Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

Up Close and Personal

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I had a whole blog post in my head (How to be Cool like Jamie), but today was the rare occasion that Mave, yes Mave, decided to let take some photos of her this morning. Many of you might know that Mave often does not want her picture taken or can be hard to capture in the moment. However, this morning as I was taking a few quick photos of Willy B, Mave sat down and stared at the camera phone. I asked her if I could take a few, normally I get a finger poke towards the camera and I take that as a no. But Mave just looked into the camera and let me take some close up shots. The rest of the day had the same theme. Jamie wanted her pictures taken or tolerated the camera being around. I wasn’t able to get everyone, really it was just Honey B, Willy B, Mave, and Jamie, but the ones I got are pretty good. The chimps were all in extremely playful moods today too. It was hard to choose a blog topic because I was even able to film some great play sessions! But I will save that for another blog! For today please enjoy some up close and personal photos.

This is what Mave’s pokey fingers look like.

Willy B was checking himself out in the mirror of the camera.



Honey B giving a “sup” look.

Honey B’s eyes are so mesmerizing.

Miss Mave.

Missy did not feel like participating, so she said goodbye and swung away.

I snapped a quick one of Foxie before she stuffed a doll through the mesh to play! Foxie’s eyes could make your heart melt.

The one and only Jamie.

Favorite Foods

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We all have preferences for food. Our likes and dislikes. The chimps are no different. I can’t tell you how many times Foxie has poked away something green and looked offended that I would even offer kale. Or how many times Honey B has politely given back pieces of food she does not want. I thought you might all want to know what foods the chimps think are the most delicious and the worst! Let’s start with what collectively everyone loves; cabbage and lettuce! So simple and plain, but the chimp house will erupt in excitement when they see a head of lettuce or slices of cabbage.

Now, let’s get into personal preferences. 🙂

Negra, as we all might know is all about chow and peanuts. Negra is a carbs girl so of course for our special holidays she gets the most excited for dinner rolls, well, maybe besides Burrito. They might be in a tie for that one.

Jamie will never say no to any type of pear. She really loves onions in any form, green onions, leeks, raw onion, baked onions! Jamie loves them all.

Missy might be the easiest to guess. She eats, sleeps, and breathes tomatoes. Missy also really like lettuce, sweet potatoes, and ice! For her birthday, we do tomato parties!

Foxie can be a bit picky. Do not give her green foods! Foxie mostly lives for smoothies and fruits! She also likes sweet potatoes (especially baked), tomatoes, and ohhhh she loves avocados! Foxie for her birthday gets watermelon bowls, which are one of her favorites.

Jody is a forager. She loves going on the Hill and finding prickly lettuce, dandelions, cattails, flowers, and whatever else she can find. Jody really likes bananas and carrots. There are many amazing things about Jody, but the best is when she is really content or happy Jody makes the dinosaur groan of satisfaction. That is how we know she is really enjoying something good.

Annie is easy to please. She really likes everything, except for mangoes. She is allergic to mangoes! Annie loves grass, flowers, green onion, and kale.

Burrito LOVES food! Obviously, his favorite is pasta, but he only gets it on special occasions! Burrito is also pretty easy to please. He really like all potatoes, regular or sweet!

*** Willy B, Mave, and Honey B are hesitant to try new foods. Often, they just stare at you when you try to serve them something new and delicious, like you are trying to poison them. For example, for Negra’s brunch we served waffles to everyone. The three just stared at us like we were crazy for offering! Eventually they tried the waffles and enjoyed them. ***

Willy B loves cabbage. He also really likes carrots and sweet potatoes. Willy thinks cucumbers are disgusting. He does not like tea or any other beverage that might look like a suspicious drink. However, Willy B is a fun individual to watch eat. For example, when Willy B eats a carrot or cabbage he eats it like Bugs Bunny!

Mave is a California girl! She loves a really good avocado and fresh pineapple! Mave was hesitant about baked goods, but now she loves baked onions, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes! Mave is always the first one up for breakfast, it might be her favorite meal. Mave will only eat a cucumber if there is nothing else, it is her last choice.

Honey B LOVES lettuce and smoothies! She also likes carrots, popcorn, and brussel sprouts. Something you all should know about Honey B, if you don’t already is that she is the world’s slowest eater! Honey B also rarely eats a cucumber.

When Honey B is eating, she likes to stare deeply into your eyes. We joke that her actually food is our souls. If looks deep enough she will steal it :). I believe this photo embodies that.

Mave eating is pure bliss.

Mave’s facial expression feels almost looks like a taunt. Like, you hungry? Or, you want some of this?

I managed to get an action shot of Willy B eating his cabbage like Bugs Bunny!

Don’t forget to check up on our Wish List! Thanksgiving may be tomorrow, but Christmas is just around the corner and we are slowly adding items on their list!

Do Not Disturb!

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The chimpanzees had their proverbial “Do Not Disturb” signs hung on every door today. And given that it was cold, foggy and pouring rain all day, who wouldn’t rather stay in their cozy nest all day?

Me: “Good morning, everyone! Would you like to come to the greenhouse for breakfast while we clean your home?”

All seven chimpanzees: “No, thank you!!” With additional commentary from Missy: “No way! FORGET it! I’m staying right where I am.”

Me: “Okay, we’ll check back with you later!”

Over on the other side:

Me: Good morning, Mave, Willy B and Honey B! Would you like have breakfast in the mezzanine while we clean your home?

Mave, Willy B, and Honey B: “Absolutely not! Do NOT even THINK about moving those doors!” Every time Willy B even SAW me he ran outside to the chute!

Me: “Okay, we’ll be back later.”

This commentary pretty much repeated itself throughout the day.

Every year about this time of changing weather and slightly changing routines, we go through a rough and tumble period. Literally. In response to the humans’ attempts to shift the chimpanzees out of each area so we can enter to clean, they are more inclined to follow their own routines. And with the changes often comes a bout of the chimpanzees exhibiting more tension with one another and getting into squabbles, some big, most small, all very loud and dramatic. Given the current state of the world, I suspect most of you could relate to having more time indoors, maybe with the same people you’re always stuck with, someone trying to change this or that and well, you can see where tensions might flare.

Of course, we humans are always happy to default to the chimpanzees’ wishes, after all, it’s their home and their comfort is always the priority. It’s also one of the many important ways the chimps can makes choices about how they want their day to go. And it probably serves as some kind of enrichment for the caregivers, helps to keep the ol’ neuroplasticity flexible and firing as we have to figure out these puzzles the chimpanzees occasionally provide for us. And personally, there’s an odd sense of satisfaction when you’re able to follow their lead and somehow manage to successfully complete everything you need to. But it’s funny to listen to us. It’s easy to get sucked into flailing about, thinking, “What on earth are the chimps doing?! How will we get everything we need to done?!” “What are we going to do??!” When in reality, it happens every year and is actually entirely normal. We just conveniently forget from year to year. So looks like it’s a good thing for us to shake up that gray matter.

While the humans waited patiently for room service requests, Foxie felt that though it was not a good time for cleaning, it was a great time for playing.

Foxie! I mean, honestly, look at her beautiful self!!:

Getting ready to launch herself at the photographer because she’s super sassy and it’s super fun (notice the toes rubbing together – Foxie speak for feeling very happy and content):

Foxie loves to pass us her dolls then lie on her back and flail around. She makes these adorable snorting noises and gets pretty excited when you make them back:

I could never express to you how much I cherish this joyful soul of a chimpanzee woman:

Meanwhile, on the other side, beautiful, beloved Honey B was busy preparing to make a huge fort nest and allowed me ONE photo before she needed to get started:

Potty Talk!

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I thought I would answer one of the questions from Diana’s blog post, “Inviting your Questions“. Also, if you have a burning question you have been wanting to ask, post it in Diana’s blog comments and one of us caregivers may make a blog and answer it!

So, let’s have an uncomfortable conversation. The question that everyone wants to know, but may feel too awkward asking. Poop, everybody does it. But, where do the chimps do it? I will be addressing this topic because it’s a fair question and one we get asked a lot. We do our best to not have poop in the videos or pictures, but the truth is it’s there.

In the wild chimps will use the bathroom and then keep traveling. Chimps in captivity unfortunately do not have that luxury of leaving it behind them. The chimps mostly poop or pee off of ledges. We see that chimps in the wild poop out of their nests in trees too. This could be why captive chimps are often using ledges. Kind of cool! Some chimps have specific spots, most others do not. There are some enclosures where they do tend to pick spots to go use the restroom. For example, the chimps often use the bathroom in the corner of the Greenhouse off the platform. It seems to be a good spot, out of the way where individuals won’t step in it. Though that might not be the pattern for everyone. In the playroom, they often go off the loft, or a barrel, or the cement steps near the drain. In the front rooms, they may use the restroom off the platform, a cement step near the drain, or again a piece of enrichment like a chair. In phase one, it seems the 3 also prefer to use a ledge. However, Willy B will pee anywhere… We clean each enclosure every day and spot clean at night. Sometimes after we are done cleaning and invite the chimps back into their space they use the bathroom right away and that is their choice. It is their home. Which is why we will spot clean before we leave for the night, because we want them to have a clean house, no one likes stepping in poop, so we do our best, but regardless there are 10 chimps and they have to use the bathroom.

Have you ever heard of fear poop? I don’t think it is a real term, but we use it. From time to time the chimps may have an altercation. When fights happen the bowel movement may let go, so to speak. Often after a fight it is a bit messy. In these cases, poop or pee could be anywhere.

Now one question you might also be wondering. Do chimps toot? Does it smell? The answer to both is yes. They have a diet of fruits, veggies, and nuts so I would say of course farts are going to smell, but not always. Just like us humans. For the chimps, there is no stigma for flatulence. They don’t laugh at each other or think it is gross, because well everyone does it! Even us, don’t lie :). Missy often lets one go when running! I mean do you see how fast she runs, there is no way anyone could hold one in going that speed!

Okay, here is a fun fact! Their pee does smell after they eat asparagus!

See that wasn’t so bad, right? Now I have some photos. We would never post photos of them using the restroom, because, well that is rude. Wouldn’t it be horrifying if someone took a photo of you and posted it. But, I have some photos to show as examples of the ledges they may use.

 

Ahh, yes, that is a nice ledge. It’s a little out of the way where no one is walking!

This photo is in the playroom. Look at all those options!

This platform is great for sleeping and also going to the bathroom over the ledge!

Another fun fact! Front room 4 is known as the portrait room because it has such great lighting. However, front room 4 is also know to be the potty room from time to time. It could be because this is a get ledge to do it!

These are the cement steps I am referring to. It’s the perfect place to stop and take a quick number 1 or 2!

The front rooms in phase 1 also have great platforms for pooping.

The mezzanine can kind of be a free for all. There are ledges and so many chairs to choose from.

See, Missy runs the toots right out of her.

Let’s not forget Young’s Hill. Because it is such a large outdoor enclosure, it is hard to find all the poop. For this area, we let nature do its thing.

Now, let’s stop thinking about poop and just look at some chimps. 🙂

Negra in a pile of blankets.

Mave looking into her own reflection.

Willy B grabbing his favorite blanket while trying to listen in on the neighbors.

Willy B being groomed by Mave.

Don’t worry, it is just a scab on Mave’s head that someone just freshly groomed.

Burrito climbing the Twister!

Jamie waiting for Burrito at the bottom.

Foxie.

Foxie exploring the Hill with her dolls. Construction is really coming along!

Honey B <3

Okay, one more of Burrito!

 

Wild like the wind

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After a brief spell of steady rain showers the past couple of days the wind arrived whipping like a wild thing, clearing the way for sunshine and blue skies and the chimpanzees seem to follow suit. Everyone was so joyful this morning! Maybe they were relieved to know it isn’t quite winter yet. Jamie was extra zoom-like, fully pilo with her hair standing on end and racing out onto Young’s Hill in every direction for no apparent reason other than she felt too joyous to contain it. Each of the chimps was racing, leaping and laughing throughout the morning. There isn’t a lot that makes me happier than seeing such unabashed and unapologetic joy in their hearts.

Foxie and I got to spend some quality time together recently, just quietly enjoying one another’s company in between occasional bursts of pirouettes, chase, doll toss and headstands (that last one I was just doing in my head, but my heart was in it. 😉 ).

