Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Honey B

New Year’s Eve Reflection

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Reflecting on 2019, this year has been a huge year and also a bit wild and crazy. We had so many highs and some lows too. I have been reflecting on this year a lot. The most amazing things have happened, like, the arrival of three new chimpanzees Mave, Willy B, and Honey B, we have a new building, we started introductions for the chimps, there was the most epic hug between Burrito and Mave, the potential for new relationships, and still so much more growth here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. CSNW has been waiting so long to bring more chimps home and we did it! I get emotional thinking about it. This alone is a massive accomplishment. So much good change has happened around here, even if it means it’s a tad bit more chaotic. 🙂

With those highs, sadly, came lows. I will say the big fight was one of the scariest moments in my career so far. I think back and I am so grateful for the staff I work with and the people I work for. Without this team of selfless and caring people this would have been an even more difficult process to go through. As you have read in previous blogs, any one of us would drop everything and run out the door for anyone for these chimps. Burrito’s recovery process has been long and incredibly exhausting. But Burrito is alive, he is getting back to his normal self, and that is all we care about! I so badly wanted new relationships for Burrito. And to see him almost have it was so amazing and devastating when it was all over. But, what I want most for Burrito is for his health and wellness. He may not get to make new friends, but we can all remember that hug. He has some very fierce lady friends to help keep him company.

So, I am excited for this new year. I think 2020 will have a lot in store for us! There will be growth, there will be fun, and mischief to be had. We are still getting to know the three and I hope with another year they will allow us to get to know them more and further our relationships with them. We hope to continue finding ways to make their lives better and find more choices for the ten chimpanzees’ future.

Cheers to the New Year!

Lounge into the New Year with Mave:

Merry Christmas!

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It was a crazy Christmas in the chimp house! We had two huge parties, one in the Mezzanine and one in the Playroom. Don’t worry, we had a party for Burrito too. Their parties were filled with cider, stuffed squash, green beans, and new toys. Honey B LOVED her new broom, Foxie was so excited for her new dolls, and Jamie could not wait to make a nest with her new boots and books! This was Honey B, Mave, and Willy B’s first Christmas at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. And I have to say I think they approved!

We have so many amazing donors and supporters. Thank you so much for helping make these 10 amazing chimpanzee’s Christmas feel so special. Happy Holidays everyone!

Jody:

Foxie:

Honey B:

Snowy Wonderland

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As promised, here is a more thorough post to introduce myself to all of you amazing followers of the sanctuary.

I have been with the sanctuary for a couple years now as an intern and volunteer. You may have seen me from such classics as: “You’re Doing It Wrong,” “Chad Grooms Jamie,” and the ever so classic, “Fun Police (Stop What You’re Doing And Pay Attention To Me).” If you couldn’t tell, there is a certain individual who runs my life here at the sanctuary. Even at times, doing chores at home I have that strange feeling Jamie is watching me and going to tell me I missed a spot.

My interest in chimpanzees began a few years ago as an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, where I helped analyze data coming in from Gombe of the Kasakela community (the group made famous by Dr. Jane Goodall). I continued my research at Central Washington University as a graduate student studying chimpanzee gestural communication of other wild chimpanzee communities. Through the certificate program CWU offers, I took the courses on captive primate care taught by J.B., and so began my time at the sanctuary as an intern.

To say I was excited when I was asked to help out as a staff member here is an understatement. I don’t think there is any word or combination of words to describe the exact feelings of excitement and (yes) nervousness I have in being given the opportunity to help provide the best life possible for the Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Honey B, Jamie, Jody, Mave, Missy, Negra, and Willy B, as well as Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg, in a new capacity. I will do the best I can to keep you all informed about the daily happenings at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest during my time as a staff member.

For those of you who commented on my test blog yesterday, thank you all for such a warm welcome! And to answer some of the questions, yes! Anna will return!

Now… On to today’s happening around the sanctuary!

We are preparing for some pretty significant snowfall here in Central Washington. In fact, as I write this, snow has already begun to fall. We attempted to give Willy B, Honey B, and Mave access to the snowfall, but they decided it was not in their plans for the day. Honey B just looked at us like we were crazy for even thinking they would ever go in the snow.

On the other side of the Chimp House, we set up two separate play dates for Burrito. First we allowed Foxie to spend some time with him.

Then Jody.

Overall, it was a pretty quiet day here. The chimpanzees are about to be served dinner and settle in for the night. Until next time, stay warm, friends!

Close up

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It is that time of year where the chimps nest in hard places to snap a good photo. But, we also have a new challenge because one of our most used camera lens has stopped working. These chimps were definitely moving around and playing, sadly the camera wouldn’t catch the moment. We have put a new lens on our Wishlist in hopes that it is not our camera and just the lens, fingers crossed! However, I hope you enjoy some photos I have saved off my phone!

Sometimes when we try to photograph the three, they get too close to actually get a photo. Mostly, Honey B and Willy B are the ones that get closer to the caging once they see you are holding the camera. They are just fascinated by phones and TVs. Here are a few attempts that turned into REAL close ups.

Honey B:

This one of Willy B just makes me smile:

I was able to snap this one of Jody today:

Sweet Mave:

First Snow Experience

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This morning was the first real snow of the year. We gave Honey B, Willy B, and Mave access to the chute, which was quite snowy! The three chimps came from California, so we were curious what their reaction would be to the snow. Today, Honey B seemed to be the only one who adventured out into the chute. However, Willy B and Mave did look curious. As enrichment we put snow buckets out, which they all seemed to enjoy. There is still more snow coming down, so there will be plenty more opportunities for all three to explore the snow!

Gloomy Yet Beautiful

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Today was a bit of a gloomy and frosty day.

Though when you get closer it is beautiful. Everywhere around the sanctuary was covered in hoar frost.

J.B. has been very busy building what we are calling the courtyard, which is where we extended Young’s Hill and the new structure was built. He put fencing up to help create a smaller Hill for Mave, Honey B, and Willy B, which also includes a boardwalk to the new structure since they are still getting use to their new surroundings. We are hoping this will entice the three to go out onto the Hill. Their first experience was not great. They all touched the fence many times. The Hill is also a huge open spaced compared anything they have ever experienced. Honey B, Willy B, and Mave have lived on concrete for a long time in a relatively small space. This kind of open area could take a long time to warm up too. Willy B especially, seems to not like touching the ground. This may be one of the many reasons the three have not yet adventured onto the Hill again.

Jody was on Young’s Hill and excited to see Willy B in the chute:

Willy B in the chute and the girls looking at him from the playroom windows:

Mave joined in too:

Missy (top) and Annie (bottom) watching Willy B and Mave in the chute:

Jody decided that this was fun, but she needed to nest:

Willy B let Burrito borrow his TV! Burrito enjoyed a film about Koko the gorilla and a documentary about Jane Goodall 🙂

Mave <3:

I also wanted to let you all know, we have started putting the chimps Christmas presents on the Amazon Wishlist! So if you missed out on the blankets or were wondering what the chimps would like for Christmas, check it out!

 

 

Sleep, groom, patrol, & repeat

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Today was a busy day in the chimp house. J.B. was working out on Young’s Hill, we had a full house of hard working volunteers, and lots of training! However, the chimps had a nice relaxing Friday. There was a lot of grooming, small games of chase, & napping.

A grooming train of Honey B grooming Willy B and Mave grooming Willy:

Mave than moved onto just grooming Honey B:

The handsome Willy B: