Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

It’s a hootin’ good time!

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Tonight’s the night! It’s our annual gala and auction, HOOT! While staff, volunteers and many of our fabulous supporters are in Seattle gearing up for an evening of merriment and celebration, the chimpanzees, meanwhile, have been having a hootin’ good time in Cle Elum.

Our dear friend (and former staff), Keri, arrived with fresh rhubarb, chives and lilacs from her garden which added to the amazing Hoot! party extravaganza. Also on the chimps’ party menu were strawberries, purple cabbage, sweet potatoes, snap peas, leeks, watermelon, sparkling cider, and one pineapple top!

Jody, among the flowers:

Jody, Annie and Foxie enjoying the treats in Jamie’s kitchenette while she was busy gathering ALL the grab bags for herself. Maybe this is something akin to their version of the Dessert Dash we hold at the gala each year?:

Annie enjoying coconut:

The entire beautiful forage was scattered with lilac flowers and Foxie took it upon herself to “hoover”all of them up. Notice her trademark rubbing her toes together as she does this – the ultimate sign of a happy Foxie:

(Toes!)

Conveniently, the flowers happen to be stuck in coconut water, hence the tongue!

My favorite, with the petals on her lip 🙂

To each of you supporting the chimps in all the varied and generous ways you do, be it supporting HOOT!, attending HOOT!, volunteering your time with us and the chimps, following the chimps’ lives on the blog, sharing their stories with others, sending gifts and donations, well, the list of compassion and generosity is endless really, and from our hearts to yours, we’re so grateful to you! It gives us hope for humankind. It not only ensures the chimpanzees continue to thrive in their lives here, and thrive they do, but gives us all hope for the chimpanzees still awaiting their time in sanctuary, something all of you are helping to make possible through celebrating with us tonight, be it near or from afar.

We couldn’t have come this far for the chimps without you. And just imagine what we can accomplish together for so many others. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our chimp family!

The wild wildflowers

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May is our most stunning time of year here at the sanctuary. Spring suddenly explodes in a kaleidoscope of birdsong, wildflowers and neon green grass. It only lasts a few short weeks before the sun bakes everything brown, but all of the primates relish every single glorious day.

Every morning while the chimpanzees are having breakfast the lead caregiver for the day walks the perimeter of Young’s Hill (sans Jamie) to ensure that the outdoor habitat is secure to give the chimps access to. It always feels strange to be out there without the boss lady, but it’s one of the most peaceful and beautiful times of the day, watching the sanctuary wake up:

As the sun rises over the hill these redstem stork’s bills cover the sanctuary in fields of pink. By afternoon they pull their tiny shades to the hot sun and you’d never even know they were there.

Our friendly neighborhood elk, Ellie (aka Buttons, locally) doing her best to stick to all the shady spots:

Foxie and her Doras took a leisurely stroll by themselves this morning, weaving in and out of the tall, spring grass:

We have three tiny American Goldfinch couples singing their hearts out all the live long day this year. They are so vivid they look like flying dandelions when they take flight from the grass.

For as far as the eye can see the hillsides are covered in balsamroot:

Birthday lady, Jody, promptly made a nest in front of the barn doors where the cool breeze wafts through the chimp house. She seems pretty pleased with how 43 looks so far:

The bleeding heart blooming outside the frontrooms is filling the chimp house with the most beautiful scent right now. In the upper 80’s, it’s by far the warmest day we’ve had this year and the chimps are sprawled in every direction, dozing in the afternoon breeze, only the sounds of swallows zipping and zooming and chittering. It’s a good day.

Jody’s 43rd Birthday Celebration!

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Today is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Jody’s birthday! We had double to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate than to have a Green House and Young’s Hill forage, we even set out a whole coconut (I bet you can guess who ended up with it)! We love celebrating Mother’s Day, why not tell the strong women who helped shape who you are how much you love them! We do have a few mothers at our sanctuary including Jody. Jody is kind, nurturing, and always making sure that everyone is safe. For Jody’s birthday we set out lilacs because she loves to go on the Hill and find things like thistles, spruce trees, etc. Well, it turns out Missy LOVES lilacs and got most of them! Jody did get one of her favorites, which is the top of a pineapple (she was pleased)!

Missy eating all the lilacs:

Neggie had a nice relaxing day. She foraged on the Hill in the morning all by herself, attended the party, and napped for most of the day (it was pretty exhausting):

Power pose, Negra actually jump with all her might to get the enrichment, it was very exciting to watch:

Annie gathered some lilacs and then ventured out to the Hill to forage:

Burrito stayed pretty close to the birthday girls side, but found some opportunities to enjoy a drink and go on the Hill:

Foxie actually found the coconut and tried ever so quietly to sneak away:

Foxie eventually ditched the coconut and came back for it later in the afternoon, however Jamie heard Foxie trying to crack it open on the new structure and Jamie food peered her way into getting the coconut…

But Foxie did get to enjoy herself at the party:

Jamie enjoyed some cold drinks and some snacks as well:

Later when it was very warm Jamie and I took a few walks, when she got hot she would just hide in the shade:

Jody spent a lot of her day laying around, enjoying good company, and eating some of her favorite things. That sounds like a great 43rd birthday to me!

The birthday girl, Jody:

 

Cheers Jody! Happy 43rd Birthday (Missy is holding the drink):

 

Practice Makes Perfect

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Jamie had a lot to do today. J.B was doing some work around the Chimp House so of course Jamie needed to monitor his work, but Jamie also had to get her perimeter walks in, as well as practice her tight rope walking.

Jamie started the day with making sure J.B. was doing his job (he was, as always):

Than Jamie and I surveyed the Hill (it was clear):

Once the Hill was secure, Jamie hit the logs to warm up her balance:

After Jamie was warmed up she decided to get straight to business:

Wow! She really nailed round 1, but this was practice so she had to go again:

Her technique was impeccable, so she tried again:

Wow, Jamie was flawless by round 3! Practice really does make perfect! But, with her busy schedule Jamie decided she needed to get back to work. This morning was nice and warm, so it wasn’t just Jamie out and about. Everyone made an appearance on the Hill at one point in the day, even Neggie came out to forage for some grass, or at least before the rain came.

Missy exploring on the Hill:

Annie lounging around:

Foxie was hanging out on the Hill too:

Foxie and Jody spent some time outside together:

But, Burrito was never too far behind Jody:

Negra made a nice nest and took advantage of the peace and quiet while everyone explored the Hill:

 

 

Business to attend to

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Jamie has kept us busy with perimeter patrols all day today. So as not to displease the boss by slacking on my true duties as a caregiver, here are just a few photos from this morning.

Foxie swapped her red headed “Kate” doll for a lost and found Dora doll mid-way through her morning hill exploration.

How Foxie started her walk:

How she ended it:

Lovely Negra:

Time to get back to work!

Happy Birthday, Gabi!

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I often think of the chimps’ wondrous hearts and their lives here in sanctuary as this amazing ever-widening spiral that reaches out to include the love and care of more and more people, more and more beauty. What a gift to see the chimps’ grow and flourish with each new friend who discovers them, as well as the difference they make in the lives of everyone who cares for them.

One of Foxie’s newest Pals, Gabi Ford, graciously sponsored a day of sanctuary (okay, yesterday if I’m honest, oops!! :/) for her birthday so she could share her joy with the chimps!

Gabi, we’re so delighted you discovered the chimpanzees and have so much love in your heart for them. They are lucky to have you as part of their chimp family! Thank you so much for sharing your special day with them! All of us here at CSNW hope your birthday celebration continues to be filled with all that you most love (and some Foxie-style pirouettes). Just as you help to ensure the chimps receive every single day.

Happy Birthday, Gabi!!

 

 

You are getting sleeeeepy

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This time of year, the chimps spend a great deal of their day grooming and napping in the greenhouse. When they aren’t grooming with each other, they spend some quiet time grooming themselves.

Foxie sometimes sticks her tongue out when she’s focused on grooming:

There is a definite aura of relaxation, particularly as the sun gets warmer and the breeze gets gentler. In fact, I’m getting a little drowsy right now, just thinking about it.

Jody:

Luckily we have Burrito on hand to wake us up. With a block in his mouth and mischief in his eyes, he is always up for a good game of chase!