Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Meredith

King of the Hill

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While on a walk with Jamie, I observed Burrito and Missy following each other on the logs and then start to wrestling. It made me think about when I was young playing king of the sand dune with my brother. I asked the rest of the staff if they had ever played this game when they where kids, which of course they had! Some of their variations were: king of the mountain, king of the hill, and king of the log! The object of the game was to be the last one standing and then you were pronounced king of the object you were standing on, said log, mattress, or hill and then you have bragging rights for as long as you rein! Today, for Missy and Burrito it seems as though no one holds the title but I see a rematch in their future!

Time has flown by! Can you believe it already been 4 years with our wonderful bovines!

Honey and her gang:

Honey:

Meredith:

Nutmeg and Betsy:

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

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Meredith turns 7 years old today! Many thanks to both Paulette and to Tobin for sponsoring this day in her honor.

Our post office has been out of commission for the last week, but we got Tobin’s letter for Meredith just in time.

Here is Tobin’s personal message to the birthday bovine:

Dear Meredith,

I wish you a happy 7th birthday. I am very glad you, your mother, your Aunty Betsy, and the Dude with the Hairdo are residents of the sanctuary.

As you may have noticed, there is some construction going on near your meadow. The humans are configuring the acreage where your chimpanzee neighbors live. In addition to Willy B (you know, the singer and drummer) and the seven who were living here (including Jody, who joins Willy and me in sponsoring you) when you moved here four years ago, there are eight new chimpanzees who have taken residence. Some of them haven’t been outside yet. It is hoped that they will finally step out into their new enclosure soon.

If you follow the CSNW blog, you’ll remember that one of these new chimps – CY – reacted with fright in seeing a photograph of Betsy and Nutmeg. I doubt that his reaction was anything personal – I would assume that Cy simply wasn’t familiar with cattle despite his copious reading habits.

Hopefully, once Cy starts exploring the outside and looks across the pasture and sees you and your herd, he’ll figure out that you are a perfect fit for your immediate surroundings, and appreciate having you as a next-door neighbor.

If, however, Cy barks or screeches out some harsh words in your direction, simply moo back to him, “So, have you read any good magazines lately?” That should resolve any conflict.

Meanwhile, I wish you a happy birthday.

from your Bovine Buds, Tobin, Jody, and Willy B

 

This afternoon, Diana gave the herd a little extra alfalfa to celebrate:

Here are a few other photos of the birthday girl that I’m fairly sure we haven’t posted before:

Check out that winter coat!

You can learn more about Meredith and her bovine family here. And for pictures of BABY MEREDITH (!), please visit this page from our friends at Farm Sanctuary.

And as always, you can help support the daily care of the cows and chimpanzees by ordering from our Amazon Wish List!

Green House Naps

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Today was a warm, sunny, and windy 56F degree weather day, perfect to enjoy from inside the green houses. All three green houses were packed with chimps napping and relaxing all afternoon. Jamie and her six friends went on multiple walks around the hill only to come back and relax again. Willy B, Mave and Honey B got access to the Courtyard where Willy B spent a big chunk of time basking under the warm sun. He did not seem to mind the Spring wind at all. The girls remained in the chute enjoying the day. Lucky, and the other five members of her group spent almost the entire day in the green house as well. With optimal napping spots up in the platforms, and raisin board enrichment as extra enticement, it was no surprise that it was just the place to be all day. Even the cattle and Barn Kitty were spotted enjoying this day in the most relaxing ways.

Gordo using a chopstick to get raisins from the raising board enrichment his group got today

Rayne napping…until she heard the “click” of the camera…sorry 🙁

Lucky resting but watching my every move from the platform in the green house

Dora napping

Jamie on the top platform of the original green house, next to a boot…of course!

The cattle in their most relaxed form courtesy of Caregiver Chad who took this photo today while on cattle care.

Even Barn Kitty was into the sun’s warmth for some nice resting time

Morning Greetings

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Even though today is Sunday, it’s my “Monday” and I always look forward to coming back from my weekend and seeing the chimps again. We are so lucky as caregivers to be able to greet and be greeted by these amazing individuals. I love seeing how they all spend their mornings and what we can find them up to.

Some mornings are full of greetings and today was one of those days. Jamie was in a playful mood and wanted to play chase! We ran back and forth a couple times and then it was on to a short game of chase with Burrito. As everyone knows, he is ALWAYS ready to play. Negra was still lounging in her nest in the Greenhouse, but sweet Jody was waiting to greet me. As I moved along, Honey B was ready for a long game of chase! She wanted to play chase from the ground floor up to their Mezzanine. The Mezzanine is located above their front rooms and involves us climbing a ladder to get to the top level. Since I had to take the long route, Honey B would patiently wait until I got to the top and then would run back down.

