Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Winter has hit us pretty hard over the past month or so, and while the chimpanzees aren’t complaining (snow is a delicacy!), the humans are ready to move on. Spring is one of everyone’s favorite times of year at the sanctuary – the air is warm, the grass is soft and sweet, and life is good. Can you feel it? Here’s to looking forward (by looking back):
Today we had a tea party. Everyday there is a different themed enrichment day just to make sure we are shaking things up! As you can see on our March daytime enrichment calendar there is always something new or fun going on. For really popular themes we might do them more than once because the chimps really enjoy it!
Though the party was for everyone to enjoy, Jamie thought it was her tea party. As you can see Missy came to join Jamie and Jamie discretely pulled the tea party away:
Burrito foraged for tea, lettuce, and big nuts:
We stuck a few nuts in the window for an added challenge for Jamie:
The sun came out and the chimps spent some time in the Greenhouse!
Jamie in the cargo net:
Negra:
Missy:
Jody:
This photo is blurry, but you can see Missy and Burrito wrestling on the top platform in the Green House:
Later, I found Annie and Missy napping and grooming:
In the afternoon it was pretty quiet in the Chimp House. So, I went to check on the chimps. I found Jamie laying in a nest incorporated with boots and a big barrel. She was cleaning a troll toy and enjoying some peace and quiet so I snapped a photo and quickly left.
A recent visitor to the sanctuary wore a pair of boots that really caught Jamie’s eye, so you can imagine how excited we all were when those very boots were included in a care package that arrived earlier this week. As is Jamie’s preference, we started by modeling them and she was instantly enamored. Did she remember them? I would bet money on it. She seems to have a photographic memory when it comes to boots.
Today was sponsored by Joan O’Flaherty in honor of her parents, Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty. Joan lovingly sponsors this day annually in their memory and shared this message about today:
“As always – This is my parents shared birthday, they loved animals and supported conservation and would be delighted that the chimpanzees are in a safe, comfortable and loving home.”
Joan, we’re so touched by your inclusion of the chimpanzees in the celebration of your parents’ wonderful legacy each year. It’s inspiring that you honor them in such a compassionate way. Thank you for the difference you make in the chimps’ lives.
Negra and Foxie:
Earlier this month we put out a special request to our supporters to help us come up with little projects for Jamie to work on. Let me tell you, we had some enthusiastic responses from our donors! She’s received satchels, file folders, folios, cases, specially crafted photos, picture books, colored pencils and much much more! While we can’t always get videos or photos of her enjoying all her new enrichment, we did catch her enjoying her newest journal just this morning.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped enrich the boss!
I once learned in a primate behavior class that adult chimps don’t tend to play much unless they’re playing with juveniles. Clearly, nobody gave the Cle Elum Seven the news. These are a few of my favorite play videos:
“Where did Jamie go?” Those are four words you never really want to utter. But if you know where Jamie is, and she thinks you don’t know where she is, then the fun begins.
Jamie loves to build fort-like nests surrounding herself with all manner of things. Her kitchenette, a barrel, a shopping cart, whatever strikes her fancy. And occasionally she builds them with the pretty clear intention of having some privacy and taking a timeout from everyone. Something we can probably all relate to and of course, who doesn’t love a good fort?
After lunch the playroom was particularly quiet and while we assumed everyone was tucked away somewhere napping, I couldn’t see Jamie. Then I just caught a slight motion of blankets being spun into a nest behind this barrel:
In these instances, Jamie seems to take particular satisfaction in our seeming inability to see her. She grows very still as we call for her and occasionally slowly peeks around the corner at us when she thinks we cannot see her. We get it. So we just go along. I mean imagine living with six family members day in and day out, not to mention a variety of humans hanging around all day. Who wouldn’t need some privacy? Hence, the power of the fort.
