There are many videos we take that never make it to the blog because they just aren’t long enough. As the blog title suggests, today’s blog video is a really random compilation of short videos of sanctuary life. Enjoy!
Jamie
Wacky Winter
It’s been a wacky winter in the Pacific Northwest! Sunshine in February, snow in March. Let’s take a walk together around Young’s Hill and see what the weather will do.
Jamie’s Morning in the Clinic
Last fall, Jamie underwent an exam to follow up on concerns about her reduced activity levels and her growing belly. Both are more common with age, but we thought an exam was warranted to rule out other causes. And indeed, ultrasound examination did reveal a possible cause: the presence of uterine fibroids, which have the potential to cause significant pain and discomfort. After much research and consultation, Dr. Erin decided to take a twofold approach to managing Jamie’s condition: First, Jamie would receive a subcutaneous hormonal implant that would help shrink the fibroids. And second, those fibroids that could be removed would be extracted using a procedure (and specialized piece of equipment) known as MyoSure.
After receiving an anesthetic injection, Jamie is wheeled to the clinic.
Kate Uselman, CRNA, places an endotracheal tube while 4th-year vet student, Larrea Cottingham, observes—Dr. Erin is always happy to help train vet students who are interested in careers in sanctuary medicine! Dr. Dan prepares Jamie for gas anesthesia.
Dr. Chavez performs the MyoSure procedure while Huong Johnson assists with ultrasonography.
The MyoSure procedure utilizes a hysteroscope and a special cutting and extracting wand to visualize and remove the fibroids. The team watches the procedure on the monitor.
Jamie receives the hormonal implant. With chimps, implants are often placed between the shoulder blades so that they don’t try to remove them.
CSNW Vet Assistant, Krissy, monitors Jamie’s vitals as she recovers back in Front Room 1. We loosely ties scarves to the chimps’ wrists and ankles so that they can’t try to climb or walk away before they are coordinated enough to avoid injury. The scarves also help us safely manipulate their body positioning to maintain an open airway. Providing veterinary care to potentially dangerous animals requires creativity!
We’re so grateful to Dr. Dan Low, Kate Uselman, Dr. Chavez, Huong Johnston, Ashley Mellotte, and Larrea Cottingham for volunteering their time and services to help Jamie (and Dan and Kate for also braving a monster snow storm on the pass!). Thanks, as well, to the folks at Hologic for supplying some of the MyoSure equipment. And thanks—as always!—to our own Dr. Erin for all her research, networking, recruiting, and leadership.
Jamie’s care team (Ashley not pictured) poses for a photo while monitoring Jamie’s recovery.
Jamie takes advantage of a Squishmallow-filled nest while recovering—her scarves still tied to her wrists and ankles.
With those pesky scarves untied, it’s time for a drink.
Dr. Erin serves Jamie some baked sweet potato for dinner.
As long as that snow doesn’t hit us down here in the foothills, I’m sure Jamie will be back on her patrols tomorrow—and hopefully, feeling a whole lot better.
Waiting
As the weather has been warmer lately, we have been giving Jamie chimpanzee’s group access to their outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill, first thing in the morning. Today, Jamie sprinted out of the greenhouse, ready to patrol her territory. Foxie, Missy and Burrito were hot on her heels! They know that, after breakfast, we spend time cleaning their playroom. Which is the perfect opportunity to take off to explore the hill, looking for young spring grass to graze on (though it might be a little early, yet).
But they always seem to know when it’s just about time for us to finish up and open the doors back up to their playroom. They know that there will be a leafy green forage waiting for them, as well as fresh blankets and enrichment. Today, they even had hanging raisin boards, which they love! So it wasn’t a surprise when we heard breathy chimpanzee laughter coming from the front rooms. There, we found Burrito and Missy finding ways to pass the time, while waiting for their playroom.
Soon, almost all of the chimps were waiting patiently.
The Hustle and Bustle
The chimp house is a busy place! It’s fun, energetic, and can tend to get a little noisy. From the start of the morning we are on the go- prepping food, serving meals, shifting doors, cleaning enclosures, cleaning toys, making enrichment, washing dishes, doing laundry, making chow bags, making night bags, doing more laundry, staff and interns coming in and out throughout the day, all the while chimps are playing, laughing, grooming, maybe screaming, and nesting!
I know, it’s a lot! That is why when Jamie asks you to go on a walk, it’s really nice to slow down and be in the moment with her. So, if you have had a busy day like we had, join me on a walk with Jamie and Burrito.
Of course, there are some bonus photos too!
Honey B being silly, while eating an apple:
Annie:
Rayne:
Love for Jamie
Continuing with the Valentine’s-month blog posts featuring each of those in our care, I made sure to reserve Jamie to write about because I do have a great deal of love for her.
Unfortunately, we don’t know a lot about Jamie’s history. Unlike many of the other chimpanzees at the sanctuary we are not aware of any of Jamie’s relatives. We don’t know where or exactly when she was born. We were told she was owned by an animal trainer until she was nine years old, but we don’t know how she was used. In addition to their use in movies and television shows, it wasn’t uncommon back then for chimpanzees to be used in roadside attractions or even rented out as entertainment for birthday parties. That’s our best guess as to how she was used to make money for her owner.
Many chimpanzees in similar situations, like George who was born on a training compound, were used in the entertainment industry for only a few years before they were deemed too strong, willful, or just too much trouble and cast aside, replaced by younger chimpanzees. At nine, Jamie remained in entertainment longer than most.
She bares the signs of being raised in a human environment. When she first arrived at the sanctuary in 2008, she would choose to wear clothes on a regular basis. She does something I’ve never seen another chimpanzee do: tie knots. Sometimes tied in the scarves that adorn her neck.
Sometimes tied in a nest-blanket she’s weaved through the mesh.
We choose to celebrate Jamie’s birthday on Halloween in honor of her mischievous ways.
Fittingly, Jamieween has become the biggest party of the year at the sanctuary.
I consider Jamie to be a good friend. A friendship that has developed over many years. The kind of friend I can just sit with in relaxed comfort.
I understand some of her frustrations of captivity, notice her need for things to be “just so”, and admire her ability to take charge and run towards potential threats to her group, like snakes.
There’s no question that she can be a bully and has a heightened sense of entitlement (she views all food as belonging to her, unless she says otherwise, for example). This quality can make her a less-than ideal roommate, especially for lower-ranking chimpanzees like Foxie and Annie. And it can lead to some funny moments, like this one years ago that reinforced her reputation for being “the party police.”
Perhaps because of her penchant for intimidation, when Jamie is in a good mood, being silly and playful, there’s really nothing better. And she can be quite funny. Jamie really appreciates when you listen to her and know what she wants. She releases a low moan/groan when she’s truly happy, which can often be when a human goes searching for and gives her the particular boot or book (or both) that she had in her mind.
Making Jamie happy makes everyone happy.
It doesn’t take much for Jamie to get up in the morning, because she has an internal list of items on her checklist for the day. Jamie is most likely to be found busy doing something, whether it’s patrolling her outdoor habitat, demanding something from her caregivers, working on a puzzle, or crafting her own enrichment.
I hope you have fallen even more in love with boss Jamie than you were before!
Big thanks to the 9 Chimpanzee Pals that have already showed their love of this complicated, multi-dimensional, intelligent, admirable, sometimes irascible chimpanzee.
If you would like to show your love and loyalty, I encourage you to become Jamie’s Chimpanzee Pal today.
A Bunch of Lousy Photos
I recently noticed that I have over 8000 pictures and videos saved in my phone. Many of them are blurry, or photos I just don’t need to keep for one reason or another. So I started deleting the ones I don’t want to save. And I came across so many photos of my chimpanzee friends, not always the greatest photos, but special nonetheless. So I thought I’d share them with you! These photos go back about a year. It’s interesting to see who I have pictures of, and who I don’t.
(If you’re wondering how it’s possible that I don’t have any pictures of my good friend Burrito, stay tuned, I’m saving his photos for my next blog! There are SO many!)
George in the chute on a lovely summer afternoon.
George lying in the front rooms shortly after he arrived last May.
George enjoying time in the chute.
Sweet Foxie in the Greenhouse.
One of the many fawns that call the Sanctuary grounds home.
The first bunny I’ve seen around the Sanctuary.
Gordo having a snack and chilling in the Greenhouse.
Gordo with one of his favorite things…a box!
Jamie watching the comings and goings of the Sanctuary.
Jamie all wrapped up and enjoying the warm Greenhouse.
Marmots!!
Mave taking a break and contemplating her life.
More contemplation.
Neggie peeking out from under her blankets.
The first rattle snake of the year, last spring. Just a wee baby!
Rayne & Cy getting to know George through the intro process.
Good friends Rayne and Lucky enjoying some fresh air on a fall morning.
Rayne and Lucky looking down on me from the Greenhouse.
Terry doing some thinking.
Krissy (me), practicing PRT with Terry while Rayne looks on.
