Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Last week you may have seen photos and video of Burrito and his new favorite toy, the mirror rocker. If you missed it, be sure to check out his reaction on Instagram. Well, never you fear, the “Californians” were pretty interested in their very own rocker. Of course, Honey B had to run the device under her own set of inspection tests.
Thanks go out to Trees for Tigers, for their generous donations and dedication to helping enrich the lives of captive animals everywhere!
Why run when you can scoot? All three of the Californians were keeping their caregivers busy after lunch today with games of chase, but only Honey B managed to play without ever getting off her butt.
This week, construction began on the first of two climbing structures in the new playrooms. These “trees” – made possible with funding from Trees for Tigers – will have nesting platforms, branches, and dozens of fire hose vines attached. Combined with the “monkey bar” ceiling, it will make all of the open space in the middle of the playrooms usable for the chimps. We’ll share more next week as they progress.
Today’s blog has many themes. For starters, it’s Nutmeg’s 6th Birthday! Chad served up some extra grain for all the cattle for his special day, though Betsy was pretty sure it was just her day. Nutmeg is still a big sweet mama’s boy. Happy 6th Birthday Nutmeg, we are so lucky to have you here!
I literally squealed when Chad shared this photo of Nutmeg. I mean, look how dapper he looks and that curl on the top of his head is killing me!
The excitement keeps going! We are looking for artists for a contest! This is such a neat opportunity! The sanctuary is collaborating with the students at CWU, Primate Awareness Network and our local art gallery, Gallery One. One design will be selected and there will be a cash prize too! I almost forgot to mention, the chosen design will be printed on limited edition sway and be sold to benefit the chimps! There will also be a people’s choice award. Check out the Gallery One’s website for more details and peruse our blog if you need inspiration! Or maybe these portraits will awaken your creativity! I am so excited to see what people will create and how they will capture the chimp’s personalities!
Burrito is really enjoying this orange ball right now.
Foxie has the most piercing eyes.
Jamie.
Honey B.
Willy B.
Our wish-list is getting quite full. We have added our day to day items, future items for our new building, and lots of dolls for Foxie! We are trying to get as many of her favorite dolls as possible because they are getting harder to find lately!
I wanted to write a light-hearted blog because, well I think we all need it. But this morning Honey B, Willy B, and Mave had a big fight at breakfast. Don’t worry everyone is fine, but it was an intense one! It was mostly Honey B and Willy B fighting, because Willy B tried to steal her chow. Chow is no joke. Each chimp really looks forward to getting their bags of chow. In general, the three seem to be less physical with each other. They have their occasional fight, but a lot of the time it’s just screaming. This morning, Honey B was not having it. Honey B has always been described as fun and silly, which she is, but I would NOT want to be on her bad side. Honey B can be, let’s go with feisty, but another word could be ruthless. Surprisingly, Honey B tends to avoid any drama that doesn’t have anything to do with her. If Mave and Willy B are worked up she will leave the area, but she also tends to be the person who will strike first if she thinks something is going to happen to her. I won’t lie, I think it works. During the fight, Honey B quite literally beat Willy B with a scooter. Again everyone is fine, but Willy B’s pride might be hurting just a little. Mid-morning we found Willy B grooming Honey B, so I think everything is all good now, but I don’t think he will try taking her chow for quite some time.
On a lighter note, Jamie received a late Christmas present. I am sure many of you are familiar with the Bodies Exhibit. We found the book version and it seemed pretty on brand with Jamie so we put it on the wish list. It finally came today! Jamie was in a very cozy nest upstairs when caregiver Anna went to go give it to her. Instead of coming down right away, Jamie had Anna flip through the pages for her. Later, after lunch Jamie took the book and began skimming it.
This is the page Jamie left her book on.
I think we should get some bonus photos!
Willy B taking a nap.
Yesterday Mave, Willy B, and Honey B watched the chimps from Chimp Haven on Disney+. Mave settled in to watch her soaps.
Jamie was on patrol after hearing the fight this morning. She went straight out onto the Hill to get a better view of the other side.
Burrito <3.
Missy sprinted out onto the Hill and had Burrito and I joined her on a mid-day run! She is seriously so fast! I took a video but I was embarrassed by how heavy I was breathing.
Honey B making a nest with toys this morning.
Watch out for this one, she doesn’t take crap from anyone!
As the year is winding down, I think all of us are ready to say goodbye to 2020 and embark on a more hopeful 2021! To say we all want to kick 2020 to the curb would be an understatement! 2019 at CSNW was such an exciting and scary year. The introduction of the two chimp groups is something we unintentionally do not discuss unless asked. It was, to be honest, a little traumatizing. When 2020 came around we all couldn’t wait to move on. Burrito was on the mend and we were looking forward to the future. But 2020 brought a pandemic. Sadly, due to covid, we couldn’t have our amazing volunteers come to help us. We strapped on our PPE and tried to carry on, but the hardest part I think we’ve all dealt with and are still dealing with as care staff is the stress of protecting the chimps from COVID-19. For me personally, it comes in waves. I know we have to trust in PPE, but it doesn’t make it not scary. We have all made sacrifices and have lost time with our loved ones, but their welfare is so much more important! We all seem to be managing well enough with our new normal and healing from our old wounds from 2019. Then, the rattlesnake incident happened. Burrito, as we have all said a thousand times, is truly an amazing individual! He has never let life get him down. He always survives and only gets stronger, though if you ask me, he can stop having almost near-death experiences at any time. But his spirit is inspiring! He might be what has got me through this year. Burrito has an appetite for life and has also never seemed happier! So not to dwell too much, but our year and some hasn’t been the best. BUT, through all of our adversities, we have SO much to look forward to!
