Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jamie

Jamie and the crow’s nest

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The chimpanzees continue to spend time playing on/in/and around their newest structure, “Twister.” Jamie loves to investigate the happenings of the neighborhood and finds the vantage from the crow’s nest to be the perfect spot to keep tabs on the locals. She is always interested in whatever is going on at the neighboring ranches (after all it is her job), but she seems particularly vigilant since the recent brush fire she alerted us to.

It may just be a coincidence or she may just be really loving what a great view she has, but Jamie’s been rushing out and climbing up to her lookout in the mornings and loves to spend time up there as a stopping point during her evening walks with her caregivers as well. Whatever the reason, we are so grateful she has one more tower from which to be Queen of the Hill. I kind of feel like she needs a Jolly Roger flag up there.

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Tucked away

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With things returning to normal after our recent brush fire and the warmth of summer, the chimpanzees have been tucked away relaxing for most of the day.

During a walk, Jamie chose to sit in the shade of the tall grass (while a certain caregiver accompanying her sweated it out in the hot sun until she gave the cue it was time to move on):

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Jamie’s view at the time so I don’t blame her:

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Negra enjoyed the breakfast forage from her shady cabin on Young’s Hill…:

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…before making her way in for a nap:

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And then there was this person relaxing every which way at the top of the toasty greenhouse:

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Of course, it’s Foxie and Dora.

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The Watcher

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Jamie chimpanzee is a person with many talents. One of her extraordinary skills happens to be an almost total awareness of her surroundings. Not many things slip by her. She regulates all activities at the sanctuary, and makes sure everyone knows about it. While Jamie can’t actually access places like the highway, neighboring houses, and the sanctuary parking lot, she knows just where to go in her domain to get the best views of all the goings on.

Looking out the barn doors, Jamie can see part of the garden and the trailer that houses the sanctuary’s clinic.
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When she enters the portrait studio, Jamie has a good line of site on the kitchen with the parking lot and barn out the window beside her.
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And let’s not forget about the 360 degree panorama views out on the Young’s Hill structures!
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Sometimes she can be quite stealthy about her surveillance, often appearing out of what seems like thin air to put an end to an interaction that caregivers might be having with one of the other chimps. Today I caught her keeping a watchful eye on caregiver Lizz as she played chase with Burrito.
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I’ve never thought too much about her diligent supervision until last Saturday, when she alerted us of the brush fire that had broken out on a hill not too far from the sanctuary. At that moment, I was very thankful to know such a dedicated governor as Jamie chimpanzee.
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Chimps back on Young’s Hill After Recent Fire

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To say that yesterday was filled with “excitement” would be an understatement. If you have not already heard the news, there was a fire on a neighboring property that started yesterday. The firefighters were on it right away and all of the safety measures we have at the sanctuary to deal with wildfires were enacted immediately. Fortunately, the fire was much smaller and slower moving than the Taylor Bridge fire of 2012, that burned through part of the sanctuary property.

Today, everyone is safe now that the fire is contained, the smoke has cleared and the temperature is just right. So, we decided to celebrate with a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. Everyone went out to gather food, soak up the sunshine and climb the various structures to look around.

Annie (left), Jody (center) and Burrito (right)
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Burrito (foreground) and Jamie (background)
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Foxie (left) and Missy (right)
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Missy searched high and low to find the “hidden” food…
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…including corn on the cob.
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Jody with red onions in her mouth.
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Annie with a mouth full of primate chow.
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Burrito
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Jamie
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Foxie brought her Dora the Explorer doll onto the hill.
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Negra posted up and ate her corn on the cob.
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We’re so thankful to all the firefighters that work so hard to protect our community, to our dedicated staff and volunteers, and for all of the well wishes from supporters around the world!!! Thank you all so much for caring and sending us your loving thoughts! We’re forever grateful!

Summer mornings

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Our recent heatwave is on the down-slide, but it’s still quite warm and the chimps and humans are each enjoying the summer days in their own way. After breakfast, most of the chimpanzees headed for the still cool grass of Young’s Hill (with the exception of Negra who took a break from her adventures for the day and made a nest at the top of the greenhouse where she could enjoy the morning breeze). Annie chose to take a walk up the hill bipedally to join Foxie and her troll. If you look closely you can spot the troll’s red hair on Foxie’s back.

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Missy took her breakfast chow and literally ran out to climb up a structure where she could enjoy it with a view:

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Jody was the first to head out onto Young’s Hill this morning and quickly disappeared into the tall grass to forage for wild greens before her buddy, Burrito, could catch up with her. So he opted to sit in the raceway which leads from the greenhouse to the hill and enjoy the morning sun with me, remaining on the lookout for Jody’s return.

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After a busy morning on the hill, by late morning things got pretty warm and Jamie sprawled out in a comfy nest to cool off and doze in the summer breeze.

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How profoundly grateful we are that the chimpanzees’ days are filled with such serenity, comfort and peace. Thanks to all of you who make the hours, days and seasons of their lives so beautiful.