Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
We try to use this blog to share meaningful stories about the Cle Elum Seven — what they went through during their time in laboratories or how they’re experiencing sanctuary — or to talk about some interesting aspect of chimpanzee behavior. But sometimes I’m just so astounded that we get to look at these faces every day that I have to share.
Here’s Foxie enjoying the last good bits of a pomegranate peel from this morning’s breakfast.
Foxie rarely ventures onto Young’s Hill (or anywhere, for that matter), without a doll or two. The other day she took a troll and a Dora the Explorer doll on a walk around the hill. Having a doll in each hand slowed her down a little, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Foxie has a ritual when she receives a new doll or one she particularly likes. First, she holds it out in front of her and gazes at it adoringly.
Then she brings it in close to her chest.
In this photo you can see the bright green grass that has grown in toward the top of the hill since the Taylor Bridge wildfire burned through the grounds of the sanctuary a few months ago.
Earlier, Burrito was sitting at the door to Young’s Hill and appeared to be thinking about going out there but couldn’t seem to make up his mind. He and I started playing a little game of chase and tickle, but after a little while he walked into the greenhouse and sat next to Foxie. Foxie was laying on her back holding a string of troll dolls above her head. She waved them around a little bit and started playfully spinning on her back. Burrito was still quietly sitting beside her, pretending not to notice. Burrito is very shy and sometimes seems to not want you to know that he wants to hang out when I think he really does. Occasionally, he’ll approach someone (caregivers usually) and seemingly pretend to be doing something else like foraging for food, when in reality, I think he just wants to get a little closer so you will initiate a game of tickle or chase. Foxie must have been completely aware of what Burrito was doing, because she all of the sudden popped up and started poking and tickling Burrito. Pretty soon, they were wrestling and laughing uncontrollably.
Burrito is on the right, Foxie is on the left, poking Burrito’s side
He tried to steal Foxie’s string of troll dolls
but that didn’t last long
Look close at this next photo- Burrito is pinching Foxie’s ear.
I guess yesterday’s Jamie-ween party was just so exhausting, Foxie couldn’t help but take a big yawn. Here she is holding the Dora doll donated by Bailey as mentioned in yesterday’s blog.
It is no accident that the boss’s birthday is our biggest party of the year! Jamie’s (honorary) 35th birthday party has been pretty epic! In addition to caregivers being decked out in goofy Halloween get-ups, we had tons of mini pumpkins, pomegranates (a favorite), pinatas, several new pairs of boots from friends (1 from Linda Gere, 1 from Dick and Robbi Brown, and 1 from Tamela Burgess), and a giant pumpkin carved by the super artistic volunteer Stephanie.
It may have been the boss’s day, but that doesn’t mean she’s the only one that gets presents! Foxie’s new friend Bailey Ford sent her a brand new Dora the Explorer doll, which she wrapped in a cute box covered in stickers. Jamie opened it first:
but everyone knew it was for Foxie! She quickly took her Dora out to the hill for some exploring:
Stephanie is amazing at finding pinatas and decorations, and given that it’s her (and my) favorite holiday, Jamie-ween is always over the top!
Annie with the skull pinata:
and Jamie’s birthday decor would not be complete without a boot pinata!
Juice seems to be an all-time favorite party treat around here. Burrito was a squeaking machine!
Jamie with one of her new pairs of boots
For some reason Missy didn’t end up in a lot of our photos, but we did manage to get this one close up of her munching on a pomegranate.
We put out several mini pumpkins on Young’s Hill. They were filled with a mixture of pears and blackberries. Negra was the first to rush out the door when I opened it this morning. She was so excited about the mini pumpkins!
She would grab as many as she could in her hands and mouth and carry them inside to enjoy in the greenhouse. But as soon as she was done, she was back out for more! This went on all morning long (even hours later). She may not spend a lot of time on the hill, but I think it’s safe to say that she is feeling more and more comfortable, especially with the right kind of motivator!
Jody enjoyed them too
Once their palates were set on pumpkins, there was no stopping Jody and Negra from diving into the big one! Jody munched on it for a while but once Negra was finished collecting mini pumpkins from the hill, she happily took over.
The large pumpkin has been passed around to everyone today, though. Burrito had his head in it earlier and then shared a little with Annie. I think we all know who is going to be sleeping good tonight!
Thanks so much to Robbi, Dick, Tamela, Linda, Bailey, Wanda and Stephanie for making today such an awesome celebration! Here’s to the boss!
Today marks five years since Washoe, the first nonhuman to use a human language, passed away in Ellensburg (just 25 minutes from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest where the Cle Elum Seven live). Like Negra, Annie, and possibly Jody, Washoe was captured from Africa. She was supposed to be used in the space program, but when that didn’t work out, she was instead the center of a language project. Now we know that captivity is never a good place for chimpanzees. When Washoe became too strong to handle, she had to live in a cage for the rest of her years. Sadly, that is the fate of any captive chimpanzee—those living as pets or used in entertainment will eventually have to be imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit because they simply are not meant to live in a human world. Biomedical chimpanzees are already in cages, some no bigger than a coat closet.
I first started working with Washoe and her family in 2005 as a college student. She taught me humility and to take everyone on their own terms, and she blurred the line between animals and humans. The way I see the world and my place in it has definitely changed forever—it was because of her that I realized how amazing these beings are and became a chimpanzee advocate. I met the Cle Elum Seven shortly after they came to CSNW in 2008, and was moved at how resilient and forgiving they were after everything they’ve been through. Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy, and Negra have been an inspiration. They have been through so much, yet they still find time to laugh and play. They can finally walk outside with sun overhead and grass under their feet—something we definitely take for granted. I can’t imagine living my entire life inside bars and I am so proud of the Cle Elum Seven for how brave they have become in the last four years. I know it is our duty to give them and all other captive chimps a good life. We took them from their natural and rightful environment from the forests of Africa, stuck them in cages, bred them, and exploited them for a cheap laugh or invasive research, all without regard to how they are just like you or me. They are beings who deserve to be taken on their terms, treated as equals—not forced to perform on TV or be injected with viruses because of humans believing they are superior.
Let’s speak up for captive chimps. Let’s release them from biomedical research. Let’s get companies and productions to stop using chimpanzees in their advertisements or movies. Since we can never return them to Africa, let’s at least give them a better life in a sanctuary where they can be taken on their terms, treated not as lesser beings but where their needs are of the utmost importance.
Help 100 chimpanzees get to a sanctuary by signing this petition—we need 1,250 more signatures to reach our goal of 5000! Write a letter to this TV show that teaches kids it’s OK to have a pet chimp. And don’t forget to join our Take Action: Eyes on Apes list to stay up-to-date on issues and action alerts!
While Jamie was collecting material for a nest in the greenhouse after lunch this afternoon, she found a troll doll and tucked it behind her ear for safe keeping.
As soon as Jamie settled down, Foxie approached her for some grooming (or so I thought).
It soon became clear, though, that Foxie’s true intention was to sweet talk Jamie out of the troll doll.
Even though she certainly didn’t have to (the boss of the group has certain rights and privileges), Jamie eventually relinquished the troll to Foxie, making her very happy.
If you love Jamie like we do, consider making a donation in her honor. This Halloween is her 35th birthday!
