Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

Quality Time

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The past couple mornings we have found Mave’s group spending a lot of quality time with one another before breakfast. For chimps, especially Terry’s group, it’s important to strengthen bonds. A great way to make a friendship stronger is by grooming. Recently, this group has been having their ups and downs like most chimp groups do, but when we have a few calm mornings or afternoons, watching them play or groom feels very nice to see. It is crazy to think that it has been almost a year since this group was officially put together. What they have accomplished as a group is truly something to celebrate!

There is more social work to be done in the next years to come for them, but let’s give them a round of applause for what they have accomplished so far!

Here are some bonus photos of Foxie’s group!

Foxie with one of her dolls:

Annie in the raceway:

Jamie in the portrait studio:

I love Jamie’s side-eye:

Two is Better than One!

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Today was absolutely beautiful! The sun was out, the chimps were enjoying their warm greenhouses, and the seven had another lunch Hill forage! I know I always talk about little moments in the chimp house: the moments that just kind of make your heart melt and remind you how grateful you are that these chimps are in sanctuary. Today was full of those little moments.

1. Negra was the first chimp out of the raceway for the lunch forage! She was going everywhere trying to find the potatoes and chow. It was very nice to watch.

2. Annie, as you may know, has already been spotted with her sweatbands! Today, she was either wearing them or carrying them in her pelvic pocket (a hot pink and green one).

3. Lucky was also spotted wearing a green sweatband (not pictured).

4. Foxie gave me her doll through the raceway so that we could go take a quiet walk around a little bit of Young’s Hill.

5. One of our interns gave us a pair of her Doc Martins that Jamie had been eyeing for awhile. We gave Jamie those boots today and she seemed elated to have them <3!

6. Cy’s group were out in the greenhouses for most of the day, all grooming each other.

Bonus photos!

Negra on the Hill foraging:

Missy foraging:

Jody:

Foxie:

Burrito in the warm green house:

I hope you enjoy these little moments and Annie’s video :)!

Ladies Who Groom

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It’s Wednesday and for many of us, we are busy with work, life, and all the in between. Personally, watching Dora and Honey B quietly groom and spend time with each other felt like some type of meditation. If you need a little zen or quiet time, this is the blog for you!

Sleepy Dora:

Bonus photo of Foxie this morning:

All Quiet on the Northwestern Front

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The battle between Winter and Spring has seemingly begun. With Spring right around the corner, the weather has been bouncing around cold, gloomy, and snowy, and sunny and warm (like today). When caregivers arrived in the morning, it was a brisk 25º, but an hour or so later is was nearing 40º. With the winter paneling still up on all the greenhouses, the sun and the rising temperature helped create a nice, warm atmosphere where the chimpanzees spent much of their day relaxing. This all made for a nice and quiet day.

Negra spent the morning portion of the day covered in blankets. Later on she was seen relaxing without the blankets.

Lucky was seen lounging about in several different spots in her greenhouses.

Gordo enjoyed his entire lunch service in the greenhouses.

Willy B looking for any leftovers someone may have left behind.

Honey B calculating her next move after lunch.

Rayne especially was seemed relaxed all day!

She even took a quick nap on one of the leaf benches on the artificial tree structure in the Marmot Mountain Playroom.

Even Barn Kitty thought today was the day to take it easy!

Here’s to hoping Spring breaks through this winter spell and brings warmer weather soon!

Bonus photo of Foxie waiting for dinner to be brought out!

Man! I Feel like a Woman!

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Today is International Women’s Day! I feel so blessed to work in such a female dominated field, it is truly empowering. Not only is our field dominated by women, but so is our chimp house, sorry Chad and JB :).

In the wild, males are usually the most dominate, however in captivity you can find females leading a group or allowing a male to think he the one in control, when really the female(s) are really calling the shots ;).  Let’s meet the real individuals that run the show in this chimp house!

Obviously, Jamie rules this Sanctuary:

Negra, our true queen:

Jody, our forager:

The adventurer Missy:

Foxie, the prankster:

The ever so kind Annie:

Mora, besties for life:

Miss popular Mave:

The friend to everyone, Dora (but mostly Mave):

Rayne, the calming presence:

Lucky, the sweetest of sweet:

Honey B, the master of mischief:

The care staff ladies aren’t so bad either!

Ten Ways to Charm our Boss!

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The other day we were sharing tips on how to get on Jamie’s good side. Jamie can be a tough nut to crack sometimes, because of this, building a friendship with Jamie has been a true pleasure of mine.

Top 10 tips to help you make friends with Jamie:

1. Quality time- Jamie appreciates when you make time for her or show that you find her to be a priority.
2. Wear a good part of Jamie approved boots- Xtratufs, cowboy boots, Doc Martens, or something new she hasn’t seen yet!
3. Always be willing to find the item she is requesting- She always has something in particular she is looking for like a book, boot, person to wear said boot.
4. Go on as many walks with her as per her request- especially with the gator and her favorite book.
5. Don’t forget to drop everything if she wants you to play with her- remember she has a silly side.
6. Give her all of the pears and all of the leeks!
7. Make sure to sit and groom with her when she asks.
8. All of the food puzzles are hers ;).
9. Make sure she has an endless supply of snow or drinks from the hose when cleaning.
10. Before you leave for the night make sure she has her favorite boot and book.

Of course there are so many more ways to please Jamie, but these are just a few that seem to bring her happiness.

Jamie with her intense gaze:

And a portrait series of Jamie:

Bonus photos of Foxie!

If you would like to help the chimps, we always need items off our Amazon Wish List!

Between Love and War: Valentine’s Day 2023

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Valentine’s is a day meant to be spent with loved ones and show affection to them. But as you know, sometimes you can fight with loved ones. J.B. actually just wrote a magnificent blog about conflict and resolution the other. Well today both Jamie and Cy’s groups spent a good chunk of the morning what I will call “bickering.” There wasn’t too much physical contact between everyone, just a lot of screaming. But, also as J.B. mentioned, they were quick to reconcile. What they were all bickering about? It would be hard to say, though I am going scapegoat the six inches of snow and colder weather that came in overnight.

Regardless, everything calmed down once they all realized something special was in store for them today: lots of strawberries, blood oranges, grape tomatoes, radishes, and sparkling blush cider with raspberries and mint leaves! Once their bellies were full of delicious treats, bygones were bygones and everybody had a restful afternoon.

Here are some photos from today:

Missy enjoying her plate of tomatoes and strawberries

And her daughter, Honey B, enjoying the same thing on the other side of the sanctuary!

The devilishly handsome Willy B

Gordo lovingly admiring his radishes

And Dora. Oh so sweet little Dora resting after the parties

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!