Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jody

Happy Anniversary to Dan and Peggy Smith!

by

Today’s sponsor-a-day is from Dan and Peggy Smith. Dan and Peggy stopped by the sanctuary Sunday to drop off TONS of produce and super soft blankets for the chimps. Peggy sent me a little note that I wanted to share with you:

“The Cle Elum Seven became a part of our lives since we were “introduced” to them at the Veg-fest in Seattle in 2009. We chose to sponsor Jody after finding out she was the least selected of the group. It is interesting to see each one’s personality develop within the group and become a family unit, and to see Jody slowly start to join in with some of the fun. They have had difficult times and I am so happy to see them laugh and play games, or to just make a bed and rest peacefully. The work being done by the people involved at the sanctuary has made such a big difference in these seven lives. We really appreciate the good work you are doing. That is why the best gift we could think of for our wedding anniversary was to give a gift of food and blankets to our favorite group. We had so much fun shopping for the food, thinking of each chimp and how they would enjoy it. Being able to share with them will make this a very memorable anniversary for us.
Love to all,
Dan & Peggy”

Happy, happy anniversary, Dan and Peggy, and thanks for all you do for Jody and all the Cle Elum Seven! Jody is a very lucky gal to have such great Pals!

Today in yoga class…

by

Between Jody and Annie’s “reclined spinal twists” poses and Negra and Jody’s “happy baby poses“, we must have some very zen chimps around here. I caught both Negra and Jody simultaneously “practicing” this morning in the greenhouse.

Negra’s happy baby:

I like to think of this next pose as a “reclined” (or laying down) lotus pose:

Jody’s dramatic reclined spinal twist:

Lilacs

by

Last week, CSNW supporters Dick and Robbi Brown brought some beautiful purple lilac flowers for the chimps. I’ve known other chimps who really loved lilacs, most notably Washoe, but we just weren’t sure what the Cle Elum Seven would think. When we first gave the flowers to them, they were unsure (I tasted one the other day– bleh! they are pretty perfumey!), but today volunteer Seana and myself put out the rest of them in the outdoor area and they were a hit with everybody!

….well, almost everybody. Much like I would feel if I were them, Burrito and Foxie chose to remain indifferent toward the flower forage.

Missy:

Negra (with Annie in the background):

Jody:

Jamie enjoying her lilacs while wearing a stuffed monkey around her neck:

She put it on first thing this morning, and has been wearing it ever since:

Annie:

Thanks Robbi and Dick!

Sweet Jody

by

On a warm day, Jody loves having the barn doors open. She seems to love the fresh air and the view, and as soon as we open them up for the day, she usually starts going around the playroom collecting as many blankets as possible and makes a giant nest right next to them, either in the sun or where ever she can get the most breeze. Here are a few photos I took of her the other day doing just that in a nest of about 15 blankets.