Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

The Chimps Take Manhattan!

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As most of us have mentioned this week, providing the chimpanzees (especially Jamie!) with an enriching and stimulating environment can be challenging. Thanks to Donna and Doreen’s sponsorship of today, we decided to use the theme of the “Big Apple.” It’s always fun to see how each of the chimpanzees choose to engage with new enrichment. Debbie and volunteer Deb spent a lot of time constructing a cardboard box version of the New York City skyline and we even made a Dora of Liberty statue on “Ellis Island” (aka the turtle wading pool). After scattering dried apples still warm from the dehydrator (courtesy of volunteer, Patty) about like confetti for the chimps’ forage in Times Square, the scene was set. Mind you, it’s sometimes difficult to say whether the chimpanzees or the humans are more enriched by these endeavors.

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Foxie “hearts” NY:

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Jody and Annie checking out the Dora of Liberty statue:

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As you can imagine, the chimps not only took Manhattan, but quickly toppled it. Here’s Jamie inspecting the ruins:

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And Jody found “Ellis Island” to be the perfect nesting spot (after getting that pesky Dora of Liberty out of the way):

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Donna and Doreen, thanks again for sponsoring the day in honor of Foxie’s birthday month and your anniversary in the Big Apple!

And tomorrow is the last day to vote for your favorite chimpanzee artist! Get your votes in now and help make a real difference for the winning chimpanzee and their sanctuary family and home!

 

Thank you, Donna and Doreen!

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Today was sponsored by Donna and Doreen Hughes in celebration of two of their greatest loves, Foxie Chimpanzee and the Big Apple! (Well, maybe three loves if we include troll dolls!) Donna and Doreen feel (rightly so) that Foxie, being Foxie, should celebrate her birthday and her troll doll lovin’ self all month long! Today is also the anniversary of Donna and Doreen’s move to New York City which they celebrate every year because of how much they love living there.

Donna and Doreen are two fabulous ladies who have been long time supporters of the sanctuary and all Great Apes. As much as they adore the “Big Apple” they feel it is important to have nature in our lives and to care for all the amazing beings we co-exist with here on planet Earth. Thanks for keeping Foxie’s party going, Donna and Doreen, and Happy Anniversary! It’s so kind of you to include Foxie and her family in your special day.

Here are Foxie and Dora hanging out on Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest’s version of a skyscraper.

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And Foxie and her troll taking a stroll in her own “Central Park.”

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Happy Birthday, Lindsay!

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Today was sponsored in honor of Lindsay Zager by her parents who shared the following sentiments:

“This is in honor of our beautiful daughter, Lindsay’s, birthday! Lindsay’s passion for chimpanzees has motivated and inspired many to learn and know and LOVE the world of these amazing primates. We thank you and love you sweet girl! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Thank you so much to the Zager family for caring about the chimpanzees and including them in your special day. Have a wonderful day, Lindsay!

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Foxie on her 37th birthday

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10 am: Party in the greenhouse, featuring frozen banana in troll heads

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10:45 am: Explore Young’s Hill

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11:30 am: Build a nest in the playroom

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12 pm: Lounge in the greenhouse with favorite dolls…

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…and pal Jamie

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1 pm: Lunch: cucumbers, snap peas, celery, and lemons

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2:30 pm: Afternoon quiet time

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Thanks again to Foxie’s friend Tracy Headley for sponsoring today, and to everyone sending happy wishes to the birthday girl. Foxie’s feeling the love.

Chimpanzee teeth

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Apes (humans included) all have the same dentition pattern, which is a fancy way of saying we have the same number of teeth, and in the same order, across the board. We also have baby teeth, or “milk teeth,” that we loose when the adult teeth come in.

One difference between our dentition is that though non-human apes have canines in the same place as humans, their canines are much larger than ours. What we know about diet probably doesn’t explain why they would have almost carnivore-sized canines. All apes eat mostly fruit, leaves, and other plant items as well as the occasional small mammal meat in the case of chimps. Still, even that small amount of meat wouldn’t be the reason for why non-human apes have such large canines.

What other purpose can teeth serve if not to chew up food? Threat. Certainly large canines are quite intimidating, and can serve as a warning to enemies to stay back, or else you could get bit and boy—it’ll hurt!

In these photos you’ll see the large canines I’m referring to—the chimps are only yawning, but you can see just how intimidating their teeth can be. Just another reason why chimpanzees do not make good pets!

Foxie:

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Negra:

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Burrito:

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Jamie:

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In gratitude

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As the Office Manager and a Caregiver for CSNW, I have the wonderful opportunity to not only work with all of you, our amazing supporters, but to see the direct results of all of your contributions toward caring for the chimpanzees. Each and every one of you play a part in this. Whether it is through donations, volunteering your time, sending troll dolls, cowgirl boots, and a myriad of other enrichment items, following the blog, “liking” us on Facebook, participating in our events and campaigns, sharing your love for the chimpanzees and helping to educate others, or just sending us good thoughts, it all counts, it all makes a difference. You add to the collective consciousness of how special the chimpanzees are and what issues both captive and free-living chimps are facing. You are helping to create hope for their future. And you renew my faith in the human spirit every day.

Because of each of you, the chimps are able to have good friends…

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good food…

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and choices.

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Thank you for enabling us to do the work that we do and most importantly for providing the chimpanzees with a home full of the joys, comforts, and love they so deserve. We couldn’t do it without all of you. On behalf of all of the primates here at CSNW, thank you and please know how much each of you are appreciated!