Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jody

True Altruism

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“True altruism is caring for places you will never visit, people you will never meet and a future you will never see.” – Author unknown –

I was looking at Jane Goodall’s Facebook page the other day and came across the above quote. As I read the words, I couldn’t help thinking of all of the people who have and will continue to advocate for chimpanzees across Africa who have suffered as the result of deforestation, the pet trade and the bush meat trade. Many of these people are fighting for animals in places they will never have the chance to visit.

And then I read the quote again and couldn’t help but think of all of the Cle Elum Seven supporters around the world. Many supporters will never be able to meet these chimps, yet, they continue to love and support them.

Reading the quote one more time, I thought about the countless number of people fighting for a future they were not sure they’d ever see; an end to biomedical research on chimpanzees in the United States. I think Diana did a great job of describing how our society has shifted toward “greater understanding and compassion” It takes a lot of people and a lot of time, but change does happen and a future we dreamed about is happening now.

Thank you to all those who care about and advocate for, the places, the people and the future you may never see.

Jamie
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Jody
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Burrito
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Negra
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Foxie (look close to see Annie’s head poking out in the background)

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Missy (Foxie is in the background holding a troll doll.)
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Annie
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The Chimps and Young’s Hill

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When I think of the chimp that spends the most time in the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure, I think of Jamie. On any given day, she’s busy walking, watching, inspecting, patrolling and sometimes even just taking in the views, all from Young’s Hill. And when the weather is right, she stays out late until the last bit of sunlight fades into darkness. So, it seems appropriate that I associate her with Young’s Hill.

Here’s a picture taken of Jamie last week on her solo trip around the hill.
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But, as I walked out to meet Jamie for her first perimeter walk around Young’s Hill this morning (I, safely on the outside of the electric fences and her on the inside) almost all of the other chimps were already on the hill. Annie, Foxie and Burrito were already climbing to the top of Jamie’s Lookout at the uppermost part of the hill. Missy was busy running around and Jody was on the lookout for plants to forage.

When I saw the other chimps already on the hill this morning, it really dawned on me how much each of the chimpanzees at CSNW have changed throughout the past eight years. Each and every one of the chimps is growing more confident and adventurous as they choose to spend more and more time exploring their open air, outdoor enclosure.

And now, when I think about Young’s Hill, I think about Negra staying out late to forage on the wild plants on top of Young’s Hill. I think about Burrito climbing to the top of the highest structures and Annie and Foxie spending more and more time exploring on their own. I think of Missy’s acrobatic moves off of any and everything she can find and Jody’s never-ending search for wild plants to forage upon. Of course, I’ll continue to think about Jamie and her perimeter patrols, but I’m so glad to think of Young’s Hill and every one of the chimps now.

Annie on top of Jamie’s Lookout.
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Foxie joined Annie on top of the tower.
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And so did Burrito.
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After looking around, the chimps started making their way back down the structure and back toward the building.

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Once the girls made their way down the ladder, Burrito quickly followed.
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Missy was a blur most of the time she was on the hill this morning, but I was able to catch her as she sat for a minute (more like a couple of seconds) on top of one of the structures.
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Jody grabbed a bite from the spruce tree that JB planted on the hill (it was used as a Christmas tree a few years ago.)
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The Lost Photos

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Many of the photos we take of the chimpanzees each day never make it onto the blog. Here are a few that I’ve taken in the last couple of weeks that I just found hiding on the hard drive.

Jamie:

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Burrito:

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Annie:

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Jody:

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Negra:

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Speaking of photos you may have missed, the 2017 CSNW Calendar is now available in our online store! Here’s a sneak peak:

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If you’re as smitten with these chimps as we are, don’t pass up the opportunity to look at their amazing faces every day of the year!

The celebration for Vicki continues!

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Today was also generously sponsored by Jim Horton in honor of his mother, Vicki Fagerlee, for her birthday! We are so touched by Vicki’s family who have come together throughout the day to celebrate Vicki and the chimpanzees who mean so much to her!

Jim, thank you so much for honoring your mother in such a thoughtful way! What an amazing gift to be able to make a difference in the lives of these seven special individuals as you all celebrate someone who is so special to you.

Happy Birthday, Vicki, from all of the primates at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW!! Thank you so much for sharing your heart with the chimpanzees and including them in your special day! We are so grateful to you and your family for ensuring that for all their days forward, the chimps’ lives will be full of love, family and home.

And since you share a birthday month with the boss lady, Jamie, I thought we should recall all the pumpkin joy this month brings. If the chimps could send you a birthday wish, they might say with any luck you have your own head stuck inside a yummy pumpkin right now! 😉 But we humans just hope you have something like a nice cake or anything made of chocolate that brings you equal happiness. 🙂

Jamie:

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Jody testing out Jamie’s past birthday pumpkin:

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Negra and Jody:

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Negra:

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Annie:

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Jody and Missy:

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Foxie:

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Burrito. Of course.

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Happy Birthday, Vicki!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Mary Horton and family in honor of their mother, Vicki Fagerlee, for her birthday! Vicki is such a wonderful friend to the chimpanzees and we’re thrilled to celebrate her birthday here today! Mary shared this message about this gift in honor of her mom:  “There is nothing she would like better for a birthday gift than to help out the chimps.”

Mary and family, thank you so much for your generous and compassionate gift for the chimpanzees and Vicki! It’s easy for us to say perhaps, but when you look into the beautiful eyes of these seven amazing chimpanzee people it’s clear that the gift of sanctuary means everything to them. And as such, it does to us as well.

Vicki, we are so happy to have had the opportunity to meet you recently and are thrilled to have you as part of our chimp family! From our hearts, thank you for embracing the chimps, welcoming them into your life and making their lives better at every opportunity. All of the primates here wish you the happiest birthday yet! We hope your day is filled with all the love, comfort and joy you provide the chimps with, and I suspect so many others as well.

Burrito:

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Foxie:

Foxie side glance

Jody:

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Jamie:

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Negra:

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Annie:

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Missy:

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In memory of Deborah Silber

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Anne Woodward in memory of Deborah Silber. We are so touched when people think of the chimpanzees in remembering their friends and loved ones. Anne shared this message about today:

“This donation is in memory of Deborah Silber, who loved all animals and was a big fan of CSNW.”

Anne, thank you so much for sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in memory of Deborah. It makes us happy to know how much she cared for the chimps and that we get to share in celebrating her life. Your compassionate gift allows Jody and her family to enjoy their days in more ways than they could ever have imagined. And we can’t thank you enough for that. We hope today returns all that joy to you as you remember and honor Deborah today.

Beautiful Jody:

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Jody close-up forage queen

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Thank you, Cheyenne, Cobby, Minnie and Maggie and the San Francisco Zoo Primate Team!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Cheyenne Coles, chimpanzees Cobby, Minnie, and Maggie, and the humans of the San Francisco Zoo Primate Team in honor of Great Apes Giving Day! Cobby, Minnie and Maggie are three really gorgeous chimpanzee people who reside at the San Francisco Zoo. Cheyenne shared this lovely message about today:

“Thank you so much for the work that you do!! Our staff enjoys reading your beautiful blog and utilizing your impressive enrichment database to create items for our own apes (and monkeys). You are a true inspiration for what great chimp care looks like. Thank you for rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for the Cle Elum Seven with the respect and love they deserve. Today we honor you all!! Love, ~ The SF Zoo Primate Team and Chimps Cobby, Minnie & Maggie”

Cheyenne, Cobby, Minnie, Maggie and all of the primates at the San Francisco Zoo, thank you so much for such a gracious gift for the chimps! We are really touched by your sweet and generous sponsorship and honored that you would think of Annie, Missy, Jamie, Jody, Burrito, Foxie and Negra today. We’re so happy to hear you have been able to utilize our enrichment database for the apes and monkeys you care for! Thank you for all you do to care for your primate family. We are thinking of them all today and wish them the same days filled with the love, care, comfort and joy the Cle Elum Seven are so fortunate to receive thanks to supporters like you. Learn more about Cobby, Minnie, and Maggie and plans to improve and expand their home here.

Our Queen Negra:

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Jamie, Foxie and Dora:

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Annie and Missy:

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Burrito, Jody and Foxie:

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Today is officially Great Apes Giving Day! If you’ve already given, thank you SO much!! And if you haven’t had a chance yet you have until 9:00 pm (PT) to participate and support Missy and her family’s second chance! There are so many wonderful organizations caring for so many amazing beings and your support, in every size and shape, makes a difference (and this year African organizations are also included)! Thank you for your kind and compassionate hearts and all you make possible for these very special beings!