Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

gifts

Video of Gordo’s 37th Birthday Celebration & Happy Birthday Betsy Cow

by

Ellen posted photos of the Christmas in July celebration for Gordo yesterday, and I had the privilege of putting together the video today of clips that Ellen and others captured while preparing for and during the grand celebration.

I think I know mine, but what’s your favorite moment in the video? 

Today happens to be Betsy‘s 18th birthday! The cows celebrated with some homemade applesauce, and it was reported that they loved every last tongue-full of it!

Betsy is a wonderful sentry and protector of her little herd, and was such a great mom to her son Nutmeg, who passed away at the sanctuary last year.

She is also the friendliest cow with us humans.

There’s so much I love and admire about Betsy’s personality. I hope we get to share many more years with her and with Gordo at the sanctuary.

Christmas 2023

by

Our thanks, as always, to the dedicated volunteers who give up their own Christmas mornings to provide one for the chimps and to the staff that gladly work for an organization that never takes a holiday.

And Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful supporters! May you sleep soundly tonight atop your own mountain of gifts 🙂

The Wonder of the Season

by

For Burrito, the wonder of Christmas includes Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest’s traditional hanging (and therefore spinning) Christmas tree. Just see the earnest look on his face in the photo below:

Burrito chimpanzee gazing at tree

Not surprisingly, the reason he is so enamored with this tradition is because it involves food. Today we stuffed the tree with mini-bananas and coconut covered dates. Jamie monopolized the tree in the beginning.

Jamie spinning tree

Jamie spinning tree

Jamie spinning tree

Missy, being Missy, tried a more daring approach

Missy stand xmas tree hanging

Foxie looked on from above

Foxie looking down at xmas tree from catwalk

Once Burrito thought it was okay with Jamie to approach, he joined her in the tree worshiping

Burrito looking into tree

Burrito gazing at tree

and spinning

Burrito spinning tree

Burrito and Jamie look at tree

Jamie and Burrito spinning tree

Later, someone decided to pull the tree up onto the catwalk, which provided some browsing – the chimpanzees like to eat the pine needles too, making the whole tree a treat!

Negra sit by tree

and it served as a nesting companion for Negra too

Negra lay by tree

 

Twas the Day Before…

by

The chimpanzees are currently busy snacking on a giant tub full of snow in the greenhouse.

Burrito:

Burrito reaching for snow

Burrito eating snow

Foxie:

Foxie eating snow

Foxie eating snow

 

Meanwhile, volunteer caregivers Denice and Seana are busy preparing today’s lunch plus cooking up a storm for the feast tomorrow and wrapping presents delivered by the Ellensburg Santa.

volunteers denice and seana preparing

Tomorrow is going to be a great party at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest! Thank you again for all who have contributed to the chimps’ happiness this week and for the last four and a half years!