I posted a photo of Jody with her bucket of soapy water a few weeks ago, but I can’t resist posting the rest of the series:
Jody
Lessons from chimpanzees
When I am feeling down, I think about the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees at CSNW and everything they have been through in their lives.
I am amazed and humbled that Jody, after decades of living in a small cage in a medical laboratory, after having seven babies taken from her, can still enjoy relaxing in the February sun, holding her feet:
and Foxie, who endured research protocols, five babies being taken from her, and periods of social isolation, can greet each day with the desire to play with her caregivers and her chimpanzee friends
and Missy and Annie, who spent years without each other, can decide to sleep in together, napping in the side-by-side nests they created in the playroom
When I think about my chimpanzee friends and their lives, I realize I have little to complain about. And, if I can remember to live for today as they do, each day should include relaxation, happiness, play and companionship.
Bubbles, glasses, and something suspicious
This morning we put out a large bucket of (non-toxic) soapy water, thinking the chimps might want to do some cleaning. Jody had other ideas:
The chimps were also very interested in the eyeglasses (with plastic lenses) that we put out:
Missy, of course, wore her sunglasses on the back of her neck:
Annie seemed content to sit quietly and watch everyone else have fun:
Later, Jamie decided to pull the Christmas tree out of the tire….
….which uncovered something interesting and a little bit scary. Maybe a bug they hadn’t seen before?
I could use a sunny day…
For our response to the tragic situation in Connecticut, click here.
It’s sunny in Cle Elum! For me, that’s reason enough to celebrate. Enjoy these pics of Jamie (with her emery board!), Foxie, and Jody and Annie!
Watching videos
Here is a video of (from left to right) Jody, Burrito and Foxie watching the “all about chimpanzees” video yesterday.
Let it snow!
Yesterday began Cle Elum’s first snow storm of the year. And, to be honest, the chimpanzees did not react to the first flakes. I was thinking, “oh no, what are we going to tell the blog readers! Everyone is anxious to know what the chimps think of snow and they have no reaction!” It snowed more overnight and of course we had the outdoor area closed off to keep it toasty warm in the building. I opened the door to the outdoor area about 11:00 this morning and to my delight and surprise there was food grunting – and lots of it, especially from Jody. Everyone except Burrito took a turn sitting in the doorway and gathering up snow to eat. Burrito hung back and watched – I’m not sure if he was apprehensive or if he just didn’t get what the fuss was about.
Anyway, here are some photos and a video of the Cle Elum Seven ladies’ first experience of snow. What a way to celebrate 6 months in sanctuary!
CSNW calendars and bags!
A brand new Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest “store” will be appearing on our website soon. We have some very exciting items to start out with, and I need your input to decide how much we should order. There will be t-shirts, note cards, calendars and tote bags in the store.
I’d like to know, to begin with, about your interest in the calendars and tote bags. The calendars will likely be priced at 1 for $20, 2 for $30 and 5 for $60 and the tote bags will likely be $15 each, 2 for $25.
Please comment to this post or email me privately ([email protected]) to let me know how many calendars and tote bags you think you will order. Think big here – holiday gifts for everyone in your office, perhaps?
The calendar features photos of all of the chimpanzees – some that will be familiar to blog readers and others that are exclusive to the calendar. Here’s a preview of the cover of the calendar, to give you an idea of the contents:
The t-shirts and tote bags will feature a design created by Kim, our wonderful volunteer graphic designer – it is a illustration rendered from a photo of Jody. We’re going through an awesome new company called So Tons Creative for the bags and t-shirts (more praise will be bestowed upon Cassie, co-owner of So Tons Creative) soon.
The tote bags are 100% organic cotton and the kind that are perfect for grocery shopping, so it makes sense to order enough to carry all of your groceries. You can help the environment by saying “neither” to paper or plastic and you can help the Cle Elum Seven while you’re at it!