There’s nothing like spring at the sanctuary.
Jody
Here Comes the Sun
The last two days have seen the first genuinely warm weather we’ve had in Cle Elum after a long winter. All of the windows and doors of the chimp house are thrown open, allowing a gentle, warm cross breeze to waft through the building. I think Jody’s dreamy expression speaks for all of us.
10 (ish) Seconds of pure contentment
Each morning we start the chimpanzees day by serving a snack in the indoor areas. This snack is usually a pretty good motivational tool so we can close off the Greenhouse for some cleaning. To unlock an area for humans to enter it, we need that enclosure to be chimp-free and securely closed off, but sometimes getting an area chimp-free isn’t so easy. Especially when that area is a really warm, sun-filled greenhouse. This beautiful morning I was expecting the challenge, so I opened up the wooden barn doors immediately to let the morning air into the chimpanzee’s playroom area. The chimps were so excited they came pouring in from the greenhouse, making the morning breakfast shift that much easier!
Today is the first day it almost feels a bit HOT of all things. For your viewing pleasure: a brief clip of Jamie and Jody relaxing next to the barn doors:
Walks in the rain
There is a gorgeous book recently written by a mother and daughter in Hawaii called “H?nau ka Ua” in which they recorded over 200 hundred names for rain in the Hawaiian language. It is written that their k?puna, or elders, were so attuned to the environment that they gave individual names to the variety of rains and winds on the islands. They knew each rain based on where and when it fell, the intensity and duration, the effect it had on people, the sound it made on the trees, and even the scent it carried. So in tune to their environment they considered it their kin.
In this part of the world, spring is ushered in on the winds. Not just any old breezes, but winds that come off the still snow-covered mountains and barrel down the valley like a freight train, that kick and buck like a wild horse, and throw sticks and stones for good measure. The days like that are sunny, but often leave all the primates taking cover. But on the days when the wind’s wild rumpus finally settles, like today, it can be cloudy and rainy. A gentle, soothing rain.
When not on Young’s Hill, the chimps chose to spend the entire day in the greenhouse, under the sound of rain on the roof. Annie nested there all day, as she often does when it rains. During a downpour at lunch we all just sat taking cover together, faces turned upward listening to the soothing rhythm.
Foxie keeping France Dora safe:
When Jamie insisted on multiple walks in the rain today, I marveled at the transition she’s made to being a Pacific Northwest chimp, virtually un-phased by the showers. Each walk for each kind of rain was different, but all were joyous and calm.
In a gentle, but steady light rain we didn’t dawdle, but she walked surprisingly slowly, the only sounds the raindrops on my Gortex jacket and our feet moving through the wet grass:
Later in the day when the rain let up and turned to only a few sprinkles was when she decided to kick up her heels and run:
On the final walk of the day most everyone decided to come out (though it was too wet for Negra today).
Burrito:
Jody:
Foxie and Dora:
Missy:
I’m so grateful that the chimps have the opportunity to be so connected to their home. To each rain and wind, snow and sunny day. To be kin with their environment and the wilderness in their hearts. Just as they were meant to be. Just as we were all meant to be.
8th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day
We love made-up holidays around here (holiday = party for the chimps). For the last 8 years, the chimps’ good friend Monica Best has sponsored April 23rd as Love a Chimpanzee Day. (It also happens to be Monica’s birthday!) Unless you’ve followed our blog for awhile, you probably haven’t heard of Love a Chimpanzee Day; that’s because it didn’t exist until Monica dreamed it up.
To celebrate CSNW’s 8th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day, we decided to throw a luau party, because there’s never a bad time to throw a luau party for chimps you love. The chimps enjoyed a feast of bananas, oranges, fruit smoothie, and pineapple coconut water for breakfast in the greenhouse.
Missy:
Burrito:
(Burrito was especially happy to see former volunteer caregiver Stephanie, who stopped by for a visit!)
Negra:
Jamie:
Jody:
Annie:
(Annie really had lounging down to an art today…)
Thanks as always to Monica for conceiving of and sponsoring this delightful holiday (and happy birthday)!
For Earth Day and the chimpanzees!
This day was sponsored by Debbie Bloom in honor of the chimpanzees and this beautiful Earth we all share. She shares this lovely message about today:
“In honor of Earth Day it seems appropriate to celebrate all of these beautiful creatures. They bring such joy and intrigue into our lives – especially mine. I only wish that I could read their minds.”
Debbie, on this day in which we’re given a special opportunity to honor and celebrate this amazing earth, and to protect and preserve all we cherish, we love that you’ve chosen to include the chimps. Thank you so much for honoring the special individuals they are and all they bring to our lives just by being themselves.
There is so much to love on this earth. Especially these seven chimpanzees. Safe, thriving and loved in a beautiful world to call their own, thanks to each of you.
Annie:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie:
Jody:
Missy:
Negra:
In honor of Bryan Pease
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor in honor of their friend, Bryan Pease! They shared this special message about their kind gift:
“Bryan is a good friend who advocates for animals and humans. Although, his birthday was April 8th, today activists around the world are speaking out for animals in laboratories. Today we honor Bryan who has been a huge voice for animals in labs, we honor the animals, especially the seven chimps at CSNW. Bryan is one of the top rated civil rights attorneys in San Diego and has met the stringent selection criteria of the national rating agency SuperLawyers. He is a public interest attorney focusing on government transparency and accountability, freedom of speech and assembly, and environmental, animal and consumer protection. In the June 2016 California primary election, over 23,000 registered Democrats voted for Bryan to be their San Diego County Democratic Central Committee delegate, giving him the most number of votes in the county out of 73 candidates across six state assembly districts. Bryan has fought for many San Diegans who would not be able to afford an attorney if it weren’t for Bryan’s pro bono work. For his entire legal and professional career, Bryan has worked tirelessly defending the public interest. He has successfully fought for environmental and consumer protection, defended against employment and housing discrimination, and enforced the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition to running his own law firm, Bryan has taught as an adjunct law professor, inspiring law students to pursue public interest law. Bryan also regularly provides pro bono legal services to homeless veterans and small nonprofit organizations. Bryan has also served as a board member of Ocean Beach Peoples Co-Op from 2008-2015, OB’s largest employer, and for the past 10 years, he has been the volunteer executive director of a nonprofit thrift store in San Diego that benefits animal and environmental protection causes.” We love you Bryan! Love Kery & Terran.”
Kery and Terran, thank you for adding to the chimpanzees’ lives by celebrating such an inspirational human as Bryan and for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts. To you both, as well as Bryan, thank you for all you do for our fellow humans and animals and for making the world a better place for us all!
Jamie:
Foxie:
Burrito:
Jamie, Missy, Burrito, Annie and Foxie:
Annie and Missy:
Jody:
Negra:
