Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
The chimpanzees know that any good party is really about the food. In celebration of today’s holiday, we had a lunch party in the greenhouse and the chimps feasted on Field Roast (a really delicious vegetarian “meat” made from grains and veggies), corn, watermelon, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, and sparkling apple cider.
Jamie:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Missy:
Annie:
Negra:
Jody:
The chimpanzees eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies at the sanctuary. For the most part, they like what we like, but they do have a higher tolerance for certain flavors.
The grass is so tall now the chimps literally step into it and disappear at times. I don’t think I will ever do anything less than treasure those moments as glimpses into the wild that will always live in their hearts:
Hidden Burrito:
Jody:
Jody and Burrito:
Jody foraged a gorgeous wild bouquet to bring back and enjoy in the greenhouse (notice her sneer face because bugs were biting her):
Here she is swatting them away:
Foxie was on an adventure with two tiny twin trolls which fell off her back so she stopped to put them back where they belong:
And a bonus Annie photo, because well, who doesn’t need to see a bonus Annie photo?
When we open the door to Young’s Hill each morning, Jody is usually the first outside. She sits for a moment at the end of the raceway looking out on the 2-acre enclosure. Maybe she’s checking that all is well, or maybe she’s making plans for the day.
We have a wonderful surprise day of sanctuary today sponsored by Dylan Most, who just wanted to give a little love to the chimps and celebrate the first day of summer!
Dylan, what a lovely gift! Thank you so much for thinking of the chimps and all of us here at the sanctuary. It’s hard to believe it’s summer! But the easeful, peaceful and joyful days are welcome by us all and it’s so wonderful to see the chimps relishing it all. We are grateful to your kind heart for helping to make theirs lives as beautiful as possible.
Be it your summer or winter, all of us are wishing all of you a beautiful solstice! And happy summer to all our northern hemisphere folks!
Jody:
Foxie:
Negra:
Annie:
Jamie:
Missy:
Burrito:
Jody’s eyes are framed by her distinct heart shaped brow ridge. This ridge has little extra wrinkles which make it all the more pronounced. Her eyes are also a bit closer together than some of the other chimps. These characteristics combine to give her an intensely earnest expression. Sometimes she looks a bit permanently surprised. There is no ignoring her beauty.
Every once in awhile I feel like everything around me stills for just a few seconds and I find myself standing still in eye of the love storm that surrounds these chimpanzees. It’s a feeling to behold and I can’t help but imagine if all living beings, us humans included, could feel so much love and respect what a different place this world, this life, might be. It’s inspiring and hopeful and makes one’s heart ache with gratitude that these amazing chimpanzees get to experience this as their every day life now.
As we celebrate this special day of the chimps’ 9th year since arriving to their sanctuary home AND Queen Negra’s birthday, our second day of sanctuary sponsorship comes from our dear friend, Kathleen Corby, with this beautiful message:
“Happy 44th Birthday to Negra and Happy 9 Years of Hope, Love, Home, Sanctuary to CSNW! To Negra, I wish you a day filled with warm sunshine to nap in, soft fuzzy blankets to nest with, and Nut Bags galore bursting full of your favorite snacks! Please know I love you dearly and I will never forget the day I had the privilege to meet you — my heart melted with pure joy upon seeing your beautiful face. Happy Birthday to you dear girl! I love you. To everyone at CSNW, I wish you the happiest of celebrations on this important day. I will be celebrating with you in my heart. Thank you for all you have done and all you continue do to provide Negra, Missy, Annie, Jamie, Foxie, Jody and Burrito with the best of everything possible. Much love, Kathleen”
Kathleen, from our hearts, thank you for being part of this chimp family and this amazing day of celebration. You are here in spirit, thought and heart every day and I have no doubt the chimpanzees feel that on some level.
Happy Anniversary, Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy and Negra! We love you all so very much!
Annie:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie:
Jody:
Missy:
And Happiest of Happy to you on this birthday, Queen Negra! Negra says, *Clap, Clap!!* “Let’s get this party started!”:
