It’s a gray, rainy day in Cle Elum but Foxie and Jamie are keeping themselves entertained inside. (Make sure your volume is up for some great breathy chimp laughter starting around 0:40.)
Foxie
The Chimps and Young’s Hill
When I think of the chimp that spends the most time in the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure, I think of Jamie. On any given day, she’s busy walking, watching, inspecting, patrolling and sometimes even just taking in the views, all from Young’s Hill. And when the weather is right, she stays out late until the last bit of sunlight fades into darkness. So, it seems appropriate that I associate her with Young’s Hill.
Here’s a picture taken of Jamie last week on her solo trip around the hill.
But, as I walked out to meet Jamie for her first perimeter walk around Young’s Hill this morning (I, safely on the outside of the electric fences and her on the inside) almost all of the other chimps were already on the hill. Annie, Foxie and Burrito were already climbing to the top of Jamie’s Lookout at the uppermost part of the hill. Missy was busy running around and Jody was on the lookout for plants to forage.
When I saw the other chimps already on the hill this morning, it really dawned on me how much each of the chimpanzees at CSNW have changed throughout the past eight years. Each and every one of the chimps is growing more confident and adventurous as they choose to spend more and more time exploring their open air, outdoor enclosure.
And now, when I think about Young’s Hill, I think about Negra staying out late to forage on the wild plants on top of Young’s Hill. I think about Burrito climbing to the top of the highest structures and Annie and Foxie spending more and more time exploring on their own. I think of Missy’s acrobatic moves off of any and everything she can find and Jody’s never-ending search for wild plants to forage upon. Of course, I’ll continue to think about Jamie and her perimeter patrols, but I’m so glad to think of Young’s Hill and every one of the chimps now.
Annie on top of Jamie’s Lookout.
Foxie joined Annie on top of the tower.
And so did Burrito.
After looking around, the chimps started making their way back down the structure and back toward the building.
Once the girls made their way down the ladder, Burrito quickly followed.
Missy was a blur most of the time she was on the hill this morning, but I was able to catch her as she sat for a minute (more like a couple of seconds) on top of one of the structures.
Jody grabbed a bite from the spruce tree that JB planted on the hill (it was used as a Christmas tree a few years ago.)
Foliage with Foxie and a friend
Each day this month, Autumn seems to get just a bit more vivid at the sanctuary. This morning dawned with a new icy snap in the air and thick frost on caregivers’ car windshields. After the chimpanzees ate breakfast, the inviting sun took the edge off the chilly air and Young’s Hill became a warm golden playground.
Foxie carried her “Kate” doll with her this morning as she explored. Kate’s red hair fits right in with the views of the fall foliage.
The celebration for Vicki continues!
Today was also generously sponsored by Jim Horton in honor of his mother, Vicki Fagerlee, for her birthday! We are so touched by Vicki’s family who have come together throughout the day to celebrate Vicki and the chimpanzees who mean so much to her!
Jim, thank you so much for honoring your mother in such a thoughtful way! What an amazing gift to be able to make a difference in the lives of these seven special individuals as you all celebrate someone who is so special to you.
Happy Birthday, Vicki, from all of the primates at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW!! Thank you so much for sharing your heart with the chimpanzees and including them in your special day! We are so grateful to you and your family for ensuring that for all their days forward, the chimps’ lives will be full of love, family and home.
And since you share a birthday month with the boss lady, Jamie, I thought we should recall all the pumpkin joy this month brings. If the chimps could send you a birthday wish, they might say with any luck you have your own head stuck inside a yummy pumpkin right now! 😉 But we humans just hope you have something like a nice cake or anything made of chocolate that brings you equal happiness. 🙂
Jamie:
Jody testing out Jamie’s past birthday pumpkin:
Negra and Jody:
Negra:
Annie:
Jody and Missy:
Foxie:
Burrito. Of course.
Happy Birthday, Vicki!
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Mary Horton and family in honor of their mother, Vicki Fagerlee, for her birthday! Vicki is such a wonderful friend to the chimpanzees and we’re thrilled to celebrate her birthday here today! Mary shared this message about this gift in honor of her mom: “There is nothing she would like better for a birthday gift than to help out the chimps.”
Mary and family, thank you so much for your generous and compassionate gift for the chimpanzees and Vicki! It’s easy for us to say perhaps, but when you look into the beautiful eyes of these seven amazing chimpanzee people it’s clear that the gift of sanctuary means everything to them. And as such, it does to us as well.
Vicki, we are so happy to have had the opportunity to meet you recently and are thrilled to have you as part of our chimp family! From our hearts, thank you for embracing the chimps, welcoming them into your life and making their lives better at every opportunity. All of the primates here wish you the happiest birthday yet! We hope your day is filled with all the love, comfort and joy you provide the chimps with, and I suspect so many others as well.
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jody:
Jamie:
Negra:
Annie:
Missy:
What We Do For Love
If you want to be a chimpanzee caregiver, it’s best to leave your pride at the door. We find ourselves doing all kinds of ridiculous things to entertain the chimps. Foxie thinks it’s hilarious to pass us one of her dolls and watch us dance.
In memory of Carlene
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Joseph Garza in memory of his wife, Carlene Olsen-Garza. Joseph, Carlene and their family have become a huge part of our chimpanzee family. They do so much to ensure that the chimpanzees live out their days filled with love, comfort, joy, adventure and as much freedom as they can possibly experience. We are graced to be able to think of Carlene and her beautiful heart and spirit every day here at the sanctuary, especially when we see the chimpanzees enjoying their home from atop “Carlene’s Tower.” Joseph shared this beautiful message about Carlene:
“Carlene was a steadfast follower of CSNW right up until she lost her battle with cancer on this date in 2014. She was a great admirer of the work that the Sanctuary did and read with great interest anything to do with her three favorites: Jamie, Burrito and Foxie. She was always eager to share the goings-on of these three as well as the others at the end of our day. To see the sparkle in her eyes and the joy in her voice while speaking of her “friends” was infectious. Today we honor her memory by doing what we can to help the Sanctuary continue its work and achieve its future goals.”
Joseph, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to you and your family for continuing to honor Carlene’s memory through her love of the chimps. We are honored and so happy to call you all part of our chimp family. It’s an incredibly inspiring and lovely thing to witness how one special being such as Carlene continues to make such a difference in the lives of so many, both human and non. Our thoughts and hearts are with you all today as you celebrate Carlene’s life. We know you are missing her more than words could ever express. We are wishing you comfort in her memory and each other and hope this fills your days with the hope, love, home and sanctuary that you continue to provide for Annie, Missy, Burrito, Negra, Jody, Jamie and Foxie.
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie:
