Happy 4th of July from the Cle Elum Seven!
Jody
Today is in memory of Maxine Stark
Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Kimberle Stark in memory of her mom, Maxine Stark. Kimberle shared this lovely message about her mom:
“My mom passed away on July 4th and she loved chimps and loved the sanctuary for the good life you’re now providing for the chimps who deserve a better life.”
Kimberle, we’re just honored that you would think of the chimpanzees today. Thank you so much for wanting to give them a special day in honor of your mom. It makes us so happy to know how much Maxine loved the chimps and we will all be celebrating her life with you, along with all the many forms of freedom generous supporters like you make possible for the chimpanzees to experience in their sanctuary home. Especially, the freedom to just be. Our hearts are with you today and we wish you a day surrounded by the love and memories of your mom.
Jody:
Negra:
Annie:
Chimps back on Young’s Hill After Recent Fire
To say that yesterday was filled with “excitement” would be an understatement. If you have not already heard the news, there was a fire on a neighboring property that started yesterday. The firefighters were on it right away and all of the safety measures we have at the sanctuary to deal with wildfires were enacted immediately. Fortunately, the fire was much smaller and slower moving than the Taylor Bridge fire of 2012, that burned through part of the sanctuary property.
Today, everyone is safe now that the fire is contained, the smoke has cleared and the temperature is just right. So, we decided to celebrate with a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. Everyone went out to gather food, soak up the sunshine and climb the various structures to look around.
Annie (left), Jody (center) and Burrito (right)
Burrito (foreground) and Jamie (background)
Foxie (left) and Missy (right)
Missy searched high and low to find the “hidden” food…
…including corn on the cob.
Jody with red onions in her mouth.
Annie with a mouth full of primate chow.
Burrito
Jamie
Foxie brought her Dora the Explorer doll onto the hill.
Negra posted up and ate her corn on the cob.
We’re so thankful to all the firefighters that work so hard to protect our community, to our dedicated staff and volunteers, and for all of the well wishes from supporters around the world!!! Thank you all so much for caring and sending us your loving thoughts! We’re forever grateful!
Nothing Much Going On
If you follow our blog regularly, you might get the impression that the chimpanzees are always up to something. And they do spend a lot of time playing, eating, grooming, and exploring. But they also enjoy downtime.
In memory of Bryan
This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Judy Riner in memory of her husband, Bryan Riner, and she shared this beautiful message about her special gift in his honor:
“Bryan Riner loved and respected chimps. He especially enjoyed following the lives of the Cle Elum Seven, and he would be proud to know that his family honors his memory in this way. He was a loving husband and father, and that love and compassion extended to all species.”
Judy, thank you so very much for this special gift in Bryan’s memory. You and your family have been such good friends to the chimpanzees and we are honored to celebrate Bryan here today. All of us here at the sanctuary will be holding you all in our hearts and minds. We hope that the love you extend to the chimpanzees, enabling them to live their lives full of joy and comfort, is felt all around you as you celebrate Bryan and his wonderful legacy of compassion and respect for all our fellow beings.
Annie and Missy:
Burrito and Jody:
Foxie and Negra:
Jamie and Negra:
Bubbles
Once in awhile we make bubbles for the chimps with a small drop of non-toxic dish soap. They seem to like how the bubbles feel in their mouths.
After Hours
After dinner each day, most of the chimps grab their blankets and bed down for the night.
Jody:
Negra:
But for Jamie, the day is just getting started.
Jamie likes to be in control. It’s hard to say whether this is a result of spending decades in a research lab where she was absolutely powerless, or whether this would have been her personality regardless of the circumstances she was born into, in which case it’s even sadder to imagine her stuck in a cage with no choices and no control over her life.
But not to worry; Jamie is making up for lost time. One of the ways she exerts her newfound power is by keeping the staff at work after hours. Before we go home each night, we close the door to Young’s Hill and make sure all the chimps are safe inside the building. As long as the door to Young’s Hill remains open, the staff are required to stay at the chimp house. Jamie is aware of this policy and will often run at top speed to throw her body into the doorway to prevent us from closing the door. This serves the dual purpose of buying her extra time outside in the evening, as well as extra time with her human friends/minions.
Until recently, Jamie has been the only one to take advantage of this “loophole.” She will keep her caregivers at work until 9 or 10pm some evenings, while the other chimps are snoozing away inside. But this summer Jamie has had some company during her after hours adventures. The other chimps are starting to see the appeal of warm, peaceful summer evenings outside.
Burrito:
Annie:
