Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Jody

Celebrating Jody on Mother’s Day

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In honor of Jody’s “adopted” birthday, we chose to celebrate today with a party!! Parties are a great way of celebrating special days and the chimpanzees love them. This morning was full of excitement as staff and volunteers Anna and Jake set up the party in the Greenhouse, complete with many of Jody’s favorite things, including streamers, blankets, socks, toys and fresh lilacs and grass.

This morning’s breakfast included fresh pineapple and kiwi and a grapefruit and banana smoothie with protein powder. We supplemented the fresh fruit with peanuts and primate chow as well.

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Fresh flowers for Jody’s 40th birthday!
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Once all of the party pieces were in place, it was time for the celebration to begin. The lilacs were a huge hit with the birthday lady as well as some of the other ladies in the group. The smoothie cups were a close second, at least for the ladies. Burrito went straight for the primate chow.

Jody
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Negra
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Missy
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Foxie
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Jamie
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Burrito
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Annie
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Today we honor Jody for the strong, intelligent, beautiful and independent woman that she is. We truly admire her for her ability to make the most elaborate nests with blankets, bamboo, paper and whatever else she deems necessary for maximum comfort. We also admire her foraging ability (being able to gather as many food items as possible in her arms and mouth and still be able to walk). And we love her for her enthusiastic greetings, helping us out by getting stray blankets out of the doorways when shifting the chimps and rounding everyone up for meal times.

Happy birthday Jody and happiest wishes for all mothers of all species everywhere! And thank you again Tracy for sponsoring today for Jody and the rest of her family!

Today is for Jody!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Tracy Headley in honor of her chimpanzee pal, Jody, for Jody’s 40th birthday! Jody was born in 1975, we believe in the wild. Although we don’t know Jody’s actual day of birth, we chose Mother’s Day as her honorary birthday in honor of the nine babies that she gave birth to while in biomedical research and was never allowed to raise. You can learn more about Jody’s life before arriving at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest here.

Jody’s (and all of the chimpanzees’) histories are heartbreaking. But despite experiencing the unthinkable trauma of being stolen from her own mother as a child, and subsequently not being allowed the right to raise her own children, Jody’s ability to enjoy each day in her sanctuary home is an inspiration.

Jody is a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. She is an independent spirit and does exactly as she chooses in each moment, whether spending her time luxuriating in amazing nests, foraging for wild greens on Young’s Hill, or ever increasingly, playing with her chimpanzee family.

Some “Jody-isms” we love: she has a habit of making sure each of the other chimpanzees are accounted for when we are shifting the chimps for cleaning or meals, and she often sits in the doorway letting us know when anyone is still on the way. When all else fails, she will go and collect them. She often carries her elaborate nests from area to area when we shift the chimps (or will come running back for them) and if any blankets happen to drop in the doorway along the way, she is usually willing to come back when we ask and remove them so we can close the door. Usually. And while Jody doesn’t have a lot of need for the humans, there’s nothing better than her greeting us with a “butt bounce” when she’s happy to see us.

Tracy, thank you so much for sponsoring such a special day for such a special chimpanzee woman. Happy Birthday, Jody!! We love you!! And Happy Mother’s Day to mommas of all species!

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jody nesting

If peace had a face…and toes

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The chimpanzees have all appeared particularly serene and at peace today. It’s a beautiful spring day, but the wind is especially cold and everyone has spent a lot of time lounging in the warm greenhouse as they looked out over Young’s Hill.

While we often try to imagine what these moments must feel like to the chimpanzees after decades of trauma and uncertainty, I doubt we ever fully could. I am grateful and hopeful that with each passing day these moments outweigh those that came before. And I am grateful and hopeful that these faces (and toes) say it’s so.

Annie:

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Annie feet:

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Burrito:

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Foxie:

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Jody:

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Missy:

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Jamie was tucked away in a cozy nest in the front rooms, one arm splayed out over her eyes and the other hugging her boots to her chest, sound asleep. Unfortunately, not a spot the camera can get.

And you’ll never believe who the chimpanzees were watching from the comfort of the toasty greenhouse…

Negra. Hair blowing in the wind, the hill to herself, and how peace looked for her today.

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Jody’s eyes

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Today started, as it often does this time of year, on a peaceful note with most people relaxing in the greenhouse. I found Jody, Missy and Annie grooming each other quietly at the top of the greenhouse as they gazed out over Young’s Hill. Jody was the recipient of this session and I was able to capture her beautiful eyes she soaked in the view and the love from her chimp family.

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Fresh Picked Greens

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There has been a lot of talk these past few weeks regarding spring and the emergence of fresh green grass. Warm weather (minus the wind) and the appearance of the fresh grass signify the onset of spring here at the sanctuary. Most spring mornings the chimpanzees can be found lounging on the deck in the Greenhouse, where the morning sun shines on them.

This morning when staff member Katelyn and I walked up to the Greenhouse to greet the chimps, most of them lined up and gestured toward the grass growing just on the other side of the caging. We happily picked a few handfuls for them to enjoy as their morning snack.

After lunch, most of the chimps ventured out onto Young’s Hill, their 2-acre outdoor enclosure. Jamie and Missy set off on one (of many) walks around the hill, while Annie, Burrito, Foxie and Jody searched the ground for fresh grass and plants to eat.

Annie found a stash of fresh plants to forage on.
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Jody (right) joined Annie (left).
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And then along came Burrito (far right).
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Jody left the spot where her and Annie were sitting and gathered stalks of grass on her way back to the Greenhouse.
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And then she made herself comfortable on the deck to enjoy her grass.
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While everyone else went back inside, Annie ventured further uphill to continue her foraging.
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6th Annual Love a Chimpanzee Day

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We threw a big party this morning in honor of Love a Chimpanzee Day and Monica Best. Monica and her mom Linda don’t live locally, but they gave us some cash and told us to go buy all the chimps’ favorite foods for today’s festivities.

We decked out the greenhouse in streamers, which are a staple of any good party. Then we set out a forage of some favorites: leeks, bell peppers, green onions, beets, and fruit smoothie.

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Annie:

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Negra:

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Jody:

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Missy:

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Foxie:

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You’re the best, Monica. You always know how to make the chimpanzees feel loved. Happy Birthday!

Today is for the chimpanzees and Monica Best!

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Today we are so fortunate to have two people sponsor this day of sanctuary, Monica Best and Linda Miller! Six years ago the chimps’ good friend, Monica Best, officially declared April 23rd “Love a Chimpanzee Day” and she sponsors the day each year for the chimps. Monica has a huge heart full of love and respect for all the special animal beings we share the earth with and she does so much to make a difference in their lives. She shared this message about today: “Love a Chimpanzee Day!  In honor of my seven favorite chimps and all the dedicated staff and volunteers who care for them!!!”

Today also happens to be Monica’s birthday! Her mom, Linda Miller, chose to add even more love to the day and celebrate Monica by sponsoring today in her daughter’s honor and she wishes Monica “a very Happy Birthday.”

Monica and Linda, thank you so much for making this day so special for the chimpanzees! We wish you the happiest of days, Monica, and hope you know that because of you, their lives are better. Happy Birthday and Happy Love a Chimpanzee Day!!

Annie:

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Burrito:

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Foxie:

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Jamie:

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Jody:

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Missy:

Missy's birthday portrait

Negra:

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