Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Mave

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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My goodness today was a busy day! We had two great parties for the chimps and a staff meeting too! The seven celebrate with a Hill forage and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. On the other side Honey B, Willy B, and Mave celebrated with some pots of gold in the chute as well as a St. Patrick themed meal. What was on the menu you might be asking? Of course, there was lots of cabbage, beets, potatoes, and corn! Since today was so busy I thought maybe I would let the photos speak for themselves.

Here is a photo of the three’s pots of gold(en potatoes). It was a great day to eat in the chute and sit in the warm sunshine.

And another photo of what was for lunch!

Negra was the first one out for the party!

Jody got a few good hauls of cabbage.

Burrito didn’t do too bad either.

Missy zipped around everyone snatching up cabbage and potatoes left and right!

Annie took a more low key approach than Missy.

Foxie took a birds eye view approach.

And Jamie, well Jamie did every well for herself :).

I love this photo of her.

The three didn’t really want their photos taken today, but I managed to get a few.

When Mave saw lunch she got very excited! You can see she is pilo in this photo. Mave was hooting and asking for reassurance.

Willy B enjoying some corn!

And Honey B enjoying her pot of gold(en potatoes).

Get up and Play!

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Most mornings are notorious for some sweet greetings, kisses, sleepy chimps not quite ready to get out of bed, and goofy play sessions. It’s often you will find Negra nestled in her nest with blankets still over her. While you can hear Missy and Annie lightly thumping around upstairs grabbing each other’s toes and laughing. Burrito if he is not already playing with Jody or someone, will insist on playing right away! Jody gives you a gentle kiss or asks for a knuckle rub. Foxie tosses you her doll. I tend to find the three as morning people. By the time we unlock their side of the building they are already out of their nests and ready to go, waiting for us to greet them. Honey B, Willy B, and yes Mave too are eager to play most mornings. Though I don’t want to give you the wrong idea, there are a lot of mornings that are not calm and sweet like what I just described above. However, there are many quiet moments you can catch in the morning before all the hustle and bustle starts. This morning had many of those moments I described, including Mave and Willy B having a great morning play session. They actually started upstairs before I had even unlocked the phase one side. I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch it on camera in time, but I also expected Willy B would get distracted and stop playing all together. I couldn’t ruin a good time, so I decided to not disturb them. When they came, downstairs and kept playing, I slyly tried to film them. Chimp laughter might be one of my favorite sounds in the world. If you haven’t watched the video yet, make sure your volume is on!

I wasn’t able to snap a lot of photos today. I was able to capture Mave eating her night bag and a glamour shot of Honey B!

Give Them a Show

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We often see the seven put on a show for the three and vice versa the three do big displays towards the seven. Some can be to show off or impress each other, some are to warn or threaten, and others might be because things were getting a little chummy and they wanted a reaction from someone on the other side. In the winter, we have to close the chute off at night. We tend to shift the three up into the mezzanine in the morning. That way we can clean the front rooms and chute right away so we can let the three have access to their outside enclosure as soon as possible. For the seven, we try to shift them into the front rooms or green house so we can clean the playroom first. This is my long-winded way of explaining that once we have finished cleaning the phase 1 front rooms and the playroom it is the first time the three and seven have seen each other since the day before. The playroom gives a great view of the chute. So, when the seven are shifted into their freshly clean playroom we often hear the chimps yelling or displaying at each other. It’s short lived. However, Jamie occasionally shows off a bit for Willy B and she definitely had his attention! Willy B is always stealing glances at Jamie, I mean who wouldn’t!

After her big display, it was time to settle into a good book, or two, or three!

And since I was there to hand her some books she agreed to have her photo taken.

It’s Wednesday, so we need some bonus photos!

Negra was the first one out this morning!

She was having a craving for fresh snow.

Jamie <3.

Jamie and Missy thinking about grabbing some snow snacks too.

I found Mave rolling around in this blanket.

I took this photo on Thursday or Friday when it was very cold. Honey B grabbed the biggest blanket and sat out in the chute.

Don’t Mess with Honey B

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I wanted to write a light-hearted blog because, well I think we all need it. But this morning Honey B, Willy B, and Mave had a big fight at breakfast. Don’t worry everyone is fine, but it was an intense one! It was mostly Honey B and Willy B fighting, because Willy B tried to steal her chow. Chow is no joke. Each chimp really looks forward to getting their bags of chow. In general, the three seem to be less physical with each other. They have their occasional fight, but a lot of the time it’s just screaming. This morning, Honey B was not having it. Honey B has always been described as fun and silly, which she is, but I would NOT want to be on her bad side. Honey B can be, let’s go with feisty, but another word could be ruthless. Surprisingly, Honey B tends to avoid any drama that doesn’t have anything to do with her. If Mave and Willy B are worked up she will leave the area, but she also tends to be the person who will strike first if she thinks something is going to happen to her. I won’t lie, I think it works. During the fight, Honey B quite literally beat Willy B with a scooter. Again everyone is fine, but Willy B’s pride might be hurting just a little. Mid-morning we found Willy B grooming Honey B, so I think everything is all good now, but I don’t think he will try taking her chow for quite some time.

On a lighter note, Jamie received a late Christmas present. I am sure many of you are familiar with the Bodies Exhibit. We found the book version and it seemed pretty on brand with Jamie so we put it on the wish list. It finally came today! Jamie was in a very cozy nest upstairs when caregiver Anna went to go give it to her. Instead of coming down right away, Jamie had Anna flip through the pages for her. Later, after lunch Jamie took the book and began skimming it.

This is the page Jamie left her book on.

I think we should get some bonus photos!

Willy B taking a nap.

Yesterday Mave, Willy B, and Honey B watched the chimps from Chimp Haven on Disney+. Mave settled in to watch her soaps.

Jamie was on patrol after hearing the fight this morning. She went straight out onto the Hill to get a better view of the other side.

Burrito <3.

Missy sprinted out onto the Hill and had Burrito and I joined her on a mid-day run! She is seriously so fast! I took a video but I was embarrassed by how heavy I was breathing.

Honey B making a nest with toys this morning.

Watch out for this one, she doesn’t take crap from anyone!

Goodbye 2020 and Good Riddance

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As the year is winding down, I think all of us are ready to say goodbye to 2020 and embark on a more hopeful 2021! To say we all want to kick 2020 to the curb would be an understatement! 2019 at CSNW  was such an exciting and scary year. The introduction of the two chimp groups is something we unintentionally do not discuss unless asked. It was, to be honest, a little traumatizing. When 2020 came around we all couldn’t wait to move on. Burrito was on the mend and we were looking forward to the future. But 2020 brought a pandemic. Sadly, due to covid, we couldn’t have our amazing volunteers come to help us. We strapped on our PPE and tried to carry on, but the hardest part I think we’ve all dealt with and are still dealing with as care staff is the stress of protecting the chimps from COVID-19. For me personally, it comes in waves. I know we have to trust in PPE, but it doesn’t make it not scary. We have all made sacrifices and have lost time with our loved ones, but their welfare is so much more important! We all seem to be managing well enough with our new normal and healing from our old wounds from 2019. Then, the rattlesnake incident happened. Burrito, as we have all said a thousand times, is truly an amazing individual! He has never let life get him down. He always survives and only gets stronger, though if you ask me, he can stop having almost near-death experiences at any time. But his spirit is inspiring! He might be what has got me through this year. Burrito has an appetite for life and has also never seemed happier! So not to dwell too much, but our year and some hasn’t been the best. BUT, through all of our adversities, we have SO much to look forward to!

