Foxie

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2019 by Kelsi

It was a crazy Christmas in the chimp house! We had two huge parties, one in the Mezzanine and one in the Playroom. Don’t worry, we had a party for Burrito too. Their parties were filled with cider, stuffed squash, green beans, and new toys. Honey B LOVED her new broom, Foxie was so excited for her new dolls, and Jamie could not wait to make a nest with her new boots and books! This was Honey B, Mave, and Willy B’s first Christmas at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. And I have to say I think they approved!

We have so many amazing donors and supporters. Thank you so much for helping make these 10 amazing chimpanzee’s Christmas feel so special. Happy Holidays everyone!

Jody:

Foxie:

Honey B:

Happy Christmas Eve Eve

December 23, 2019 by Katelyn

Beautiful Ms. Foxie, working the camera. I have to say, Foxie is pulling off the one-eared look quite well, somehow looking more adorable than ever. But then she is Foxie. She can’t help it, she was just born that way.

As I write this, Burrito is having his first double play date with Foxie and Jamie and not only that, but they are in the greenhouse in the midst of a slow motion game of chase, Burrito laughing and breathy panting his heart out! We are trying to capture photos with the beautiful new camera lens we received (thank you!!!).

The human-side of the chimp house is also a hub of exciting activity right now as we act as the chimps’ elves unpacking all of the amazing gifts that keep arriving for Christmas, thanks to you. It’s a flurry of opening boxes, rifling through paper and the hammering together by Chad of one tiny, pink car that we can just picture Honey B zooming around in.

**As a side note, if you’ve sent gifts via our Amazon Wishlist (or otherwise) you’ll be receiving acknowledgment of your wonderful gifts as soon as this particular staff catches up on that end of things. We don’t always receive supporter information with Amazon gifts so feel free to reach out if you’re wondering and thank you in advance for your kindness (and patience!).

And for all the folks holding fundraisers and donating through Facebook, thank you! Facebook does not share contact information with us unless donors choose to do so, so if you need a receipt please feel to free to reach out to us or the fundraiser coordinator so we can get you one. It’s so important to us to acknowledge each of you and the generous contributions you make to the chimpanzees’ lives so in the meantime, please know how very much we appreciate your generous, heartfelt support in whichever form it is so graciously shared.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone! No matter how, or if, you celebrate, may the magic you bring to the chimpanzees’ lives be cast over your own lives as well.

Snowy Wonderland

December 19, 2019 by Chad de Bree

As promised, here is a more thorough post to introduce myself to all of you amazing followers of the sanctuary.

I have been with the sanctuary for a couple years now as an intern and volunteer. You may have seen me from such classics as: “You’re Doing It Wrong,” “Chad Grooms Jamie,” and the ever so classic, “Fun Police (Stop What You’re Doing And Pay Attention To Me).” If you couldn’t tell, there is a certain individual who runs my life here at the sanctuary. Even at times, doing chores at home I have that strange feeling Jamie is watching me and going to tell me I missed a spot.

My interest in chimpanzees began a few years ago as an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, where I helped analyze data coming in from Gombe of the Kasakela community (the group made famous by Dr. Jane Goodall). I continued my research at Central Washington University as a graduate student studying chimpanzee gestural communication of other wild chimpanzee communities. Through the certificate program CWU offers, I took the courses on captive primate care taught by J.B., and so began my time at the sanctuary as an intern.

To say I was excited when I was asked to help out as a staff member here is an understatement. I don’t think there is any word or combination of words to describe the exact feelings of excitement and (yes) nervousness I have in being given the opportunity to help provide the best life possible for the Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Honey B, Jamie, Jody, Mave, Missy, Negra, and Willy B, as well as Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg, in a new capacity. I will do the best I can to keep you all informed about the daily happenings at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest during my time as a staff member.

For those of you who commented on my test blog yesterday, thank you all for such a warm welcome! And to answer some of the questions, yes! Anna will return!

Now… On to today’s happening around the sanctuary!

We are preparing for some pretty significant snowfall here in Central Washington. In fact, as I write this, snow has already begun to fall. We attempted to give Willy B, Honey B, and Mave access to the snowfall, but they decided it was not in their plans for the day. Honey B just looked at us like we were crazy for even thinking they would ever go in the snow.

On the other side of the Chimp House, we set up two separate play dates for Burrito. First we allowed Foxie to spend some time with him.

Then Jody.

Overall, it was a pretty quiet day here. The chimpanzees are about to be served dinner and settle in for the night. Until next time, stay warm, friends!