A tiny little ball of Foxie. If you’re new to the blog, don’t let Foxie’s diminutive size fool you. She is a fierce little woman and has a no problem donning her sassy pants when she takes a mind to and like most chimpanzees, can go from zero to 100 in the blink, or blur, of an eye:

By day’s end, even Negra’s wilder side made an appearance as she stomped around the playroom, hair on end, commanding quite a presence. This is usually Negra’s way to say enough is enough in the hopes of getting everyone to calm down. But most of the day she spent swaddled in the most beautiful pink aura:

And don’t forget! Tomorrow is the big day! Giving Day for Apes! It’s an incredible way to help so many amazing sanctuaries around the world who will be participating to raise funds for the rescue and care of the primates we’ve all committed to providing life-time care and well-being for. And you can help Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest reach our goal of raising $40,000 for the direct care of Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Honey B, Jamie, Jody, Mave, Missy, Negra and Willy B as well as our continued expansion to bring more chimpanzees home. Whether you’re able to participate through donation or sharing the event with others, from our hearts, thank you for all YOU make possible for these amazing chimpanzee people and those to come.

And as an exciting bonus, anyone who donates $500 or more on our Giving Day for Apes page at any time will be invited to Jamieween (!!), Jamie’s 43rd birthday celebration on October 31st via Zoom! And ALL donors of ANY amount who give during the hour of 10-11 AM PST (1-2 PM EST) will be entered to win a spot for this special visit.

Rainy Day Play and Birthdays

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This blog was not quite what I had planned today. In my head, I thought I would talk about our infamous blanket shredder(s). As a person who tries to keep up on inventory in the chimp house, I’ve found that we can’t seem to catch up on blankets. So, if you have ever desired to purchase blankets for the chimps there are plenty on our wish list!

Then the blog was going to be all about Meredith, because it’s her birthday today! Happy birthday Meredith! To celebrate, caregiver Chad brought the cattle some willow tree branches and cob to go with their hay. But, Meredith and friends had other plans. The cattle just wanted hay, which they made very clear when they bombarded the gator! So, because Meredith only wanted to celebrate her day with hay and her three closest friends. I was able to capture some very silly chimps on a pretty rainy day.

In the video you will watch Jamie hanging upside down like a bat stomping around upside down and making one caregiver very out of breath (that would be me). Minutes before the seven were about to go back into their freshly clean playroom, Negra, Burrito, Jody, Foxie, and even Jamie joined in to play slap, bite, tickle, & toe grab! Now, it may look like they where playing rough with Negra. But I will warn you Negra created that term! Please enjoy the bloopers were Jody attempts to stab me with a tube and Foxie tries to poke the camera :).

Happy Birthday to the beautiful Meredith!

In memory of Doreen Hughes

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Donna Hughes is sponsoring today in memory of her beloved twin sister, Doreen Hughes. Donna and Doreen have been, and will always remain, dear friends to the chimpanzees and humans of the sanctuary and we’re honored to get to hold them both in our thoughts and our hearts today. Donna shared this beautiful message for Doreen:

“It was on this date, 41 years ago, that we moved to NYC. Although you have been with me in spirit only for the last two years, not a moment goes by that you are not thought of, Doreen. Our every adventure in NYC for so many decades will always be burnt into my memory. Although the Big Apple, like much of the country, is closed down right now, Central Park is not, and I spend a lot of time in there. Walking for hours, watching the birds, the turtles, all of the flowers. All the things you loved to do. We always did a big event (or two!) on this day, and this year, I will go to Central Park and have a picnic. Don’t worry, you’ll be right there. A special shout out to Foxie, our girl! I am so happy that you got to visit the Sanctuary a few years ago. It was such a meaningful day. Happy NYC Anniversary!!! xo Donna”

Donna, thank you so much, for allowing us to share in this day of memory and celebration of, and with, you both! We miss Doreen so much and are so grateful for the time you both got to spend here with us all. May your special celebration in amazing Central Park today be nothing short of magical. We are thinking of you both and holding you in our hearts. Happy NYC Anniversary to you both!! Seems like that calls for some Foxie-style pirouettes!

A wonderful memory. Donna (left) and Doreen (right), and Missy, Foxie and Negra (background left to right):

Your Pal, Foxie!