The sky is blue and all the leaves are, well, on the ground, but the sun is warmish and the wind is certainly not freezing today. In fact, if I didn’t know better I might be convinced that the worst that winter had to offer was on it’s way out and Spring was just around the corner! Sadly, I realize that this is not the case but that’s not going to ruin such a delightfully warm day in the middle of this otherwise frozen wasteland for me. And while it’s just a little too blustery for the chimpanzees’ taste I can tell that the spirit of Spring is affecting them as well since everyone (including the boss) is full of fun and play today!
Foxie
Friendship
Missy and Annie may get all the attention, but there’s another friendship amongst the Cle Elum Seven that’s just as important.
As you may know, Burrito could use a little help navigating the politics of chimpanzee society. Consider his life before to coming to the sanctuary: He was born in a lab, raised as a pet, forced to perform in a circus, and then locked away for twenty years for use in hepatitis research. Can you imagine living the majority of your first 25 years on earth either alone or with a different species? Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to suddenly be thrust into a group of your own kind, only to realize that they are playing by a rule book that no one ever bothered to show you?
Thankfully, Burrito has found a good friend in Foxie. In quiet times, she’s a playful companion. When the going gets tough, she reassures him and plays peacemaker with the rest of the group. And when he is scared, she comforts him.
Burrito has all the instincts of a tough guy, but none of experience to back it up. Lucky for him he has a 97-pound girl and her troll dolls on his side.
#GivingTuesday – this is what it’s all about
Hopefully you are subscribed to our e-news (if not, subscribe here), which means that you received the Giving Tuesday message today with the Foxie Inspires Us video in your inbox early this morning.
The video is below, along with some more great photos of Foxie. We would really appreciate your help in spreading Foxie’s story by sharing the video via Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest pages on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Linked In, and by emailing it to your friends. Foxie appreciates your love!
More Foxie photos:
Not Funny
It’s days like today, when it’s pouring down rain relentlessly upon our heads, that being a chimpanzee caregiver can become even more challenging than it already is. Just imagine trying to keep otherwise generally active chimpanzees entertained when the weather isn’t cooperating!
As you can see here, the weather definitely didn’t feel like cooperating today. This is what Young’s Hill looks like this afternoon:
While many of the chimpanzees have taken advantage of the weather to engage in some indoor shenanigans others, like Jamie, are not having any of it. Here you can see Foxie & Negra playing while Jamie looks on:
Some days weather is just too much to overcome. I think, perhaps, Jamie’s having one of those days.
Thanksgiving
Negra:
Annie:
Jamie (with Foxie in the background):
Jody:
Burrito:
We have so much to be thankful for today: volunteers Patti, Denice, Sandra, and Joel, who spent their holiday caring for the chimpanzees; supporters like Robert Maurer who sponsored today for the chimps; and all of you out there who love the Cle Elum Seven as much as we do. Happy Thanksgiving!
Green Toys!
And our thankfulness continues! If you saw the blog yesterday, you’ll know that the chimpanzees received many wonderful new gifts from some of our amazing supporters! Well, today the chimpanzees also received new toys from Green Toys! In addition to the ongoing challenge we (and Enrichment Coordinator, Debbie) have of finding things that are new and interesting for the chimpanzees’ active minds (particularly Jamie’s!), as you can imagine, the life as an item of chimpanzee enrichment is not an easy one. So after receiving a variety of Green Toys from our amazing supporters via our Wishlist, we were pretty excited to learn that they are chimp-tested and caregiver-approved! Green Toys are not only environmentally friendly but can take a licking from the chimps and remain relatively unscathed.
Here is Jamie checking out a new dump truck:
Jamie giving the “bite test” to a submarine as Foxie (who is still loving her new French Dora doll from yesterday!) comes to check things out:
And Jamie checking out a new airplane (and I am pretty sure thinking she could fly one):
Missy enjoying some orange “tea” in the tea set:
Missy:
Foxie:
Thank you so much Green Toys for the chimpanzees’ gifts! And also for making great toys which just happen to be great chimpanzee enrichment!
Quiet Contemplation
Every day in sanctuary is a gift of life, a freedom, a privilege of choice that otherwise wouldn’t have been available to these chimpanzees. One of my greatest joys as a caregiver is, in fact, the moment I am not needed. Although I love to interact with the chimpanzees whenever we have the opportunity and am willing to don a boot and travel around Young’s Hill at Jamie’s inclination, I also appreciate the self-contained moments when my company is superfluous. I love knowing that these chimpanzees are so comfortable in their home, so secure in their sanctuary, that they can enjoy raucous company or quiet contemplation as they wish.
Jody next to the stairs in the playroom:
Foxie sitting in the door to the greenhouse:
Missy in silhouette on the catwalk in the playroom:
Burrito on the wooden platform in the greenhouse:
