Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Mave

Testing, Testing 1-2-3

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It has been a little while since we have talked about enrichment for Rayne’s group. If you happen to have been wondering, yes. They are still destructive in comparison to Jamie’s group. We have been taking it slow to see what works and what doesn’t. The problem with that is that it is what it is; slow. Though more and more things are added to their growing repertoire of enrichment, some in that group have a burning desire to eat plastic, stuffing from stuffed animals, and some other things. Just because they are destructive, does that mean we should stop trying? If you’re hardheaded and stubborn like myself, then you know the answer is “no.”

It has been a slow process of introducing them to new things, but things are still moving along. We recently attempted to introduce them to firehose cubes. Before Mave, Honey B, and Willy B integrated into the Lucky Six, firehose cubes were on the list of food puzzles they received. Since the cubes are pretty durable, we decided that was going to be the next step. The first trial run was overall a success! There was some minimal damage when caregivers were able to retrieve the next morning, but nothing that would stop the second trial run.

Though six of the group of nine have not experienced firehose cubes before, they had some to show them the ropes.

Mave working her way through a firehose cube as Dora looks on

Willy B reunited with one of his favorite food puzzles

For others, it came naturally. For instance:

Rayne, the queen of all natural intuition, didn’t even hesitate to grab one and rummage through it

(Cy is to the right perusing through a magazine and Lucky is in the back)

 

Hopefully (fingers crossed) you all will be seeing some more photos of firehose cubes with Rayne’s group.

Here are some bonus photos from today:

Mave being silly with a sock

A photo montage of Missy before and during a lunch forage today

Jamie during today’s lunch forage

(Always has to keep an eye on what everybody else is doing)

Negra looking like the queen that she is

Burrito returning from a “walk” (read run) around Young’s Hill

Calm Before The Storm

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Hopefully by now you were able to read yesterday’s blog about Willy B’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine that happens in the afternoons. If not, you should go read it to get a little backstory of today’s blog.

Though this afternoon routine usually consists a chaotic scene of blurs zipping across the enclosures accompanied with ear splitting screams, the moments right before Willy B’s ruckus hour are filled with laughter. In today’s video, this is usually what is happening moments before Willy B decides to get a rise out of people. In fact, you can see him gearing for that specific time referenced in yesterday’s blog at the end of the video.

Here are some bonus photos from today!

The first morning patrol of the day!

Jamie

Burrito

Missy

Speaking of Missy, every so often she gives us some reminders that she is indeed Honey B’s mother.

Here she is thwarting my attempts to close off her playroom to clean.

As you can see, she has zero intent of moving

And lastly, some photos from a couple weeks ago that I forgot to use in the blog!

Burrito and his nighttime peanut butter magazine!

Happy Anniversary to Mave, Willy B & Honey B!

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Today marks four years since Willy B, Mave and Honey B made their way to CSNW and a lot has happened since they arrived. The original plans for the three didn’t work out as everyone had hoped but after some time the Lucky 6 arrived and welcomed Willy B, Honey B and Mave into their family. While some are still finding their place within the group, which is completely normal, others have found their other half, like Mave did with Dora.

I wasn’t here for the introduction of two groups one of my favorite things about introductions with chimpanzees is watching them figure each other out and decide how to approach each other. I have been watching Rayne and Honey B’s relationship since I started and while some day’s it can be a little rough, they are quick to forgive and also have so many moments where I see them playing and grooming recently. One thing Honey B has picked up is Rayne’s keen fashion sense.

Honey B wearing a headband as a waistband:

They’ve not only made new friends but since their last anniversary the Bray has opened so they now have their very own outdoor habitat to explore at their leisure!

Willy B enjoyed an anniversary forage with his group

Honey B enjoying her lunch forage in the chute with the girls, she’s clearly a big fan of radicchio!

I couldn’t get them in the same frame but Mave and Dora enjoyed taking an after lunch snooze in the chute together

 

While Cy enjoyed some quiet contemplation in the greenhouse, because everyone needs a little alone time

 

Missy’s birthday is coming up soon, so don’t forget to check out her tomato themed wishlist items!

National Relaxation Day

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Today is National Relaxation Day! According to the Economic Times, National Relaxation Day is observed to “encourage individuals to slow down and unwind.” Though chimpanzee life can be very chaotic and dramatic, they all find some time throughout the day to let their hair down and relax. It’s all about balance, right?

In homage to National Relaxation Day, please enjoy some photos of the chimpanzees in relaxation mode!

Honey B taking a quick nap after her play session with Lucky.

Foxie taking a rest after breakfast.

Gordo taking a breather after returning from the Bray.

Burrito taking a break in his Greenhouse (though I am convinced he was playing because seconds later he had caregivers playing chase).

Dora enjoying the shaded part of the Chute.

And as you might have guessed, right next to her is Mave.

Willy B taking advantage of the large fan in the front room area on a hot day.

And of course, the Queen of Relaxation, Queen Negra.

We hope you are able to find some time to get your relaxation in today!

Growth

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I know I have mentioned this many times, but being able to witness Mave and Dora’s group grow into this integrated family that has provided them more social opportunities and friendships, plus the ability to work through interpersonal relationships has absolutely been one of the highlights of my career! It is really easy to forget how stressful the introduction process was, especially since they have grown so much and worked so hard to become this group of nine! However, I can still remember the feelings of uncertainty and stress about whether the integration would actually work. It almost feels silly to think about about how stressed we all were. I just remember thinking that Mave, Willy B, and Honey B needed more friends, especially the social butterfly Mave. That was the motivation- more friends and more opportunities.

Now a year and some months later, Dora’s group is flourishing! As predicted, eventually, Mave loved making new friends and Willy B finally has some male friends to hangout with. But the real surprise, the real social butterfly is Honey B. Honey B always seems to be in the middle of a grooming train, mall walking with friends, or playing with a friend like Dora! It goes to show that in sanctuary providing more opportunities and choices really does make their lives all the better.

Bonus photos!

Jenna took this photo and was kind enough to share it with me! A sweet photo Honey B, Mave, and Dora all nesting together:

Recently, Negra has been keeping a doll in her pelvic pocket:

Jamie in the portrait studio:

Foxie right next to Jamie:

Foxie rubbing her toes together:

 

National Best Friends Day

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Chad informed me that it is National Best Friends Day today. What better day than today to highlight some of the best friend pairs around here at the sanctuary!

Jenna took this photo of  Mave and Dora yesterday. I hope we are all so lucky to have a BFF that looks at us the way Mave looks at Dora.

Here are some other highlights of “Mora” from the last several years. You might notice a lot of hand holding and hugs from those 2.

 

On the other side of the building, I obviously have to highlight the other 2 famous BFFs of the group, Annie and Missy!

While Mave and Dora are more so a lounging and hand holding pair, Annie and Missy are often spotted adventuring and playing together.

 

Of course, they get plenty of down time together where grooming is the main event:

Wishing everyone a happy National Best Friends Day – make sure to call that special someone(s) and tell them how much they mean to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Environment Day 2023

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Today is World Environment Day! World Environment Day has been held annually on June 5th since 1972 to raise awareness on issues our environment is facing and how to combat them. The events are also hosted by a city or nation to lead the theme and festivities. This year is being hosted by Côte d’Ivoire with the theme Solutions to Plastic Pollution with the social media hashtag #BeatPlasticPollution.

Here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, we try as much as we can to limit our footprint on the environment. From composting uneaten foods to recycling paper to reusing items for chimpanzee enrichment, we are conscious of what we use, how we use it, and how to properly dispose of it. Through the TerraCycle programs, we have boxes setup throughout the sanctuary where staff and volunteers can get rid of used gloves and masks, which are then shipped off to be recycled. We also use Tru Earth laundry eco-strips. These strips if concentrated laundry detergent help us keep the chimpanzees’ blankets smelling fresh without the use of big plastic jugs detergent usually comes in. In fact, the packing itself is zero waste and can be composted. Did you know, the people were gracious enough to set up a fundraising page for us? Every purchased made at this link, 20% will be donated to help with the chimpanzee and cattle care!

For World Environment Day, I had a plan to have photos of the chimpanzees with today’s browse: wild roses!

The chimpanzees were faster than I had anticipated. After giving them access back to their Greenhouse after cleaning, Jamie’s group left nothing buy stems of the once beautiful roses. This photo of Jamie finishing off the last rose was all I was able to capture.

I apologize, but you will just have to imagine the chimpanzees with roses.

After all the roses were gone, it was time to relax. I couldn’t tell though if Burrito was relaxing or planning his next scheme.

(Hint: it was a scheme that involved a lot of play.)

On the other side of the sanctuary, Cy’s group had an amazing day on the Bray. The weather was perfect. The sun was out. The temperature was warm but not hot. And there was a breeze that would come through every so often.

Cy looking on as Rayne and Gordo explore Ryan’s Lookout.

Rayne and Gordo marching along.

Cy soaking up some sun.

Lucky looking out to the valley and river below the sanctuary.

Rayne waiting for the train to pass by.

While most were out on the Bray, some elected to stay behind and groom in the shade.

Mora!

Mave even was able to go into full relaxation mode.