We are looking forward to the future! We are so close to having the new playrooms finished! Six new chimps will come here to call CSNW home, which means there are going to be more social opportunities for Honey B, Mave, and Willy B, even though that sounds a little scary to us too :). Chimp relationships are so much more important. Though we cherish our moments with the chimps, their relationships with each other are far more important. And of course, we have Burrito!

The other thing that got us through 2020 was all of you. Our supporters and donors. When it felt like the world had lost humanity I always looked to the CSNW supporters. And we know the chimps helped you all through these difficult times through the blogs. However, you all helped us through our trying times. Your faith, support, and kindness has helped us get through 2019, 2020, and will help us through 2021 and years to come. Thank you for your support through donations, but also through your loving and kind words. You all will never know how much you kept us going during these trying times.

Okay, that is enough feelings for one day. We all know it’s been a crazy year so let’s all put 2020 behind us and watch some chimps play and look at their portraits below! Cheers to a new year!

Foxie.

Jamie.

Annie play biting Burrito.

Annie.

Neggie.

Connecting

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Exciting things are happening at the sanctuary. The electricians and plumbers have been busy at work these last couple of days, connecting our existing building to the next phase of expansion!  This unusual flurry of activity inside the Chimp House has knocked us off our routine so we’ve been cleaning enclosures in a sporadic fashion and keeping some spaces closed off to give the construction workers room to work safely.

The chimpanzees have been patiently waiting to get some of their normal areas back and they seem to be taking everything in stride. We’ve heated the greenhouse temporarily to keep the 7 extra cozy with a bit less space and the Californians have been curiously watching all the activity from their front room and outdoor chute vantage points.

Here’s Mave in a post-nap “puddle” that Kelsi found her in:

And Jody grooming Negra in the greenhouse.

Negra has a lot of trust in her long-nailed friend:

Sorry for the few photos but it’s time for some more cleaning!

Snow and Unicorn Blankets

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What a day! We just want to say goodnight from a very busy chimp house. Again, I can’t wait to write up a blog about Jamie I have in my head, but alas it will have to wait another week. I thought I would share a sweet moment with Honey B. Most nights when we close up the chimp house on phase 1 Honey B, Willy B, and Mave will already be nestled into bed. They usually like to go to bed early, whereas I am not sure Jamie even sleeps. But the past few nights as I am about to lock up the 3’s side, Honey B has been up and it almost looks like she was waiting for something. So, I have been offering her a few extra blankets before I turn the lights off. Once she has the blanket she throws it on her back or quickly drapes it behind her and makes a bed, meanwhile pant hooting goodnight.

If today had a theme, besides being busy, it would be the chimps love snow! Though by late February I think we will all be over it. But eating snow never gets old!

Even Willy B is starting to come around to this snow thing.

There was still snow on the ground, but enough had melted for everyone to go explore outside. Even NEGRA! I suspect she was trying to catch a quick glimpse of the neighbors in the chute or see the construction going on.

Burrito stayed back at first to be the look-out but eventually joined everyone out on the Hill.

Burrito or Sasquatch, I guess I will let you all decide.

Missy zipped around the Hill as per usual!

Little Foxie followed Jody, Missy, and Annie out on the Hill, but it got a little too cold for her so she turned around.

After venturing on Young’s Hill everyone agreed with Foxie and spent some time inside.

Negra wrapped herself up in an early Christmas present and did one of her favorite food puzzles, peanut butter magazines. I mean who doesn’t need a colorful unicorn blanket! I do have to make a confession though. This was my intention of putting the unicorn blanket on the wish list. I wanted to see Negra wrapped in a cozy, soft, and colorful unicorn blanket. There was a VERY good chance Negra was never going to see this blanket and Jody was going to shred it to pieces. But… just look at how comfy Negra looks!

Jamie had a busy day watching us clean and supervising the electricians working around the chimp house. But, that was pretty exhausting so she got cozy in a big nest she built and took a well-deserved nap!

All in all we day a great day, but I think we humans are going to curl up in our nests now. Goodnight!