We are looking forward to the future! We are so close to having the new playrooms finished! Six new chimps will come here to call CSNW home, which means there are going to be more social opportunities for Honey B, Mave, and Willy B, even though that sounds a little scary to us too :). Chimp relationships are so much more important. Though we cherish our moments with the chimps, their relationships with each other are far more important. And of course, we have Burrito!
The other thing that got us through 2020 was all of you. Our supporters and donors. When it felt like the world had lost humanity I always looked to the CSNW supporters. And we know the chimps helped you all through these difficult times through the blogs. However, you all helped us through our trying times. Your faith, support, and kindness has helped us get through 2019, 2020, and will help us through 2021 and years to come. Thank you for your support through donations, but also through your loving and kind words. You all will never know how much you kept us going during these trying times.
Okay, that is enough feelings for one day. We all know it’s been a crazy year so let’s all put 2020 behind us and watch some chimps play and look at their portraits below! Cheers to a new year!
Foxie.
Jamie.
Annie play biting Burrito.
Annie.
Neggie.
Although Honey B is relative newcomer to the sanctuary, it’s hard to imagine life without her. Her spontaneity is so fun to watch and her wild spirit is infectious! I think all of us caregivers can agree she makes us do the silliest things we may not have never thought we would do. Honey B’s creativity is the most amazing part about her. You really can never guess what she will do next. Because of her creative mind and her spontaneity options are limitless!
Last week, we decided to give her an early Christmas present. There were so many amazing gifts that would be given out all at once and we didn’t want Honey B to overlook it in all the commotion. However, Honey B of course notices everything! This present was specifically picked out for her. She seems to love scooting around on her scooter and enjoys spinning around on the big mirror in the Mezzanine. So it only made sense that we try out one of the spin wheels! Honey B decided before she would give it a go, she had to make sure the toy was sturdy. I mean, I think we all understand that logic. No one is going to walk out on ice if they think they will fall through or lay on a hammock without feeling steady before you lay down! Honey B also, as you will see, decided it needed a wash and she was right. We had not washed it yet! To know Honey B is truly a wild ride and an honor.
Bonus photos!!!
Negra briefly went out this morning for a snow snack!
Burrito watched everyone go out first before he joined.
Jody eating some snacks.
Missy by Jo’s side.
And Jamie of course!
What a day! We just want to say goodnight from a very busy chimp house. Again, I can’t wait to write up a blog about Jamie I have in my head, but alas it will have to wait another week. I thought I would share a sweet moment with Honey B. Most nights when we close up the chimp house on phase 1 Honey B, Willy B, and Mave will already be nestled into bed. They usually like to go to bed early, whereas I am not sure Jamie even sleeps. But the past few nights as I am about to lock up the 3’s side, Honey B has been up and it almost looks like she was waiting for something. So, I have been offering her a few extra blankets before I turn the lights off. Once she has the blanket she throws it on her back or quickly drapes it behind her and makes a bed, meanwhile pant hooting goodnight.
If today had a theme, besides being busy, it would be the chimps love snow! Though by late February I think we will all be over it. But eating snow never gets old!
Even Willy B is starting to come around to this snow thing.
There was still snow on the ground, but enough had melted for everyone to go explore outside. Even NEGRA! I suspect she was trying to catch a quick glimpse of the neighbors in the chute or see the construction going on.
Burrito stayed back at first to be the look-out but eventually joined everyone out on the Hill.
Burrito or Sasquatch, I guess I will let you all decide.
Missy zipped around the Hill as per usual!
Little Foxie followed Jody, Missy, and Annie out on the Hill, but it got a little too cold for her so she turned around.
After venturing on Young’s Hill everyone agreed with Foxie and spent some time inside.
Negra wrapped herself up in an early Christmas present and did one of her favorite food puzzles, peanut butter magazines. I mean who doesn’t need a colorful unicorn blanket! I do have to make a confession though. This was my intention of putting the unicorn blanket on the wish list. I wanted to see Negra wrapped in a cozy, soft, and colorful unicorn blanket. There was a VERY good chance Negra was never going to see this blanket and Jody was going to shred it to pieces. But… just look at how comfy Negra looks!
Jamie had a busy day watching us clean and supervising the electricians working around the chimp house. But, that was pretty exhausting so she got cozy in a big nest she built and took a well-deserved nap!
All in all we day a great day, but I think we humans are going to curl up in our nests now. Goodnight!
