Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Gordo

New Chimps New Routine

by

New chimps also means a new routine. We are definitely trying to work out some kinks. Shifting can be hard when chimps don’t want to leave a room. Sometimes it means the humans clean until later in the day or if the chimps decide not to leave we can’t clean. Eventually, Dora’s group and Mave’s group will get into a new routine of shifting, but that probably won’t be this week ;). Today was no different, but we did get to clean Playroom 3, which feels like a win. So you might hear us say it was a busy day or today was crazy. What it really means is us humans are a little tired, but we got most of their areas clean. Also, have we mentioned how great our sixteen chimps are! I still can’t believe there are sixteen chimpanzees that get to call this place home! I couldn’t get photos of everyone today, but I was fortunate to get a few and have some kind caregivers share some of their photos with me.

Annie this morning looking over at the neighbors. I mean you have to keep an eye on the new guys, right?

This photo I captured last week and just wanted to share because it’s Burrito! How lucky are we to have this guy in our lives.

Little Miss Foxie exploring through the tall grass.

The ever so mischievous Honey B!

Jody also had to go spy on the neighbors this morning.

While cleaning Playroom 3 we found a grooming train! The Green House has so much vertical space, it really is amazing. In this photo you can see Gordo grooming Lucky and Lucky grooming Terry. Dora has a nice little nest on the other platform and if you look below, Rayne foraging for cherry tomatoes.

Look at this Mave!

After Rayne was done foraging in the Green House, she came up to say hi.

I can not get over how handsome Willy B is. No wonder Dora gets excited to see him.

Afternoon Photos

by

Today was the first day The Lucky Six were out of quarantine! They have been in quarantine since they have arrived and during that time we took turns working with them each day. So it was nice to be able to pop over from time to time today and say hi! You will notice a lot of my photos are of them, as I was taking advantage of this. Sometimes it’s hard to get photos in the first half of the day since we are busy cleaning. This afternoon I spent some time walking around between the three different groups to see what photos I could get. Not only did I get some photos this afternoon, but a relaxing grooming session with Jamie and a play session with Dora!

Sweet Dora drinking from the extra tub of water we set up in their enclosure.

Gordo relaxing in one of their Playrooms.

Rayne was all about finding good resting spots today.

Lucky watching me from above.

Cy flipping through one of his magazines.

Cy taking a little break from looking at his magazines.

Jamie waiting to have a grooming session with my boots.

Foxie and her doll resting in the Greenhouse.

Honey B with her makeshift table and chair.

Jamie’s Day

by

Let’s be honest, everyday is Jamie’s day. But today, Jamie had no problem stopping us from whatever we were doing to help her. Don’t tell Jamie, but we love doing this. It’s the best when Jamie gestures for something in particular and you know exactly what she wants. It’s a great feeling to be able to give her exactly what she had in mind. For example, when she gestures for a specific boot or book. She will nod her head for the one she wants and then once you hand it to her she makes the low groan of excitement. That is the best. So all day felt like Jamie’s day because she had a belly full of raspberries, walks around Young’s Hill, naps, groomed with friends, and most importantly Jamie got to tell us exactly what she wanted all day.

Jamie is her amazing nest. Jamie was modifying blankets to help weave her blankets through the caging, there were book pages included in her nest, and a cardboard box. Not to mention she has a boot close to her while she reads a magazine. I think tucked under her chin is a boot page from one of her many boot books.

I can’t take credit for this photo because Chad took it yesterday, but it needs to be shared. Jamie deep asleep on a boot.

So on Friday Gordo seemed to be coming out of his shell a little bit. I thought this also needed to be shared. Gordo in a BOX!

We have some more birthdays coming up soon so keep check up on our wish list! Also, check out our new Wildlife ToyBox wish list too!

Happenings of the Day

by

When I was opening up the chimp house this morning I found Negra still resting in the Greenhouse. She knows how to make a comfy looking nest!

Annie exploring Young’s Hill in the morning.

Missy close behind Annie.

Jody watching the others on the hill.

After her walk around Young’s Hill Missy was eating breakfast with style.

Foxie cooling off in the front rooms.

After lunch Missy went around and picked up all of the leftover cucumber pieces.

I was attempting to get get some photos in the afternoon and Burrito just wanted to play. So I stopped taking photos to get a little workout in.

It is very hard to catch this guy being still! He was resting after many play sessions with Chad. It didn’t last for long! By the time I was uploading this photo he was ready to play again.

 

Honey B was making such a good nest of blankets, troll dolls, her scooter, and some scarves that I was trying to get a photo of it. I got the Honey B stare instead 🙂

I worked with The Lucky Six a couple of times last week and here are some of the photos I was able to get. I am really enjoying getting to see their personalities more as the continue to open up with us! I didn’t work with them today, but as I was performing safety checks Terry was in my line of vision from a distance ready to play!

Gordo right before a game of chase started.

Dora and her sweet face.

Cy is definitely going to steal some hearts around here!

 

Grabbing Toes

by

We are still in the midst of the heat wave. Thankfully, today is not in the hundreds, still hot, but there is a nice breeze going. With warm weather means lazy play sessions, even Burrito has slowed down just a touch. Today, while Sofia and I were finishing up cleaning the playroom we found Annie laying on the cool floor while Missy’s toes dangled down below. Annie was grabbing Missy’s toes, fingers, and giving her little pokes while Missy sat above her on a barrel. It was a lazy game for Annie and Missy, but it was all they could muster. When these two really play it might start out slow, but eventually it ends with them laughing, wrestling, and running around grabbing toes. As you will see in these photos we are all preserving our energy. Don’t worry though chimps and humans have had lots of fluids and Gatorade not to mention lots of fans and misters going too!

As I drove up the driveway to the chimp house this morning Happy Club popped into my mind. Some of you blog followers are familiar with it, but if you read Diana’s blog a while back. What jogged my memory was seeing 4 or the 6 new chimps watching me pull up the driveway. All of them in the greenhouse enjoying the warm summer breeze. It brought a smile to my face. So, I thought I would share a few happy things over the last week.

  1. Well, first of all I am so happy to have the Lucky 6 home! The fact that they are settling in so well also makes me overjoyed.
  2. Terry and Cy are absolute hams! I am truly smitten.
  3. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being in Rayne’s company. I was cleaning GH3 and she was in GH2. I sat with her for a while. She is very sweet.
  4. Missy dangling her foot in front of Annie as a taunt to play.
  5. Last week Negra requested that J.B., Diana, Anna, and I all dance for her. We immediately did as we were told. It makes me smile because that is what sanctuary is supposed to be, right? Negra tells us what she wants and then we do it :).
  6. Dora. Just seeing Dora makes me happy.

Burrito staying cool in his castle.

Gordo cooling off in his favorite spot.

Rayne popping in to say hi.

Honey B hanging out in her favorite spot, the chute.

Jamie melting into her nest.

This heat hasn’t slowed Terry down!


They’re Here! They’re Here!

by

Today was a wild and crazy day, but they are here. They are home! Words can not describe how excited we are to get to know Cy, Terry, Gordo, Lucky, Rayne, and Dora’s personalities more. For right now they are settling in well. I have to warn you, Cy is going to steal your heart, well Terry too. And maybe Lucky. Oh, Rayne and Gordo! Well, and then there is Dora. She might steal your heart too. We are so exhausted so us humans are going to go home and sleep!  We will share more tomorrow :).

Lucky was the first to go into the playroom. She so brave and after exploring Playroom 3 she ran straight out into Green House 3.

Rayne <3

Terry <3