Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jody

Thank you, Susan!

by

A day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees was also sponsored by Susan Bradshaw today! We are always moved by the compassion each of you show for the chimpanzees. For every day of sanctuary sponsored, every donation made, every item purchased that makes the chimps’ days better and the humans’ days easier to care for them, and for every one who supports the chimps by following them on the blog and social media and shares their lives with others, it all adds up to a LIFE in sanctuary. Seven lives to be specific. And we could not be more grateful to you!

Susan, thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees today and making a difference in their lives! We so appreciate your care and generosity! Your support provides Jody and her family with endless joy, comfort, adventure, exciting things to eat and a home full of love to call their own.

web_Jody_look_at_camera_GH_ek_IMG_5043

web_mothers_day_Jody_eat_lilacs_GH_IMG_2126

web_Jody_lie_down_blanket_platform_alfalfa_cubes_mouth_look_at_camera_GH_kh_IMG_3222

In memory of Ron and Betty Kreuscher

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Ronalyn Huenergard in honor of her parents, Ron and Betty Kreuscher. Ronalyn shared this message about today:

“On my parents wedding anniversary, who didn’t have a chance to meet all their great-grandchildren and vice versa, this is on their behalf – all 13 of them.”

Ronalyn, what a wonderful way to honor the memory of your parents and the family they helped create. Thank you so much for sharing this gift for the chimpanzees on behalf of Ron and Betty’s great-grandchildren. May you all celebrate their lives and legacy with joy today! And thank you for helping to ensure the chimps spend their days surrounded by a family to call their own.

Jody and Missy:

web-crop-jody-missy-kiss-reassurance-pumpkin-eat-food-halloween-birthday-playroom-img_1261-copy

Jamie and Negra:

Negra kiss Jamie

Burrito, Jamie and Foxie:

web_Burrito_Jamie_Foxie_groom_interruption_look_toward_camera_GH_ek_IMG_8211

Jody, Missy, Annie, Foxie and Burrito:

bunch of chimps on a structure

web_jody_foxie_negra_missy_annie_walk_onto_yh_ek_photo-3-3

Tiny chimps

by

As soon as breakfast was over this morning Jamie was ready (and demanding) to go on her first perimeter walk of the day. If you got a chance to check out Elizabeth’s great blog post yesterday, you can see this is also the time we begin cleaning the chimp house. But Jamie makes sure we keep our priorities straight. So as Anna and Jamie headed off for a walk, most of the other chimps decided to join them (with the exception of the Queen who was enjoying her after breakfast nap in the greenhouse)! And so I headed out to our observation platform to take photos.

It never gets old seeing the chimps traverse their outdoor habitat, but it was a special treat to see them all on the structures together! They looked so tiny out there…

Anna, (top to bottom) Jamie, Jody, Burrito and Missy:

anna_jamie_jody_burrito_missy_walk_perimeter_kd_img_7224

Annie, Missy, Jamie (at top) and Jody walking away with her treasure of found cattails:

annie_missy_jamie_jody_twister_kd_img_7225

Jamie, Burrito, Missy (Anna looks like she’s catching a piggy back on Missy, but rest assured she’s on the outside of the fence 😉 ), and Annie:

jamie_burrito_missy_annie_anna_twister_kd_img_7226

Meanwhile, Foxie and her twin Doras had meandered over to climb up Jamie’s Tower:

foxie_sit_ladder_jamies_tower_look_at_trees_kd_img_7228

So tiny…Foxie on Jamie’s Tower (the top right hand of the photo), taking in the woods above the sanctuary (and our new property!):

foxie_sit_jamies_tower_under_treeline_kd_img_7237

Jody continued back to the greenhouse with her mouthful of cattails, making her way through the tall grass like a wild woman:

jody_walk_through_bamboo_carry_cattails_kd_img_7230

jody_walk_through_grass_carry_cattails_kd_img_7232

jody_walk_out_of_grass_with_cattails_kd_img_7233

jody_emerge_from_tall_grass_with_cattails_kd_img_7229

The others caught up with Foxie and reconvened on Jamie’s and Carlene’s Towers together. Annie standing below, Jamie on the ladder, and Foxie up top:

annie_jamie_foxie_doras_jamies_tower_kd_img_7243

Jamie, Missy and Foxie:

jamie_missy_foxie_sit_jamies_tower_closeup_kd_img_7252

Jamie made her way across the shaky bridge to Carlene’s Tower:

jamie_walk_shaky_bridge_img_7238

annie_foxie_missy_jamie_sit_towers_kd_img_7245

annie_missy_foxie_jamie_burrito_kd_img_7254

Burrito isn’t as sure of himself on shaky structures so he’s a little more cautious about traversing the bridge, but he made it across, brave chimp man that he is:

burrito_cautious_on_shaky_bridge_kd_img_7256

Diana cleverly stuck some cattails on top of the roof for Annie’s birthday a few days ago and somehow it’s gone unnoticed by the chimps. Until this morning:

jamie_on_carlenes_tower_kd_img_7239

jamie_sit_carlenes_tower_find_cattail_kd_img_7241

Missy lucked out after Jamie left and found another one. The second she pulled it down a cloud of seeds blew across the hill:

missy_sit_carlenes_tower_cattail_fluff_blowing_kd_img_7257

cattail_fluff_from_missy_in_tower_kd_img_7258

cattail_fluff_blowing_from_tower_kd_img_7259

All during the photo shoot, Ellie enjoyed her favorite morning spot stretched out in the shade underneath the platform I was on, or as I like to call it, the elk port:

ellie_look_up_from_under_platform_kd_img_7250

A Day in the Life

by

9:00am: Up the winding driveway…

web_view_up_driveway_morning_ek_photo-3-8

Good morning, sanctuary!

web_sanctuary_morning_ek_photo-4-7

Ellie the elk started the day in her favorite spot under the observation deck:

web_ellie_under_observation_deck_ek_photo-3-7

Volunteer caregivers Denice and Sandra set to work preparing breakfast:

web_volunteers_denice_sandra_prepare_breakfast_ek_photo-5-9

Usually when we arrive for the day this time of year there are several chimps outside in the greenhouse. Today it was just Negra cuddled under a blanket:

web_negra_under_blanket_morning_gh_ek_photo-1-7

Soon breakfast was ready!

web_breakfast_tray_ek_photo-2-6

Our typical routine is to serve a small snack in the indoor front rooms first thing to entice the chimps out of the greenhouse so we can close it off for cleaning. Volunteer caregiver-in-training Yuri offered the chimps some grapefruit while I closed and locked the doors leading to the greenhouse.

Negra is not always a people person, but this morning as she ate her grapefruit she was feeling extra affectionate as she offered her back to Sandra for a knuckle rub and offered Denice a kiss.

web_volunteer_sandra_knuckle_rub_negra_pr_ek_photo-3-5

web_negra_kiss_volunteer_denice_ek_photo-5-7

We all checked the doors and locks to make sure it was safe to unlock the greenhouse:

web_volunteer_yuri_checks_ek_photo-1-6

and then got to work!

web_volunteers_sandra_denice_yuri_clean_gh_ek_photo-2-5

Afterward Yuri double-checked locks on the greenhouse door:

web_volunteer_yuri_check_locks_after_cleaning_gh_ek_photo-3-6

and we started the first batch of dirty toys soaking in the tub:

web_toys_soak_in_tub_ek_photo-4-5

and the first load of dirty blankets in the washer:

web_laundry_ek_photo-1-4

Then Yuri served the rest of breakfast in the greenhouse:

web_volunteer_yuri_serve_breakfast_gh_ek_photo-5-8

and wrote in his training notebook:

web_volunteer_yuri_write_in_training_notebook_ek_photo-2-2

Next we tackled the playroom, which is the largest indoor space at the sanctuary. We cleaned upstairs:

web_volunteers_sandra_denice_clean_loft_pr_ek_photo-2-7

and downstairs:

web_volunteers_denice_yuri_sandra_clean_pr_ek_photo-5-5

and when we were done, set up a little tea party for the chimps:

web_tea_party_pr_ek_photo-5-10

While we cleaned the playroom, the chimps enjoyed the warm greenhouse.

Annie:

web_annie_gh_ek_photo-1-3

Burrito:

web_burrito_bite_caging_gh_ek_photo-5

We run through a series of safety checks before giving the chimps access to Young’s Hill each day, so I did those while Denice, Yuri, and Sandra wrapped up the playroom.

web_check_locks_gates_yh_ek_photo-4-6

Foxie was the first to squeeze through the door to the hill as it was opening:

web_foxie_squeeze_through_door_y_ek_photo-3-2

But she was quickly joined by Jody, Negra, Missy, and Annie:

web_jody_foxie_negra_missy_annie_walk_onto_yh_ek_photo-3-3

Our last big cleaning task for the morning was the front rooms, which we started after a short break:

web_yuri_clean_frs_ek_photo-1-2

After some time outside, Foxie wandered into the playroom to spend some quality time with her dolls:

web_foxie_play_with_dolls_pr_ek_photo-4-2

and Jamie requested a drink of water from the hose:

web_volunteer_caregiver_yuri_give_jamie_drink_from_hose_pr_ek_photo-2-1

Since we had plenty of cleaners to handle the front rooms, Denice started on some kitchen tasks. She prepared some chow bags:

web_volunteer_denice_make_chow_bags_ek_photo-5-3

and put some potatoes in the oven for dinner:

web_volunteer_denice_bake_potatoes_ek_photo-5-1

After cleaning, Yuri and Denice picked some veggies from the chimps’ garden for lunch:

web_lunch_tray_ek_img_7132

web_volunteer_yuri_serve_burrito_lunch_gh_ek_img_7135

While Yuri served lunch in the greenhouse, Sandra kept the endless laundry moving along:

web_volunteer_sandra_laundry_ek_photo-3-1

After lunch, it was finally time for some fun. Sandra and Jamie groomed in the greenhouse:

web_jamie_groom_volunteer_sandra_gh_ek_img_7122

while Yuri and Burrito went for a walk around Young’s Hill.

web_burrito_perimeter_walk_with_volunteer_yuri_yh_ek_img_7143

After the walk, Burrito was in the mood for a little tug of war:

web_burrito_play_tug_of_war_volunteer_sandra_gh_ek_img_7138

A little later in the afternoon JB, Diana, and Katelyn came up from the office and we did some PRT (Positive Reinforcement Training) with the chimps.

Missy presenting her wrist for Katelyn:

web_missy_staff_caregiver_katelyn_prt_gh_ek_photo-1

We ended the day with a dinner forage in the playroom. Jamie used a plate to collect her food:

web_jamie_forage_collect_plate_pr_ek_img_7170

Burrito:

web_burrito_forage_pr_ek_img_7166

Annie:

web_annie_forage_pr_ek_img_7162

And finally, it was goodnight.

web_foxie_lie_on_bench_end_of_day_frs_ek_img_7172

Sunflowers

by

Sometimes you just have to have flowers for the sake of having flowers. These sunflowers caught my eye this morning (they were in my garden) and I thought they could bring a little sunshine to the chimps’ day today.

web_sunflowers_enrichment_in_firehose_braid_kh_gh_img_7080

web_sunflowers_enrichment_in_firehose_braid_kh_gh_img_7057

Jody looked at the flowers and then did a taste test.
web_jody_profile_sunflower_in_mouth_gh_ek_img_7050

web_jody_profile_sunflower_in_hand_mouth_gh_ek_img_7051

After eating a few, she took one with her out onto Young’s Hill and dropped it by her feet as she focused on eating her primate chow at breakfast.
web_jody_profile_sit_ground_with_chowbags_in_hand_sunflower_on_ground_by_feet_yh_img_7079

web_sunflower_ground_jody_feet_yh_kh_img_7077

Jamie checked them out too.

web_jamie_sit_platform_reach_sunflowers_enrichment_gh_ek_img_7054

web_jamie_sit_platform_reach_for_hold_look_at_sunflowers_enrichment_gh_ek_img_7056

Slow and steady

by

I love watching the chimpanzees forage for the food we spread throughout Young’s Hill (the chimps’ outdoor enclosure). Each chimp has their own strategy. Jody usually gathers as much food as possible, as quick as possible, before heading back to the Greenhouse to eat.

web_Jody_mouthful_carrots_forage_profile_YH_kh_IMG_5773

web_Jody_closeup_face_eat_look_to_side_GH_kh_IMG_6475

web_Jody_closeup_face_eat_look_to_side_droopy_bottom_lip_GH_kh_IMG_6477

And Foxie tends to eat as she goes and makes multiple trips throughout the day to look for more food. She seems to abide by the slow and steady method of foraging.

She ate beets and chow on round one…

web_Foxie_food_in_hand_mouth_forage_YH_kh_IMG_5787

web_Foxie_food_in_mouth_profile_forage_YH_kh_IMG_5789

web_Foxie_open_mouth_red_beets_hand_to_mouth_YH_kh_IMG_5792

…carrots on her second round…

web_Foxie_sit_ground_forage_food_carrot_mouth_YH_kh_IMG_5817

…and potatoes on the third round.
web_Foxie_forage_reach_for_food_YH_kh_IMG_5809

web_Foxie_stance_forage_food_in_mouth_hand_look_down_at_hand_YH_kh_IMG_5814

Finally, she took some time to take in the views from the top of one of the structures.

web_Foxie_sit_top_structure_look_toward_camera_YH_kh_IMG_5831

web_Foxie_sit_top_structure_look_out_from_camera_survey_YH_kh_IMG_5833

Missy the Disco Queen – Part II

by

As Anna mentioned in her blog post yesterday, the chimps and humans spent the entire day celebrating Missy and her 41st birthday (along with the birthdays of a couple of our wonderful friends and supporters, Deb and Martha)!

As you may be aware, Missy is mad about tomatoes. She seems to never tire of them and I think she’d be happy to eat nothing else. And because she and her best friend, Annie, love to incorporate socks and ’80’s style headbands into their play sessions, what better way to kick off the celebration than with an ’80’s Disco Party theme complete with disco ball pinatas (graciously made by volunteer caregiver, Patti) and cherry tomatoes in socks, along with a breakfast forage!

As promised, here are photos from Missy’s day (and I hope you all like lots of photos, folks!)

web_missy_forage_disco_bday_gh_kd_IMG_5439

web_missy_stand_tire_bday_forage_gh_kd_IMG_5438

web_missy_find_tomato_in_tire_swing_bday_party_kd_IMG_5441

web_missy_swing_firehose_chimp_house_kd_IMG_5428

missy_sit_gh_window_use_foot_for_sock_enrichment_kd_IMG_5432

web_missy_tomato_in_sock_disco_bday_party_kd_IMG_5443

Jody was able to get one of the cherry tomato socks (that’s Burrito to the right who was emitting low moans of joy over his handfuls of breakfast treats – I just now realized it’s the only shot we got of him, but rest assured he was happy!):

web_jody_sock_enrichment_missy's_bday_kd_IMG_5427

Foxie:

web_foxie_eat_chow_sit_tire_missy_bday_forage_kd_IMG_5436

Annie (notice all the socks hanging on the firehose – Missy got every single one!):

web_annie_sit_platform_gh_missys_bday_party_kd_IMG_5437

The party continued with a watermelon bowl lunch forage on Young’s Hill:

web_watermelon_bowls_for_missys_41st_bday_IMG_5450

The birthday lady quickly found one and headed for a quiet spot to take in the view and enjoy her lunch in peace:

web_missy_eat_watermelon_bowl_bday_party_yh_aW_IMG_6407

Annie also chose to enjoy her watermelon bowl in solitude:

web_annie_eat_watermelon_sit_shaky_bridge_kd_IMG_6425

Jody found two and quickly headed back to enjoy them in the comfort of the greenhouse:

web_jody_carry_watermelos_bowls_yh_aw_IMG_6413

web_jody_look_at_watermelon_bowls_gh_aw_IMG_6420

web_jody_lay_stomach_eat_watermelon_bowl_aw_IMG_6421

Foxie found they were the perfect size to just put her whole face in:

web_foxie_face_in_watermelon_bowl_sit_platform_yh_aw_IMG_6417

Jamie took the approach of dumping out the bowls and then using them to collect copious amounts of chow to bring inside and enjoy:

web_jamie_collect_chow_with_watermelon_bowls_aw_IMG_6432

web_jamies_watermelon_bowl_of_chow_aw_IMG_6433

And the piece de resistance? Queen Neggie:

web_negra_find_watermelon_bowl_in_cabin_aw_IMG_6397

web_negra_profile_carry_watermelon_bowl_yh_aw_IMG_6400

web_negra_carry_watermelon_bowl_in_mouth_look_camera_aw_IMG_6403

web_negra_carry_watermelon_bowl_in_mouth_closeup_yh_aw_IMG_6405

Back inside the greenhouse, Negra headed to her favorite sunny corner which overlooks her beloved valley:

web_negra_hold_watermelon_bowl_gh_look_at_valley_aw_IMG_6424

negra_eat_watermelon_bowl_closeup_gh_aw_IMG_6419

A heart full of thanks to all the staff, volunteers and supporters who made this special day of celebration for Missy and her friends possible!

Celebrating each of the chimp’s birthdays and the amazing individuals they are is always a joyous and fun occasion. And as I shared with Missy’s Pals yesterday, the reasons for celebration and gratitude go far beyond a specific date. In Missy’s case, it’s hard not to recall the thought that she almost didn’t make it sanctuary. Diana shared this story in a previous blog post though I failed to locate it. But in preparation for the chimps’ transfer to CSNW they all went through physicals at which time Missy was found to have uterine fibroids and was given a hysterectomy. Missy came through the surgery just fine, but during her transport afterward, she suddenly crashed. It took a lot to bring her back. After 30 years of torture and torment, she was so close to never knowing anything different. It makes my heart shake and shudder just to stand on the edge of this thought. And yet it’s a reality for so many chimps, particularly those who never made it to sanctuary or are still awaiting their turn.

Since arriving to her sanctuary home Missy has shown us she is someone who greets life by opening the door and running into it, arms wide open. With every leap, twist, swing, jump, sprint and full out run she puts her history further behind her, defying her age and claiming a life full of joy, adventure, comfort and love. None of which would be possible without you.

Please know it’s not my intention to end this fabulous celebration on a downer. It’s my hope to share with you how truly amazing each day in sanctuary is for the chimps. And to express our profound gratitude to you for ensuring that every day is one of the celebration of freedoms in all shapes and sizes for each of the chimps, in their own way and choosing. Safe in the knowledge that they are home, respected, valued and loved for the individuals they are.

And to our Disco Queen, Happy, Happy Birthday, Missy, we love you so much!! For all your days forward may your heart and soul sing out loud. And may there be tomatoes. So many tomatoes.