwhile, the chimps are embracing the cooler surroundings in their own way.

Jamie spent this morning huddled under a makeshift tent of blankets, taking in the crisp morning air and watching the caregivers go about their morning rounds. She even snoozed for a bit before breakfast (as did Annie, in the background).

Over in the new wing, things went similarly. Lately, the new three have been chilling out in the new archway tunnel almost constantly. However, today’s weather made the uncovered chute less appealing and the trio spent more time grooming and nesting in their sheltered indoor spaces. From her secluded corner in one of the bedrooms, Mave made sure to keep looking out the window at the surrounding pastures, passing rail cars and two-lane highway far below.

Because of the drizzle and dew, we only scattered a small portion of their lunch on Young’s Hill. Even so, the seven long-term residents made the best of the conditions and found all of the carrots and walnuts that Level II volunteer Dusty placed among the tall grass and wooden structures. Of all the chimpanzees, Annie seemed to enjoy foraging in the damp prairie grass, always watching her surroundings for potential competitors and new opportunities to obtain more food.

Today’s only drama was centered around corn. Erin and Miranda, two of our dedicated Level III volunteers, served breakfast and lunch, respectively. All went smoothly until Jamie decided to get upset every time one of the lower-ranking females received an ear of corn-on-the-cob. Either she was being possessive (likely) or she’s terrified of things on cobs (slightly less likely). She kept her eyes on everyone else while she munched on her own corn, as well as poor Foxie’s.

Annie, Foxie, and Missy all processed their remaining corn and potatoes with trepidation, frequently pausing to monitor Jamie’s expression.

Missy even had a swollen eye this morning. It was not a grievous wound by any means, but served as a potential artifact of recent conflict within their social group (Note: Missy didn’t seem to care and even made J.B. playfully chase her around the Hill in the rain).

Only Negra and Burrito were left out of the corn fiasco. Negra opted to sift through her chow bags from the safety of her fleece blankets, while Burrito spent more time gazing over at the adjacent tunnel and neighboring chimps.