Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jamie

The Fun Police

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Jamie has some pretty simple rules for training her caregivers: If you want to interact with a chimpanzee, it’s got to be with her. Burrito and level 3 caregiver-in-training Chad, were enjoying a nice game of tug-o-war with a plastic tube when she saw them disobeying her law. The Boss is always right, so Chad immediately complied with her order to desist with the funny business. Instead of silly games, it was time for some serious grooming.

Tattoos are a popular thing to examine during grooming sessions:

Bakin’

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Oh my gosh guys, it is HOT. The chimps are so toasty the only thing they could do today was lay down and groom. That was seriously all we did today… well we also ate some shaved ice too!

Annie and Jody laying on the platform in the Green House (Annie in happy baby pose) (Jody relaxing by her side):

Annie:

Jamie watching the volunteers clean the Playroom…

And then she caught me taking a photo of her…

Missy came to join the being a lump party:

And why not groom while you’re there:

In the other corner Burrito was grooming Foxie and Negra was taking in the view:

When She Says Jump

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Jamie is truly an amazing person, there is a lot to her. She is always surprising us, for being a more “serious chimp” a lot of the time, I kept catching her doing silly little things throughout today. For example, we had a donor visitor group this afternoon, during which she proceeded to make each visitor try on her favorite boot. (This is not something she normally does. Normally Jamie might give them some attention, look at some shoes, and then get back to foraging.) I never know what to expect from her, which is the best part about her! But, what I can usually expect is a fierce and fearless Jamie.

Jamie wearing her boot and foraging for nuts:

Jamie staring out of the playroom on a barrel that she dragged over herself:

Jamie looking fierce:

Jamie laying on the barrel (taking a quick snooze):

Jamie was practicing her tight rope walking this morning (she picked a spot where it was hard to see her, so she could practice in private):

This is a photo of one of our visitors wearing Jamie’s favorite boots upon her request:

Bonus photos:

Negra walking onto Young’s Hill this morning:

Burrito watching over Jody:

Missy quietly foraging:

Annie sporting her sweatband on her waist and walking bipedally up the Hill:

Burrito, Jo, and Foxie hanging out on the new structure:

Mondayz

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Many might be wondering how we beat a case of the Mondays at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest? Well this is an easy question!

1. We get our exercise in A LOT…

Missy in the lead and Jody not far behind:

Missy waiting for the group to catch up:

Jamie and Foxie:

Jamie kept checking up on Foxie to make sure she was keeping up:

Annie took a little detour but joined the walk a little later:

2. We forage like fiends…

Jody hidden behind the shrub, secretly grabbing some yummy weeds:

3. We lounge…

Negra:

Annie:


4. We take snack breaks…

Fresh strawberries:

5. We strike a pose…

Jody:

Foxie:


6. And we hang out with good friends…

If you follow these simple steps you also may never suffer from a case of the Mondays!

Give and Take

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Today volunteer Amanda captured some interesting chimp behavior on her phone while watching volunteer Kailie serve lunch to the chimpanzees. Kailie had set a couple of pieces of yam within Jamie’s reach. As boss, Jamie has the unique privilege of being able to leave her food unattended and be reasonably sure that no one else will have the nerve to take it. Today Jamie wasn’t showing much interest in her yams, so Annie (who is at the very bottom of the dominance hierarchy) must have done some quick mental calculations and decided that Jamie might not be too upset if Annie took her yams. As you’ll see in the video, it turns out that Annie was right, but it was still a gutsy move, and it demonstrates just how much confidence Annie has developed since her early days at the sanctuary when she wouldn’t have dared risk upsetting the boss.

Incidentally, later in the meal Jamie got her own form of payback when she distracted Annie with a kiss to the forehead while she swiped some of her primate chow.

Sanctuary Livin’

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Well, today Jody decided she couldn’t leave the Greenhouse for us to clean because she was REALLY comfortable. I mean, I couldn’t agree more…

It was pretty hot today and even Jamie thought it was too hot to walk around the Hill. So she napped and stayed on patrol around the Chimp House…

Jamie even built a fort in the Playroom so that she could have her privacy, but still be able to watch what everyone was doing…

Burrito was trying to be on his best behavior with the ladies…

And Foxie and the rest of the chimps were really excited for mid-day shaved ice! It was almost too hot to play with dolls, but rest assure Foxie found a way!

Snake Patrol

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As you may have read on the blog, the chimps recently encountered a snake in one of the bamboo groves.  The snake was clearly still on their minds on they ventured out onto the hill this morning.

They had all night to think about how scary it was and to dwell on the fact that it had eluded capture. It could still be out there.

Jamie immediately led a patrol to the area where the snake was last seen.

Foxie, Missy, Annie, Burrito, and Jody all followed but began to peel off one by one as the approached the bamboo grove.

It would be up to Jamie. Alone but undeterred, she climbed onto a structure to scan the grass for any sign of the intruder.

She moved from one vantage point to the next without setting foot on the ground below.

She watched patiently from the safety of her fire hose perch.

She searched for any sign of movement in the grass.

For all she knew, it could be right underneath her.

At last, she gave the all clear. But that didn’t mean that she was going to push her luck. There are plenty of other places to hang out besides that particular bamboo grove.

Which may very well still be hiding a snake.