Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jamie

Jody’s 44th Birthday!

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Today we celebrated Jody’s honorary birthday by scattering large amounts of whole fresh produce and browse across Young’s Hill. The chimps each collected their own individual lunch bouquet (a perfect tribute to Mother’s Day).

Negra and Missy each had their own respective lunch forage hauls.

But when Missy made it back to the greenhouse with corn and lettuce, Negra pulled rank and ordered Missy (somewhat reluctantly) to turn over her lunch:

Missy made up for her loss by gathering almost every single lilac we had put out in the greenhouse:

Annie was on high alert due to a snake sighting early on in the forage:

Eating on an elevated platform seemed like the best choice for her today:

Jamie has been collecting corn on the cob all day! She seems to keep finding a piece, every time she goes outside.

Then there was the birthday girl… This day was truly her day.


The Boot Book Fiend

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As you all may know, Jamie has quite the collection of boots and a pretty broad library. Jamie started her morning in a big comfy nest surrounded by some educational reading material and a few good boots. What she didn’t know was that there were a pair of boots coming to her in the mail! Jamie has been intrigued with this style of boot for some time, so you could say she was thrilled to find out they were hers.

Say hello to Jamie’s newest addition, Vegan Dr. Martens (photo taken after we already wore them around the Hill):

Jamie this morning with a bonobo book:


Jamie with her new Vegan Doc Martens:

And some bonus photos because I mean just look at these chimps!

Sweet tiny Foxie:

Smoldering Burrito:

Kind eyed Jo:

And the wise Negra:

Bring on the Warm Weather

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Today is one of those days that gets you excited for the warm weather season. It is a comfortable temperature outside, there is a nice breeze, a few clouds in the sky. This warmth feels so good that a few Greenhouse panels came off today! Which means summer is right around the corner! But that’s enough chit chat! I got a lot of good photos over the last couple days and thought I would let them do the talking!

Negra:




Missy & Jody:

Jody:

Missy:

Burrito:

Annie:

Annie & Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

 

 

A Little Piece of Jamie

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Jamie has many sides to her. One side that not everyone gets to see is her silly, playful personality. Though, don’t get me wrong – Jamie is mostly business. I mean she does have to run the whole Sanctuary and it’s not going to run itself! However, it is really fun to watch Jamie let loose, be goofy, and maybe even be a tad bit vulnerable. Today was one of those silly, carefree, read a book, walk around, lounge around days. You might not be able to tell in these photos how goofy Jamie was being, but Jamie let me take tons of photos today almost as though she was really enjoying the photo shoot. I would show her the picture after to see if she liked it; Jamie would nod her head and then we would take some more!

Before the photo shoot Jamie did have to make sure the volunteers were cleaning:

There is a page from Jamie’s boot book in her pelvic pocket:

Jamie:

Days like today make me feel very blessed to be a friend to the Cle Elum Seven.

The Thief

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Boss Jamie is not generally light-hearted. She runs a tight ship and she takes her job seriously. It’s rare to catch her playing with anyone, but when we do, it’s almost always with Foxie, and it’s almost always the same game.

Jamie knows that a surefire way to get Foxie’s attention is to swipe one of her beloved dolls, because Foxie will inevitably join Jamie’s game of keepaway.

Jamie (left, plotting) and Foxie (right, oblivious):

The theft is complete and Jamie makes her getaway.

All the way down to the ground…

Foxie follows, as Jamie knew she would.

Pictures Say it All

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Honestly, today I don’t have a lot of words. The chimps were having a blast on Young’s Hill all day and baking in the warm Green House! The pictures really say it all.

Burrito with a mouth full of grass:


This guy:

Fierce little Foxie:





Foxie trying to get Burrito the play:

Jody (the den mother):


Jamie:

 



Jamie’s New Ritual

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Yesterday, Diana and I returned to the sanctuary after a week away. I came up a little early for our afternoon positive reinforcement training session to say hello and was treated to some wonderful greetings by Annie and Negra, who were resting in the playroom. Annie’s was a grand submissive gesture – a series of pant-grunts delivered while bobbing up and down excitedly. Negra’s was gentle and sweet – a long kiss on the back of my hand accompanied by soft breathy pants.

Then Jamie approached. She walked up, slid a book under the caging, and walked away. If it were any other chimpanzee I might been a bit disappointed by her reaction, but I knew exactly what she was saying: No time to talk, let’s walk.

There really is no one else like her.