Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
As the video says, it’s been drama city the last two afternoons. It’s not the most fun to be around when chimpanzees are unhappy with each other, and it’s almost always impossible to know exactly what’s going on.
But, when we think about all of the hours in the day, the chimps spend most of them pretty peacefully. Maybe even more so than a lot of humans.
During these times of unease between the chimps, it’s nice to keep all of the tender, playful, and peaceful moments in mind.
Apparently this chunk of ice has been in the tub since Wednesday. Maybe it had been forming from it’s original snow form into the perfect solid and was ready to enjoy today!
In any case, it certainly brought more than one chimpanzee a good deal of joy today. Speaking of joy… don’t forget to bid on Comfort & Joy auction items all weekend!
This morning the sanctuary was encased in a thin layer of delicate ice.
Here’s Annie taking in the scenery:
Each tiny twig and blade of grass seemed to have suddenly discovered an independence, briefly standing on it’s own, separated from the whole:
It was clear this was going to be a very temporary state – a moment that vanished so quickly the shutter of the camera was scarcely fast enough to capture it.
The air turned warmer and the icicles began to disappear one drop at a time. As I walked around the perimeter of the chimpanzees’ outdoor habitat, I could hear cracking all around me as the trees shrugged off their icy coats.
After taking in the scene, Annie quickly decided to partake in the moment before it was gone.
Soon the sun stood boldly in its place in the sky and transformed the landscape.
Still, in the places that stubbornly hid from the sun, the ice-covered snow remained.
Missy realized that she didn’t need to venture outside herself, she could instead request that I gather handfuls of the delicacy for her.
A lesson for us all, as another year comes to end (a lesson that I’m in need of remembering): appreciate what the day has to offer and enjoy the fleeting moments before they disappear.
Speaking of fleeting moments – we are just days away from December 31st and the end of the huge year-end matching challenge! I don’t know if you’ve looked recently – we are now less than $40,000 away from reaching the goal.
I honestly am not sure what is going to happen. Can we actually reach that lofty goal?! This is where I turn towards you all and ask that question!
It’s here, it’s here! The snow has arrived! And the chimps know what to do when it starts getting cold and the snow has fallen.
Last Monday, I watched both Missy and Annie (and took the following photos), make the rounds on Young’s Hill, with a very specific goal in mind; to find ice chunks “hidden” within the various outdoor structures. It was indeed cold enough last week for there to be ice, but there was not enough moisture.
This morning, it was a different story. Missy and Annie set out on Young’s Hill to check all the usual spots where ice forms overnight, including in the bottom of this tire swing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get outside in time to take photos of them finding the ice chunks this morning when Katelyn called on the radio to say they had found some. So, stay tuned for more pictures of the chimps gathering their snow and ice enrichment in the coming months!
Annie
Missy checked the same tires (but none of the photos turned out where she was reaching in).
Here’s a couple extras of Missy on the hill last Monday that I couldn’t resist adding to the blog.
One of my favorite Missy action shots.
There’s a whole crew of people here building a new structure on Young’s Hill today! We will do a big reveal on Monday, so start making your predictions as to what the structure will look like.
Because there are humans on the hill, the chimpanzees don’t have access. And today is HOT! It feels like summer. With these two circumstances combined, we needed to come up with something cooling and time-occupying for the chimpanzees. We decided on water and ice enrichment.
I’d say it was a hit.
Annie:
Missy:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie making up her own enrichment (of course):
Each year, when the first cold spell hits, the chimps remind us that there is, in fact, a small upside to winter. Early morning frost lingers in the shadows on Young’s Hill, which the chimps rush to lick from every surface before it vanishes.
Tire swings hide thin layers of ice on the inside.
The chimps gather all of the icy treats they can find and head off to their favorite spots to enjoy them. Some return to the greenhouse.
Others carry their spoils to the tops the climbing structures.
These late fall mornings might be cold, but at least they bring snacks.
During the lunch forage on Young’s Hill today, Jody and Missy found their own treats. As volunteer Connie pointed out, this could be the last of the tire ice for the season!
Jody:
Missy:
