Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Foxie

Fall in Love with Foxie

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For the Share the Chimp Love fundraising this year, we are seeking new Chimpanzee Pals (and other donations!) for all of the chimpanzees, and we’re producing videos of each of them so you can get to know them better (Foxie’s video is at the end of this post).

Last night, supporter Monica Best joined an elite group of donors by sponsoring all seven chimpanzees! The heart is starting to fill!

heart filling

Foxie’s video was a really fun montage to put together! Foxie currently has 35 Pals. Will you be her next Chimpanzee Pal?

Learn more about Sharing the Chimp Love.

Remembering a friend

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Nicki Walters in memory of her husband, Bill Walters. Nicki and Bill have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we’re honored to celebrate Bill and the difference he made in life. In fact, we are privileged to celebrate the difference his life made here at the sanctuary every day. Nicki shared this special message about Bill:

“We lost Bill last year in July but not before he got to see in person the amazing Twister & the beloved Chimps playing on it. Missy was first up! It all started by sponsoring a day in honor of his Birthday, that ended up spreading to last more days. He loved animals and life and is very missed but knowing a tribute that benefits the magnificent 7 named after him with his nickname truly provides peace and happiness to all who loved him. This is a tradition that will continue on. He loved what all of you do, thank you for helping to give him so many bright spots on the dark days with your incredible posts and to all who made the Twister possible.”

Nicki, thank you so much for choosing to honor and celebrate Bill’s memory with the chimpanzees. All of us here at CSNW hold you and your loved ones in our thoughts and hearts.

I believe most of us have the desire to somehow say we were here, to mark our time and to know that our life made a difference – that we left the world a better place for having been here. The possibilities are as far-reaching and unique as each one of us. And I think all of us will leave having made differences we will never be aware of. But for seven chimpanzee people who live on a hillside outside a small town in eastern Washington, Bill and his loved ones made a difference which will continue to ripple throughout all their days forward.

The chimps’  first inspection of the Twister:

Missy, first to the top!

Bill and Nicki watch the unveiling:

Annie and Missy playing chase underneath:

Jamie keeping watch over her home from under her beloved crow’s nest:

Foxie and Dora on an adventure:

Burrito’s courage:

Jody:

Missy (top) and Annie (below):

Annie and Missy top of Twister

The Twister quickly became an important part of Jamie’s daily routine territory checks. Weather permitting, it’s the first place she heads each morning and the place she ends her day…or in many cases, her evening:

Jamie on Twister dusk

Chimpanzee shenanigans

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Today the chimps started out arguing and fighting and ripping and hooting, a little more than usual. But whatever family business they had to work out seems to have been resolved and they’ve spent the afternoon lounging about and engaging in a variety of goofy and endearing shenanigans.

Jamie has a routine of building a nest in one of the front rooms and napping/supervising the humans as we clean the playroom. Even while at rest, she usually has a project or a plan in progress…

and today she chose this:

Jamie is very creative and often likes to repurpose her enrichment:

(Happy Jamie flailing about):

Viola! From sock to ankle bandana:

Later in the afternoon, Foxie joined Jamie nesting in the playroom. Here is a good example of different nesting styles – Foxie doesn’t like to use blankets, whereas Jamie gets pretty creative:

With these two, it isn’t long before wrestling ensues:

And here it is folks, the ever-elusive Jamie play face!!:

Foxie is the one person who can really get Jamie to cut loose. But Jamie takes everything pretty seriously (she is the boss after all) so even when she is in full play mode, we don’t often catch a play face. So we need that in a closeup:

Foxie laughing as Jamie play bites her hand:

And last, but certainly not least, I leave you with this guy:

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Happy Birthday, Doreen!!

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Today we are celebrating the birthday of a dear friend of the primates at CSNW, Doreen Hughes! This fabulous day of sanctuary and celebration was sponsored by her twin sister, Donna, (who is obviously celebrating her own birthday as well!). Donna shared this special message for Doreen:

“Happy Birthday Doreen, the Best Sister Ever! I know how happy you will be to know that your birthday gift has helped Foxie and her friends!!! Your love, devotion and support to all animals speaks for itself! I know what a great year 2017 will be for you, we are so hopeful to meet Foxie and her friends – ape and human – in 2017! Eye on the prize, Doreen! xo xo Donna”

Doreen and Donna, HaPpY BiRtHdAy to you both from all of the primates here at CSNW!! May your day be bursting with love, laughter, and all that makes your heart do Foxie-style backflips, pirouettes and spins! We could not be happier to celebrate with you. We’re so happy you are in the world!

Don, thank you so much for sponsoring this special day as a gift for the chimps and for all you both do to make the lives of so many others better.

From your pal, Foxie, a tribute to twins:

The Elusive Jody Chimpanzee

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Out of all of the chimpanzees here at the sanctuary, Jody is the most elusive (especially when it comes to us taking photos of her). So, when the opportunity presents itself, we try to take it.

This morning, she payed special attention to Foxie’s brow ridge during grooming.

Jody on the left, Foxie on the right.

Afterwards, she “cuddled” with a blanket and took a short nap.

Here she is, this afternoon, taking a peak out the raceway door (the area leading from the Greenhouse to the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure) before making a few trips outside to gather snowy treats.

Get to know more about Jody here.

In memory of Mandy Newton

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Friend of the chimps, Peggy Burke, sponsored this special day of sanctuary in memory of her granddaughter, Mandy. Peggy shared this message about her beautiful gift:

“My granddaughter, Mandy Newton would have celebrated her birthday on the 19th but she passed on due to a car accident in 2000 at the young age of 20. This year I want to remember her by honoring the Cle Elum Seven. She loved all living things and would have shared my love of the chimps.”

Peggy, thank you so much for honoring Mandy and the chimpanzees. Mandy sounds like such a lovely soul and we are so sorry for your and your family’s loss. Your gift is such a beautiful way to pay tribute to Mandy and to ensure her life continues to make a difference in the world.

It’s an amazing privilege that we get to have here with Sponsor a Days. It’s because of the chimpanzees, but also because of the incredible humans who are drawn to them. We get to share in the lives of so many people, to celebrate with them, to honor and remember the people, fellow animals, and events that hold meaning in their hearts, and sometimes, just to stand with them in difficult times, to witness their grief, their heartache. And ultimately through it all, to witness love.

Foxie and some of her loves: