These girls run the Sanctuary! Not only do they out number the fellas, but they often are more strong willed. The ladies may be submissive to Willy B, but they are not afraid to take charge!
Jamie
Little big things
Today we humans, well, okay, this human, did a victory lap around the chimp house because the chimp Gods smiled upon us all. For this one blissful day the chimps have been utterly calm, at ease and quiet today. No fights have ensued, no screaming, no biting. Everyone has shifted with relative ease (with the exception of Mr Willy B, who has seemingly claimed two of the front rooms as his own personal bachelor pad and refuses to leave) which has allowed us to clean the chimps’ home to our hearts content.
First order of business this morning was Anthony kindly removing half of the plastic strips covering the entrance to the chute which vexed Foxie to no end last night. Today she mustered her courage and even though each passing required hair standing on end and pushing herself again the doorframe so as not to touch the remaining offending flaps as she quickly raced through, she did in fact race back and forth all day long on her own. Brave heart. And so Jamie, Jody, Foxie, Annie and Missy have joyfully spent the day coming in and out and racing around Young’s Hill to their hearts’ content.
Over in the original building, Willy B, of his own choice, enjoyed the day in his increasingly wild looking “bachelor pad” (every time he exited and I approached to close it off, he quickly leaped back in!). Negra has contently been napping in the sun in front of her favored playroom window, Burrito and Mave spent at least a couple hours grooming one another in the next sun puddle over, and the very second that Burrito left Mave’s side, Honey B slid right in, hooting softly and spooning Mave in contentment. (After all, who among us doesn’t want to spoon with Mave?). And later in the afternoon, with the other ladies off Young’s Hill (to avoid any unnerving kerfuffles at the raceway leading to the greenhouse), Mave and Honey B headed into the late afternoon sun-warmed greenhouse, scooping up blankets as they went and made nests to each other, enjoying peaceful afternoon naps.
As I write this, we have one hour to go before lights out and it’s about time for the chimps’ internal clocks to go off, meaning the chimp house is about to erupt in hooting and hollering and general ruckus raising in excitement for dinner, and as a call and response to one another in opposite sides of the building. Today was just one day and things literally change in the blink of an eye or the sound of a hoot or a scream. But to see each of the chimps seemingly feeling truly at ease today, enjoying activities they normally do, but understandably haven’t had a lot of concentration for in some time, it’s been a gift. A brief lull for everyone to catch their breath, be at peace, enjoy the beautiful autumn day, their friends and the things they love. It all may sound like not such a big deal. But given the last few months, sometimes it truly the little things that are actually the truly big things.
Here’s Jamie feeling snoozy, hiding behind one of her brilliant kitchenette forts, warming up after enjoying a brisk autumn day outside:
Jamieween 2019!
Today we kept half of the chimp house pretty low key and quiet so Burrito and Willy B could continue to build their friendship. Meanwhile, the “Girl Gang” celebrated Jamie’s 42nd Birthday in their upstairs Mezzanine space. Happy Jamieween everyone!
In honor of Jamie “Boss Lady” Chimpanzee!
This amazing day of sanctuary was sponsored by Shirley Wooten, Chimpanzee Pal to the boss lady herself, Jamie, in honor of Jamie’s 42nd birthday today!! Shirley shared this really lovely note about her gift today:
“Happy Birthday Jamie! Thank you to her caregivers and to the supporters of CSNW for giving Jamie choices, lots of space, more freedom than she has ever had, and the enrichment her active mind needs. Thank you for giving her the opportunity to be the leader she was born to be, Jamie is a very special lady and I hope she has a very special day.”
Shirley, thank you SO much for thinking of Jamie and sponsoring her honorary Halloween birthday, or as it’s known here at the sanctuary, Jamieween!!
If you’ve ever had the honor of meeting Jamie here at the sanctuary or have gotten to know her through our daily blog, you know she’s one of the most intelligent, creative, amazing (and sometimes intimidating) people you will meet. To the Lady Trickster herself, Happy Birthday, Jamie! We could not be more in awe of, or in love with, you.
A New Structure!
A new structure was built today! We had a wonderful group, Thrivent Financial, come out and build this two-story deck! The chimps anxiously waited to see how it would turn out.
These awesome volunteers worked so hard throughout the entire day:
Before it was finished:
After:
We are so excited for this structure. I can imagine Negra lounging in the shade while warm summer air breezes by her or Foxie playing with her dolls at the top! I can also envision Mave, Willy B, & Honey B concurring their fears and climbing up this sturdy structure!
Jamie, Jody, Foxie, Missy, & Annie were able to go out and explore on the new play structure. Of course, a new structure means someone has to inspect it, which is what Jamie and the rest of the girls did!
After inspection, there were patrols to do:
And than back on the the new play structure. The girls seem to be in approval of it!
Even Foxie who can be suspicious of new things, was hanging out!
We just want to give Thrivent Financial a big thank you for building this amazing structure!
Windy!
It is winnnndy! The chimps had a very leisure day playing, napping, and watching J.B. and a few volunteers start building a new structure out on Young’s Hill! They are just getting a section of the project done today and than another group of volunteers will come tomorrow to help us build the rest of the structure. Normally I would expect the chimps, especially Jamie, to be out in the chute inspecting everything that was going on. However, it was so windy no one wanted to be outside really. Jamie did watch from the windows and the comfort of her own nest.
Jamie watching from the mezzanine:
Jody cozy in a nest:
Missy curled up:
The crew working hard and trying not to get blown away:
Girl Gang
As some of you might know Jody, Jamie, Missy, Foxie, and Annie are in phase 1 together. We recently have been calling them the “Girl Gang” because, well, that is what they are. They are a bunch of hoodlums up to no good. Okay, well that might not be true, but they are a bunch of tough chicks ready to take on whatever comes next! What is next you might ask? Well, that plan is still being worked on, in the meantime enjoy some photos of these independent women!
The girl gang was enjoying some time outside on Young’s Hill. But they were also on a mission. They were doing patrols, checking the raceway, and surveying the land. After everything looked clear they sat in the Chute looking eagerly at Negra, Mave, Willy B, & Honey B.
Jody:
Jody inspecting door Y’s lock:
Missy sprinting around the Hill:
Fierce Foxie:
Annie:
Annie also inspecting door Y with Jody:
Jamie starting one of many patrols:
After their Hill adventures everyone enjoyed a bit of time inside.
Foxie:
Annie:
Missy:
Jody:
Jamie sizing the scrubbing brush:
