Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Mave

Warm, sunny and grassy!

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Just in time for some warm weather, Honey B, Mave and Willie B have had full access to their new and very refreshing green house enclosures for three days now. They have been very busy exploring the new areas, from lounging way up in the platforms to get a good view of the neighbors, to figuring out what the grass is all about. While Honey B has sprinted from side to side through the grass multiple times, for the moment the three still opt to use logs, structures, blankets or chimp furniture to move around.

Here is Honey B, using one of the logs to move around in the Green House

Honey B holding a small cleaning brush to brush the grass, cleaning is her thing

Honey B perched in one of the windows, taking it all in

Willie B measuring how to get to the chimp furniture for his next step

Mave would agree that there is always time for some relaxed lounging and sun basking

On the other side of the Chimp House, Jody was seen enjoying some forage she found in the hill

Warm days equal “chill” days, Missy approves

Into the Thick of It

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We cannot contain our excitement! Days like today are the highlight of my job and why we do what we do. Honey B, Willy B, and Mave received access to Green House 2 and 3 today! As I write, Mave is nesting in Green House 3. I mean what could be better than that! It was amazing to watch each chimp warm up to the two new areas. Obviously, not every chimp walks into a new space with confidence; you have to test some stuff out. As you will see in the video everyone takes the plunge in different ways. Honey B takes the leap of faith into Green House 3, avoiding the grass. Mave takes her time looking around at her surroundings finding the best route to explore. And Willy B leaned into the new enclosure by stepping on the grass! I am so inspired by their bravery; for some chimps this could take hours to days to work up the courage to just get through the door. However, I think the anticipation was killing them! With no surprise Ms. Honey B was very busy testing and exploring. Honey B even started playing chase on the grass just an hour after being in their new enclosure. Mave too was going up and down and trying out each platform. I think she has a few good prospects for sunning and grooming. Willy B put on a good display for the ladies watching on Young’s Hill and later as things calmed down I found him and Mave trying out a potential new grooming spot. It’s a peaceful riverside view.

The new Greenhouse enclosures are truly spectacular. Not only is there so much vertical space, but the new structures in the enclosure are so cool. I can already envision groups of chimps having grooming parties up there or baking in the warm sun. It has the most beautiful views and the best vantage point to spy on all the neighbors. Not to mention… did you all notice the grass!! Well, so did Honey B… Luckily she seems to have left it alone for now. As a disclaimer, we knew the bamboo wouldn’t make it and that there was a potential that the chimps would pull up the grass. But, it doesn’t hurt to try, right? We have faith Honey B will leave the grass alone, but the bamboo? Only time will tell. For the moment, let us all take in the beautiful green grass!

Mave.

Honey B.

Willy B.

Chimp Activities

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Today the chimp house was a little busier than yesterday. We are making sure the two new Greenhouses are in order and ready for chimps soon! While waiting for some maintenance things to be completed we found Jamie and Burrito engaging in a long play session. I love hearing chimp laughter. To me, it is one of the best sounds in the world and always brings a smile to my face. There was lots of laughter today, as I saw Burrito playing with Foxie and Annie too.

I checked in on the three to see what they were up to and found Mave and Willy B in a grooming session. I’m still learning so much about Honey B, Willy B, and Mave. I didn’t work with them while I was an intern here, so I have been trying to get to know them better and learn more about their personalities.

Mave grooming Willy B.

Honey B looking to see what photos I was taking.

Willy B taking a break from the grooming session.

Missy resting in the Greenhouse.

Mellow

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Today was pretty mellow, which was great. We love mellow! Everyone seemed at ease. The weather was nice, so we had a lunch forage for the seven. Everyone was grooming and lounging in the warm green house. Honey B, Willy B, and Mave enjoyed hanging out in their playrooms and watching the painters paint the exterior of the new building. I think the highlight of today would be Negra and Jamie having a long grooming session in the green house! That interaction isn’t something we see often. Of course, there is no photo evidence either. So, since it was a pretty quiet day at the chimp house I thought I would leave you with a quote. I recently read the book, The Boy The Mole The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy. This book is filled with beautiful illustrations and kind thoughtful words. If anyone is ever looking for a quick and uplifting read please check it out. So I will leave you all with this: “Nothing beats kindness,” said the horse “It sits quietly beyond all things.”

Please enjoy some photos I was able to capture from this afternoon’s lunch forage.

Burrito was searching high and low for lettuce.

Foxie was pretty pleased with her findings.

Missy took her lettuce to go and found some good views too.

Jamie has many different strategies when it comes to foraging. For example, you can free your hands up by holding your lettuce with your foot.

I love this photo of her. She looks like she is up to know good, but really she is just enjoying some lettuce… and maybe plotting something too!

Annie was busy collecting all the food people left behind.

Jody <3.

And Neggie <3.

Honey B, Willy B, and Mave all looking out of playroom 2 windows, spying on Jamie out on Young’s Hill.

Yesterday, I was hanging out with Honey B in her new favorite place- the reading corner, the chubby, or the nook. She was being her silly self and letting me take pictures while she watched herself in the camera reflection and occasionally tried to kiss her reflection.

I hope you all have a mellow week full of kindness.

Burrito Distractions

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Burrito is the best kind of distraction. This video of Burrito doing a headstand and rolling in paper is a perfect example. He can certainly entertain himself, but it’s hard to get any work done around here! He is always getting someone to play with him, human or non-human. Just ask Chad!

The weather today was amazing. And it looks like it’s only going to get better. We have been trying to take advantage of this weather, so we did a lunch forage again!

Missy was very pleased when she found a head of lettuce!

Burrito had his hands full of tomatoes and lettuce.

This was such a sweet moment, Missy giving Jody reassurance.

Jamie with a beautiful troll scarf.

This is how I found Mave this morning :).

Now I shall leave you with one last photo of sweet Negra.

Playroom Fun!

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What a day! Yesterday, Honey B, Willy B, and Mave received access to one of their new playrooms, Playroom 3, and today they received access to Playroom 2! They have been waiting so patiently for these spaces and the day has finally come. It is a true joy to watch these three chimps explore all the room surrounding them. I really thought Honey B would be the crazy adventurous one, but yesterday Mave surprised all of us by climbing and testing everything out. However, once Honey B got comfortable and more confident she was investigating everything. True comfort for Honey B is making a paper nest.

The Seven always know everything, even if they can’t get a clear visual on what is happening. Yesterday the Seven ran out onto Young’s Hill to try and spy on Honey B, Willy B, and Mave getting access to their new playroom. Even at the furthest point of the building the seven can see everything. And today was no different. Playroom 2 is closer to the Hill and you can bet the Seven or at least Jamie was out there watching! We also had construction for the two new green houses going on too. So Jamie was pretty busy managing people and chimps ;).

This is the view from Playroom 2. Pretty amazing, right?

This photo isn’t the best. However, this photo shows you the pure joy on Mave’s face. She looks so happy and content in her new playrooms. This is what sanctuary is all about :).

Mavis <3

Willy B and Mave have really been loving the leaves on the new tree structure!

Lunch with Honey B, Willy B, and Mave

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Yesterday, I served Honey B, Willy B, and Mave lunch. Honey B could not have been more excited about sweet potatoes! She was food squeaking and breathy panting before I could video most of it. It is a true pleasure to serve the chimps meals. I can be so fun because it’s the simple things like sweet potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, or even ice that they just go crazy for. Today was another busy day of construction on the new playrooms and a staff meeting. So please enjoy this video of chimps eating and some photos!

This morning Missy and Annie were playing. I tried to snap some photos, but the lighting wasn’t great. However, these silhouettes photos actually turned out kind of cool!


Missy has such a great play face in these photos.

Missy in the green house.

This morning as the seven where given access to Young’s Hill, Jamie took a friend along. Foxie has been obsessed with this St. Patrick’s Day themed soft troll, but this morning Jamie was carrying it around :).

Jamie taking a nap in the playroom.

Or so I thought…

The weather was so amazing today. While the three were hand served and soaked up the sun in the chute, the seven had a Hill forage.

Burrito found some lettuce in Negra’s cabin.

With a mouth full of lettuce, he went to find some more!

So, he climbed.

And climbed!

Negra was spotted foraging for one of her favorites, lettuce.

Jamie of course got a good haul.

While we cleaned the playroom, I found a ripped out page from Jamie boot book in a very cozy nest. I am not sure if I should feel humbled or nervous. Is this a message of some kind ;)?

I will leave you all with a kiss from Burrito.