Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

That’s what friends are for!

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I don’t know what it is about Sundays this winter but it seems like much of the less pleasant weather has been saving itself for the weekends this season. While many of the days this winter have been mild and spring-like today, and many Sundays of recent memory, cannot be considered either of those! Whether it was the weather that contributed or something else entirely Jamie did not appear to wake up on the right side of the nest this morning. Luckily, she’s got an excellent friend in Foxie! Foxie was persistent and managed to turn Jamie’s frown upside down after a bit of effort. Check out the resulting play session.

Foxie’s dolls

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We try our best to vary which chimps are featured on the blog, so that no one is over or underexposed. But sometimes good material for a blog post just comes to us, and we have to go with it. So, I have a Foxie video to share today, despite the fact that the blog has been rather Foxie-heavy lately.

Foxie has an interesting relationship with her dolls. She often treats them maternally, kissing them or carrying them on her back as a mother chimp would do with her infant. Other times, she behaves aggressively toward them, beating them repeatedly with a wooden spoon. Occasionally she seems to be in awe of them, holding them out in front of her and gazing at them adoringly. And sometimes, they’re simply playthings.

This morning she spent some time completely preoccupied with this collection of dolls in the playroom.

Thank you, Susan!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Susan Cooper. Susan shared the following thoughts: “I love Sundays. On Sundays I think about things that are truly important to me. Sunday is the day I spend at home, thinking about those I love and taking care of my 5 rescue dogs and our home.”

Susan also shared how moved she was by our recent video about Foxie and the inspiration she provides for us all. It means the world to us when others see how special the chimpanzees are. Thank you so much, Susan, for thinking of Foxie and her chimpanzee family on your special Sundays, and for all you do for animals!

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Foxie with tiny trolls

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It seems Foxie has been the center of our blog posts lately, but that might be because no matter what she is doing she is bright, playful, funny, and can bring a smile to all of our faces. You’ll see what I mean while watching this video:

 

Happy Birthday, Don Young!

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Today we’re celebrating Don Young’s 75th birthday. Don and Karen Young have been endlessly generous in their support of the sanctuary and the Cle Elum Seven. Among many other things, Don and Karen provided the contribution that allowed us to break ground on what is now known as Young’s Hill. Each time the chimpanzees step outside onto their two-acre open air habitat, we feel so thankful to the Youngs for making it happen. See Diana’s blog post from this morning for more on Don and Karen.

Karen sponsored today for the chimps in honor of Don’s birthday, so we threw a lavish party to celebrate. The weather was unseasonably nice today, so first thing this morning we set up parties in the greenhouse and on Young’s Hill. The chimps foraged for coconuts, pineapple, kiwi, beets, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and fruit smoothie in Dixie cups.

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Although the weather was beautiful for January in Cle Elum, it was still a little cool for Negra, so she chose to stay in the greenhouse:

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But everyone else went outside and foraged for breakfast on Young’s Hill:

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Burrito gathered some Brussels sprouts:

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And Jamie collected some beets:

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The real prizes of the morning were the two whole coconuts. Missy quickly found one of them:

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and looked for a safe place to enjoy it:

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She was soon joined by Jody:

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Jody was very happy to find the second coconut a little later:

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There was plenty of coconut to go around, and everyone eventually got a chance to enjoy some.

Foxie:

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Annie:

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We can’t possibly count the ways in which we’re grateful for Karen and Don’s generosity. The Cle Elum Seven wouldn’t enjoy the life they do without them. Happy birthday, Don!