Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

forage

Man about Town

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Willy B used to be very avoidant of the grass and dirt outside. Remember? Watch this video from May 8, 2020.

And look at these photos of him today!

Mave is also getting more and more adventurous outside. Today, she followed Gordo out and convinced him to give her two of the three whole red peppers he had found in the forage.

I didn’t get good photos of it, but Willy B was actually the last one on the Bray. He was out there for so  long that Mave eventually came outside and waited for him to come back inside – it reminded me of Jody doing the same for her friends when she thought it was time for them to return.

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent in gifts from out wish lists for Christmas in July. There are still items to purchase for the sanctuary, mostly on our Jerrols wish list, which you can find here. Buying from the Jerrol’s list also supports a family business that is local to the sanctuary!

We are very excited about all of the items we have received and you’re sure to see them popping up on the blog in the next few weeks. Thank you again!!

 

Happy 4th of July!

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Happy 4th of July everyone! The chimps here at CSNW had a day full of fun and food! Longtime volunteer caregiver Patti made the chimps vegan ‘hotdogs’ out of carrots, while caregiver Ellen made them a shortcake out of their usual chow biscuits, fruit and whipped cream from coconut milk.

If you are celebrating today, we hope you all have a fun and safe holiday this year!

PNW Chimp Activities

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No two days are quite the same here in the chimp house and that’s part of the fun! At first, my plan for the blog today was to give you the above video I was lucky enough to catch of Jamie and Missy in a quiet grooming session after breakfast from the other day. Kelsi and I were cleaning the playroom and when I looked over to the window, I was excited to see them spending quality time together!

And then today happened. Today has been a bit busier and the chimps are off doing their own thing. We decided to do forages for both groups today since it was cool, cloudy, and not too windy. A light sprinkle of rain came not too long after when us humans were off eating lunch, so when I went over to check on Cy’s side after lunch I was surprised to see Lucky, Terry, Cy, and Gordo all out on the very top of the Bray! Lucky and Gordo spent a lot of time exploring the new structure that was put in last weekend. It was amazing to see them so confident in themselves as they climbed to the top and walked across the firehose!

There must have been something about today, because then I looked over and saw Burrito and Foxie meandering around Young’s Hill. These PNW chimps didn’t let a bit of rain get in the way of their afternoon adventures! 🙂 So today’s blog has become a video of two friends grooming + photos from today, because I couldn’t choose just one!

Negra wrapped up in her blanket after foraging on Young’s Hill.

Negra foraging on Young’s Hill. 🙂

Jamie with some serious side-eye during today’s lunch forage.

Foxie went back out later in the afternoon and scored some sweet potatoes that had been missed earlier!

Annie taking a moment during the lunch forage to see what everyone else was up to.

This afternoon, Burrito decided to take an enrichment item (a stack-able cup) up to the top of a structure on Young’s Hill to enjoy!

I mean, does it get any better than this?

Terry during today’s lunch forage. Look at that beautiful green spring grass!

Sweet Lucky

Lucky and Gordo exploring the new structure on the Bray!

Go, Gordo, go!

Cy opted to bring his reading material out with him. 🙂

Fool Me Once…

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After relishing in a decent streak of sublime weather, that streak came to an end today. With the chilly air and dark clouds over head, I don’t think anyone can blame the chimpanzees for staying indoors all day (albeit the first morning patrol). In fact, not a single person is in an area that offers optimal viewpoints to observe them. They are all tucked in for a nap.

Negra seemed to set the mood of the day early in the morning.

Since I wasn’t able to get many photos today, here are some I captured of Burrito during yesterday’s lunch forage.

*RECORD SCRATCH*

Ok. Never mind. As I was writing the above, I glanced at the security monitor and saw someone move through the outdoor chute onto The Bray.

It was Cy! He was on his way to his new spot.

After watching him up on the new structure, with magazine in hand, it hit me as to what he was doing. It was nice and quiet at the top of the Bray, and away from the ruckus down below. He spent roughly ten minutes seemingly just taking in the view and peace. He decided to leave when he noticed part of his group decided to also head outside.

Coming down from the structure
On his way back to the Chimp House

On his way back, he crossed paths with his sister, Lucky.

Lucky also decided to take a moment to take in the scenery and quiet

As did Terry.

At the bottom of the Bray, on the boardwalk, Willy B was watching Missy’s group. (Gordo and Rayne were out and about too, just hard to get photos of.)

Speaking of the neighbors, when they realized over half of Willy B’s group was out, they decided they too needed to be outside. Well, minus one.

Missy was the first out, and since I didn’t stretch this morning, I didn’t attempt to catch up with her.

Annie, who was right behind Missy at first, took a detour to grab some of the ever-so-popular prickly lettuce growing on Young’s Hill.

Foxie on the other hand, decided she too wanted a fortress of solitude in the form of one of her new structures.

And then there is Burrito. The person who made me stop taking pictures to run around Young’s Hill and play with him. He did seem a bit distracted. That is when I realized he was looking at Lucky. He tried really hard to play it cool and to make it seem like he wasn’t paying attention to her at all.

And I will leave you with this additional photo I took of Burrito during yesterday’s lunch forage. My phone camera was acting funny and captured the photo like this:

There’s just something with the lighting and coloring that made me love this one of him.

New Things Outside!

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As Sabrina mentioned yesterday, we’ve had a crew of folks out yesterday and part of today making some wonderful enhancements to the outdoor habitats on both sides – Young’s Hill for the original group and The Bray for the group of nine from Wildlife Waystation.

The motivated crew was led by none other than the founder of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Keith LaChappelle! Huge thanks go to Keith and everyone who accompanied him for all the work they got done!

Enhancements included planting trees along newly-installed irrigation lines, finishing and adding cool fire hose “roofs” to the new climbing platforms, and creating more resting areas. They had the opportunity to see the chimpanzees enjoy the new additions when we set out a forage for both groups.

Another thanks goes to Chad for taking all of the photos below, saving the day for the blog.

Foxie:

Burrito:

Jamie and Burrito exploring one of the now finished and fire hose – adorned climbing structures:

Annie next to some of the newly planted trees:

Jamie:

This photo doesn’t show off the new enhancements, but it does show off Missy’s athletic dismount from the treat rock. Not bad for nearly 49!

I love this shot of Lucky that Chad got:

Mave is continuing her bravery and adventured out for the forage too:

Terry looking handsome with new trees behind him:

Gordo with a red pepper under the new roof of a structure:

You can never go wrong by finishing with a Gordo close-up:

Wholly Sweet Mother of Pearl Onion

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about forages on Young’s Hill and trying something different by placing “jackpots” in some of the harder to reach areas. Today, I decided to up the ante and place even more jackpots around Young’s Hill to see who will get what. Similar to the aforementioned blog, it should be to nobody’s surprise Missy was the “winner” at finding most of today’s jackpots.

I wasn’t able to race up the hill in time to catch her snagging the whole ear of corn in one of the trees. I was, however, able to to catch her grabbing what essentially looked like a huge Easter egg.

A whole sweet onion!

While Missy was relishing in her discovery, Jamie also found a jackpot that unintentionally seemed to be made for her.

A jackpot of a decent sized stash of pear and chow biscuits in the hammock. She seemed pretty happy with her discovery.

Then the neighbors came out.

Time to hide all enjoyment and act serious. First a small patrol to let them know she’s serious.

Then resuming to forage like it’s no big deal.

There was still a hidden bell pepper amongst one of the many logs on Young’s Hill by the time I had to head back to attend our staff meeting. I’m not sure if anybody has found it yet. Only to ravens circling Young’s Hill and The Bray know.

Bonus Photos!

Foxie

Over the hill and through the bamboo, to a location only Foxie would know.
It was to the tower structure. That was the location.
A doll for every occasion. Foxie had to put morning Strawberry Shortcake to bed and bring out Plum Puddin.’

Mave + Friends

When Mave went out onto the Bray this afternoon, she was greeted by Cy.
Then groomed with Lucky on the boardwalk.