Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Mave

Tangled up

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These three chimps are seriously funny! Honey B was climbing, swinging, biting on all the fire hose. It is amazing how she can balance on that fire hose! Mave and Honey B were tangled up in enrichment (not literally of course) or each other! As you will see in pictures below or the video, they are always up to something or finding new ways to use their enrichment. Mave found a red headband. She was flipping upside down on fire hose and putting it on to wear. And Willy B just wanted to join them in all their shenanigans!

Honey B:

Mave and her red headband:

Willy B:

Project Days

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We are so fortunate to have so many amazing volunteers. They are always willing to jump in no matter how big or small the task is. Today, we tackled a big project and all of our awesome volunteers came to our aid! We were trading out the old wood chips in the Green House for some fresh new wood chips. This is no small task, though it is a satisfying one! We do this at least once a year depending on how long the chips last. However, we do change out the heavily soiled areas more often. But, it takes quite a few helping hands!

Here they are hard at work:

Here is the what the Green House looked like after!

Meanwhile, Jamie took a break from supervising to make a nest and relax a bit.

Jamie was actually really in the mood to have her photo taken.

Foxie came to say hello.

And left her doll for Jamie.

After, the Green House transformation everyone went out onto Young’s Hill for a perimeter check.

Even Neggie came out to soak up the sun.

Mave also found a comfy place to nest.

Willy B just wanted to play chase all day. Sorry it’s a little blurry, we were in mid-chase!

 

 

 

Never a Dull Day

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I have never had a dull day since chimpanzees have entered my life. When I tell people what I do for a living a large part of the conversation is dedicated to the chimp’s personalities, their past, what we do to care for them, and hopes for their future. I can never say for certain what is waiting for me when I walk through the door in the morning. I always say no two days are the same and it is never dull! I love that about working with chimps. They have a plan of how they see the day going, just as you and I do. Sometimes the chimps are just silly and having the best day, some are the opposite, but most days are everywhere in between.

This morning I walked in to greet Honey B, Mave, and Willy B. Honey B came down so enthusiastically from the Mezzanine. She was breathy panting and seeking reassurance. That is when I noticed her fanny pack. I love walking in and not quite knowing what to expect. These three are so fun to get to know and they just keep getting sillier as the days go on!

After cleaning was done Honey B came across a beach towel that happen to be a very summer-y feel to it. Which, I like the summer vibes she was putting out! Honey B had it with her all day, she wore it around like a shawl or had it dragging behind her.

Mave was in a playful/sweet mood. She wanted to spend time grooming and tickling. When I took my phone out to capture a phone she started to look at herself, make silly faces, and inspect her teeth.

Neggie was soaking up the sun.

Missy, Burrito, and Foxie were wrestling in the Green House.

Eventually, it was just Missy and Burrito in the wrestling match!

Later in the day Jody, Jamie, Burrito, Missy and Foxie all decided to go on a walk when the wind took a break.

And little Miss decided to race.

Not everyone may be in the photos today, but it was a busy and silly day for these chimp. Maybe for the humans too.

 

Honey B and her Paper

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Honey B is incredibly funny. She loves big brown paper, like, A LOT! Today we put out a bunch of paper for Honey B to roll around in. Paper was also a theme yesterday for Mave and Honey B. They were wrestling, Honey B was flipping upside down, and they had the best play faces. I hope you all are having a happy Wednesday! Please enjoy this video 🙂

Eat, Play, Love

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Burrito is really such a snow fiend. His first order of business for us today was to give him his pre-breakfast snow. When he gained access to the Greenhouse and Young’s Hill, he seemed unsure if he wanted to venture outside to collect his own snow.

He then thought of the most perfect plan. He can sit in the Greenhouse, and just have his human caregivers deliver him his post-breakfast snow. That way he had access to the outdoors, but the pesky wind would be blocked by the winter paneling, and he could enjoy.

Really though! He really loves snow.

Jamie, being the Boss, also wanted to partake on the snow harvesting the humans were doing for Burrito.

As usual, Negra decided to stay inside, nice and warm, under a blanket in the Playroom.

On the other side of the Chimp House, Honey B and Mave have been in super silly moods lately. They engaged in an intense play session with tons of laughing.

Willy B was not a fan of all the noise they were causing as he was trying to take his pre-lunch nap.

Luckily for him, Honey B and Mave stopped playing and began grooming.

It’s days like today when all the chimpanzees are happy, that my day feels complete and I have a constant smile on my face.

Fall in Love with Mave

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Today, we present the Fall in Love with Mave video (link above)! As you know by now, becoming a Pal to one the of the chimpanzees or bovines at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is one of the best ways to support their ongoing care. In the spirit of the day, we hope there are a few people out there who’d like to be Mave’s valentine by signing up to be her Pal.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, the chimpanzee celebrated the day as they do most holidays – by stuffing themselves with delicious food. Today began with a special breakfast prepared by volunteer Patti, consisting of healthy waffles topped with peanut butter. Negra, as you can imagine, was thrilled. The new guys, on the other hand, weren’t sure what to make of this unusual Valentine’s day tradition. Honey B even returned her waffles to the waitstaff by pushing them back through the caging, but after trying them she excitedly asked us to pick them all up and hand them back to her. It’s a good reminder to always taste your food before sending it back to the kitchen.

Later in the day we set out forages of fresh fruits and veggies along with shots of fruit smoothie.

Negra (with Jody in the background):

Jody:

Foxie:

Missy:

Burrito:

 

Honey B:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The One with all the Sun

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You guys! I don’t want to jinx anything… But the sun is out, you can feel the warmth, and there were some really happy chimps! Fingers crossed this means spring is coming early. Please enjoy all these photos of the chimps basking in the sun.

Neggie took a small stroll:

Missy and Annie were sprinting all around the Hill, all day:

Burrito really enjoyed walking around with all the ladies:

I was able to capture a group action shot of almost everyone scattering onto the Hill in the morning when it first opened:

Jamie building her nest:

And modifying her blankets:

Mave grooming herself:

Honey B :

If your heart wasn’t melting before, it will be:

Honey B was just being so silly and funny. So funny that I would actually laugh out loud. She would be eating breakfast than suddenly roll around on a barrel and burst into a full sprint out into the Chute! She put her fanny pack on and press it up to the enclosure to have you look at it. She than would take it off and offer for her caregivers to wear it. Honey B just seemed to be in a really good mood. I thought I might share 🙂