In honor of Carole Galuska

December 17, 2019 by Katelyn

Janice Clayton sponsored this day of sanctuary in honor of her dear friend, Carole Galuska. Today also happens to be Janice’s birthday! She shared this lovely message about her gift:

“I would like to dedicate today to Carole Galuska, who would go to the ends of the earth for a friend.”

Janice, thank you so much for celebrating friendship in such an inspiring way. And on your own special day! Happiest of birthdays to you from all of us here!

Carole, we hope you enjoy this beautiful day! We’re so grateful for your and Janice’s long-time friendship with the chimpanzees and truly appreciate the lasting difference you’ve both made in their lives.

Beautiful Jody, the most wonderful friend to her chimp family:

Foxie, Jody and Jamie:

Foxie’s the best medicine

December 16, 2019 by Katelyn

As you may have seen on the blog over the past couple of days, we’ve begun 1:1 “playdates” between Burrito and the girls. Burrito feels that he is absolutely ready to be out of his recovery rooms and back with the six girls. I absolutely do not blame him. He’s had a long, tough road and he’s handled it better than anyone could ask of him. His foot, however, says otherwise and we want to make sure the stubborn infection hanging on is resolved before he returns to the group. He’s oh so close. Other than that Burrito is more fully Burrito with each passing day and to say that is a profound and joyful relief is an understatement.

Burrito and Foxie are really close friends and they haven’t been together in a long time with the exception of meetings at the mesh. I’d hoped that Foxie would be interested in joining him for a visit today. She was, but Foxie is also leery of unfamiliar things and routines so she opted not to come in at first. Jamie though, ran right in, naturally. But after awhile Jamie decided she had more pressing business to attend to (Willy B was in the chute outside the playroom and all the girls were screaming like they’d seen a rock star). I figured that was it for visits for the day, but much to my surprise and delight, Foxie ran in to replace her!

When I opened the door separating her and Burrito, well, OH. MY. HEART! They both screamed, Burrito held his arms out and Foxie ran right into them. They were inseparable! Hugging, hanging onto one another, grooming, softly “hooing” to one another, holding hands. Two old friends together again. Foxie’s the best medicine.

A note on that hand. Yes, I imagine it looks pretty bad from where you’re sitting, but trust me, it looks absolutely fantastic compared to what it was and is healing beautifully so don’t let it alarm you.

And a couple of bonus Annie photos! We’ve had a particularly wintry season so far with a fair amount of snow and lots of freezing fog. But today was sunny, bright blue and coooollldd! But that didn’t stop the girls from ripping and running and climbing all over Young’s Hill. Checking tire swings for ice treats, eating snow and I suspect, just feeling the pure relief of sunshine. Annie is often the one we find braving the coldest of temperatures at the very top of a structure, just taking it all in in solitude. And today was no different.

And double bonus! I was scurrying in and out of Phase 1 where Mave, Honey B and Willy B reside trying to figure something out with the heating and had to rudely keep turning the lights on as they’d gone to bed for the night. I happened to glance over on my way out and saw Mave in her amazing nest!

Goodnight, folks. May you all be as warm, safe, and cozy this cold wintry night as beloved Mave.

Happy Birthday, Linda!

December 15, 2019 by Katelyn

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Linda Crawford! Linda shared this lovely message about her generous gift:

“Today’s my birthday, and nothing would bring me greater joy than to have the chimps partying with me! But since they’re so far away, and sponsored parties aren’t an option any longer, I’ll sponsor a day, and hope that there is either pineapple or coconut involved, and to see the Tiny One busting open the troll dolls I sent! Something to make their Sunday a little special, the way they, and you, all make most of our days special by sharing a glimpse of your work and their lives in sanctuary!”

Linda, thank you so much for your heartfelt care for each of the chimpanzees and the unique individuals they are. We so appreciate you thinking of them today, your compassion and your gracious contributions toward their well-being and happiness. All of us here wish you the happiest of birthdays yet! May your big heart come back to you tenfold as you celebrate your special day, and all days. Happy Birthday!

Tiny, but fierce. Beloved Foxie:

Wow!

December 4, 2019 by Kelsi

I just have to say WOW! On top of an amazing Giving Tuesday, you all also out did yourselves by buying all the blankets within an hour or two of posting the blog. We are so fortunate for such amazing supporters! I know some of you are wondering if you can send blankets, but for now I think we are all set! Check out our Amazon Wishlist for other things that need donated! Keep a close eye for our Christmas requests. And again thank you! I had created a fun video of the chimps playing, but our internet is being sooo slow today. Stay tuned for the video tomorrow! In the meantime, please enjoy the collection of photos!

Burrito: