Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

kiss

Is This Really Happening?

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As I close in on one year of working at the sanctuary, I am still welcomed with many “firsts.” This past week I was graced with two firsts for me that both made my day, and surprised me! Watch today’s video before proceeding to the rest of the blog so that I don’t spoil anything!

Here’s a picture of Negra with pasta sauce lips after a recent party, making sure there are no accidental spoilers!

Now for those exciting “firsts”! As you all got to see in the video, I had my first long play session with Gordo, where he showed me his play face and laughed quietly as he let me tickle him and play chase with him. This is a big milestone in our friendship, especially considering that not that long ago, I was the one that hand injected him to allow for his veterinary check up. We spent several months training for that moment, but I wouldn’t blame him for holding a grudge. Thankfully he seems to have forgiven me, for which I am very grateful.

My next “first” was getting a kiss from MISSY. I could hardly believe my luck! And somehow I also managed to snap a photo, for proof!!

A kiss from Missy!

Missy has allowed me a few, very special one-on-one interactions within the past few weeks that leave me feeling so happy and fulfilled that I could take on the world. One such interaction included her putting out her toes from both feet through the caging for me to tickle with the back of my hand, then turning around to let me groom her back. Another morning, as I walked in to greet the chimps, Missy quickly jumped up from her nest and raced to the front of the playroom. I wasn’t quite sure what was happening at first, but am not one to miss out on an opportunity to play, so I started running too in hopes this was my shot at a game of chase with Missy. Lucky for me, it was!

It is hard to believe it has almost been one year since I started working with the lovely chimpanzees, humans, and cattle of CSNW. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to love and care for such amazing chimpanzees and sassy bovine ladies, as well as to work alongside such a fantastic team of humans. Here’s to many more special moments!

Remember that tonight, Tuesday, September 3rd, is the third in our discussion series “Primate Perspectives: Unpacking Chimp Crazy. This discussion will focus on the third episode of the series, which first aired Sunday night and will continue to be available to watch on Max. This week we will be joined by Brittany Peet, General Counsel, Captive Animal Law Enforcement at PETA Foundation. Brittany appeared throughout the series and was very involved in trying to place Buck in a sanctuary before his tragic end. Once again, this episode was difficult to watch and there is a lot to unpack. Join Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance and Brittany Peet at 6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET. Registration is required to join the Zoom meeting.

A kiss

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This afternoon, Jody went outside to pick some raspberry bushes. On her way back, she passed by Missy and the two stopped for a kiss.

It’s not uncommon for chimpanzees to kiss like this. Sometimes these kisses resemble our own, with one chimpanzee’s lips pressed against the cheek, lips, or hand of another chimpanzee. Other times they more closely resemble a bite, but with the lips covering the teeth, and may be placed anywhere on the body. Kisses can serve as a greeting, a form or reassurance, or an act of submission. They can reduce tension in moments of conflict, and may serve as a request for permission to hold onto something valuable like food (as Jody may be doing in the photo above) or one’s place in a desirable location. At times they are rough and playful, accompanied by panting or laughter. At other times, they are gentle and loving.

Foxie greeting Burrito

Annie bite Missy browridge

My favorite photo of a kiss is still the one below. When Annie was frightened and screamed for reassurance, Missy leapt to her side and allowed Annie to give her a big open mouth kiss on the lips.

annie kiss missy

Today is dedicated to the chimps & those who love them!

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Kery and Terran, who also sponsored yesterday, spread the love over to today too.

Here is there message for the first day of 2018:

Here’s to NEW and EXCITING things to come! All the best in 2018!!! Hoots to all of YOU! Kery & Terran

Hopefully, you’ve all seen our State of the Sanctuary video. Just in case you haven’t, it’s posted at the end of this blog post.

As you’ll learn in the video, together, we’ll be working on lots of new and exciting things to come.

We so appreciate the chimpanzees, who provide inspiration every day, and everyone who loves them, including Kery and Terran!

Jody and Jamie kiss

Jody kiss Missy

 

Family

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Despite all they’ve been through,

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or perhaps because of it,

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these seven chimpanzees have become a family.

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After decades of isolation

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and prolonged periods of fear and uncertainty,

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they have found someone to love,

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someone to trust,

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someone to comfort them in times of need.

Burrito hugging Annie

If we see ourselves in them,

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then perhaps it’s time we accept

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that they are our family, too.

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Today is for mom Amy Simpson!

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Today is Julia Simpson’s birthday, and she chose to sponsor a day of sanctuary in honor of her mother because Julia is grateful to have Amy for a mom. How incredibly sweet is that?

Maybe this sweet?

Negra kissing Jamie’s brow

Negra kiss Jamie

 

Foxie kissing a troll doll

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Happy birthday, Julia! Thanks for all you do for the chimpanzees, and thanks to Amy for being such a great mom!

Reassurance

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To follow up on Elizabeth’s post yesterday, here’s a good example of Burrito’s other side – the testosterone-filled Tasmanian Devil side that leaves a path of destruction and screaming girls in its wake. This is the side we usually see when we arrive to work in the morning.

As you’ll see in the video, Annie was the victim of one of Burrito’s drive-by displays this morning. Being a chimpanzee is stressful, but they have some pretty good ways of dealing with that stress. Like hugs, for example.

One thing you might notice in the video is that Annie also seeks reassurance from me and I don’t offer it to her. As hard as it may be to resist in these instances, we make a conscious decision to avoid inserting ourselves into their social conflicts. If Annie was startled by a loud noise, we would gladly offer her a touch with the back of a wrist to help comfort her. But when she’s involved in a social conflict, we risk upsetting the delicate balance in the group if we inject ourselves, even if it’s just to offer reassurance. At these times, the chimps aren’t just looking for emotional support – they may also be looking for political allies or even backup for an ensuing retaliatory fight. So we try to limit our involvement to a polite acknowledgement in the hope that they will work things out amongst each other. And they usually do.

Besides, no one can comfort a chimpanzee better than another chimpanzee.