Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jody

In memory of Robert Ruggeri

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Rachel Ruggeri sponsored today in memory of her father, Robert Ruggeri, and shared this beautiful note about her gift:

“Today would mark my father’s 83rd birthday. And though he passed away six years ago in July, he is ever present in our thoughts and a part of so many of our conversations. My father loved to laugh and he found so much joy in the everyday antics of animals, most especially primates. He would be comforted knowing that the gang of seven now joined by the bovine bunch had found a future filled with peace and independence at the sanctuary in the quiet hills of Eastern Washington. I like to think that my father has also found that sanctuary somewhere in the ether…high above the clouds, but still within a distance to see all the beauty in the world he left behind. We miss him each and every day, but know that “sanctuary” is where we all ultimately aspire to be…”

Rachel, thank you so much for remembering your father in this way and for the difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives by doing so. We’re honored to celebrate Robert’s legacy and wish you and your family a day of comfort and joy-filled memories as you hold him in your hearts.

Negra:

Foxie and Missy:

Jamie:

Burrito:

(clockwise) Honey, Betsy, Nutmeg and Meredith (front):

Jody, Foxie and Annie:

Snacking and monitoring

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Jody is always keeping an eye on her Cle Elum 7 family. The other day she waited patiently for Negra to come back inside from Young’s Hill, all while snacking on several prickly (but apparently delicious) wild rose plants she had harvested.

For those wondering about Burrito today after yesterday’s visit to the new clinic, he is doing great. He’s still sleepy but seems to be enjoying the extra treats and alone time until he gets back to his full-rowdy self.

Ladies of the Hill

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Young’s Hill is a magical opportunity for the chimps. It is a place to feel free, it is a space they can protect, a place to escape to be alone, and a place to play and have fun with friends. And to me that is sanctuary. I have a collection of photos of all the ladies on the Hill from the past week. I can’t explain how it feels to watch these 7 chimps go out on to Young’s Hill and that it’s just part of their every day life. That for some chimps like Jamie they get to do what wild chimps would do; patrol their perimeter. If they can’t be wild I hope all chimps get this experience.

Foxie:

Annie:


Jody:


Missy:

Jamie:

Negra:

We Like to Have Fun!

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If you needed something to make you smile or a good laugh, you have come to the right place!

We had a very silly Burrito:



A Jamie full of mischief:


Negra wasn’t quite ready to get out of bed this morning:

But Foxie and Burrito were grooming up a storm:

Negra did venture out to the Hill later in the morning:

Foxie wanted to play a very lazy game of troll toss in the green house:


Annie and Missy could be found lounging all around the chimp house today or rippin’ around Young’s Hill:

And the wonderful miss Jody spent her day quietly foraging on the Hill and napping in the green house:

Burrito Wants to Play

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Burrito was laying in what we sometimes call the portrait studio, because it normally has great lighting and we can get stellar close-ups of the chimps. I went over to snap a few photos, but Burrito had a different idea. All Burrito wanted to do was play! Which I could not blame him! When you look into his Burrito eyes you would never deny him the simple joy of playing! So as you all will be able to tell it was hard to get a still photo of Burrito today.

Here is a Burrito photo montage:





There were so many amazing photos leftover from Jody’s 44th birthday bash , so I thought I would share just a few more!

Annie munching on a leek:

Jamie and Negra seeking some reassurance for this overly exciting forage:

The birthday girl Jo laying down enjoying all the snacks she gathered from the forage:

Negra surround by corn husks and lettuce:

The day after the party

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All of the chimpanzees slept in this morning. While it’s not unusual to come in and find a few people still in their nests, it’s a little unusual to find everyone not only still in their nests, but most of them sound asleep. Even as I began quietly unlocking doors and starting the morning task list, it was a few minutes before anyone woke up.

Foxie was curled up on the heated floor with her doll, still in dreamland, and when she eventually stirred she sat up sleepy-eyed, hair on end in excitement, and trundled over to say good-morning, eyes barely open, but full of joy. Negra even skipped the first part of breakfast and chose to take advantage of having the greenhouse all to herself to get a few more minutes of sleep. But I think we can all relate to the day after an exciting party event.

And yesterday’s birthday lady, Jody? Well, see for yourself…

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.