As I was walking around the outside of building, Terry was excitedly waiting to say hi from a distance. Cy gave me a quick greeting from above, but went back to reading his morning magazine.

Each morning before we let the chimps onto Young’s Hill we walk around outside of the fence line to make sure everything still looks intact. Not only are we greeted by the chimps in the morning, but sometimes the cattle as well! I found them along my walk this morning and here are some photos.

Honey

Betsy

Nutmeg

Meredith

Here are some photos from the rest of the day!

Missy on the hill.

Jamie making sure things are in order.

Burrito making everyone’s heart melt.

Honey B always watching.

Willy B enjoying his night bag.

Willy B with his PVC peanut butter tube.

A photo of Rayne from last week using a box as a foot rest.

Gordo making good use of the same box.

Rainy Day Play and Birthdays

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This blog was not quite what I had planned today. In my head, I thought I would talk about our infamous blanket shredder(s). As a person who tries to keep up on inventory in the chimp house, I’ve found that we can’t seem to catch up on blankets. So, if you have ever desired to purchase blankets for the chimps there are plenty on our wish list!

Then the blog was going to be all about Meredith, because it’s her birthday today! Happy birthday Meredith! To celebrate, caregiver Chad brought the cattle some willow tree branches and cob to go with their hay. But, Meredith and friends had other plans. The cattle just wanted hay, which they made very clear when they bombarded the gator! So, because Meredith only wanted to celebrate her day with hay and her three closest friends. I was able to capture some very silly chimps on a pretty rainy day.

In the video you will watch Jamie hanging upside down like a bat stomping around upside down and making one caregiver very out of breath (that would be me). Minutes before the seven were about to go back into their freshly clean playroom, Negra, Burrito, Jody, Foxie, and even Jamie joined in to play slap, bite, tickle, & toe grab! Now, it may look like they where playing rough with Negra. But I will warn you Negra created that term! Please enjoy the bloopers were Jody attempts to stab me with a tube and Foxie tries to poke the camera :).

Happy Birthday to the beautiful Meredith!

Digital Field Trip

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Last Thursday we hosted a digital field trip with Northwest VEG. They are an amazing non-profit that offers all kinds of education, they create positive change, and help to build a stronger community and environment. I mean who doesn’t want to be a part of something like that! Please check out their website to see what they are up to!

We feel so lucky to have collaborated with them. Northwest VEG really understands the importance of sanctuaries and how crucial it is to educate people of all ages about the values that sanctuaries hold. I personally really loved working with them because they are such kind people, they’re respectful of the chimps, their needs, and our boundaries. As a sanctuary we rarely have public visits, especially now with COVID-19 we are not doing any visits. If you are not familiar with our philosophy on visits you can check out our website. This opportunity was very special and the participants asked a lot of hard questions and fun ones too.

My favorite question asked was, “What is the best part of the sanctuary?”. This may sound like an easy question. However, this was a hard question that I don’t think I gave justice to. There is so much that goes into that answer. Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest allows for the chimps to have freedom and choices, which are two things that humans took away. We all know humans took so much and that this is not their natural life, nor should it be. So I guess we could start there. They get to have choices. Another aspect is to see the chimps’ resiliency and watch the chimps grow as individuals. For example, Annie is now a much more bold and confident chimp. She sometimes swipes food from the other chimps and isn’t as afraid to test the waters and see if she can climb the social ladder. Foxie, for all the things she is unsure of, has become more brave than ever. She climbs and explores unfamiliar structures, and though blankets are one thing she won’t conform to, her love for dolls has expanded. One example that makes my heart happy and hurt all at the same time is Willy B going outside onto the new courtyard, an extension of Young’s Hill. He is getting more comfortable every day! It is something to celebrate and also if you think about it, that is something he should have never had to fear. Though we can never give them the life they should have had in the wild, we hope this is close.

If you want to have an experience like this one look out for our online auction, HOOT! 2020 on Saturday, September 12th, where you will be able to bid on a virtual tour of CSNW!

Most of my photos today are of Jamie. I hope you enjoy!

Jamie was having a very good day. I received my new cleaning boots yesterday from a very kind donor! They are the same pattern, octopus, just with less holes. Jamie, being the encyclopedia of boots noticed right away!

And Jamie approved. Though, her favorites are still Diana’s blue whale ones.

She is a very observant individual.

<3

Then there was Burrito.

A few days ago this is how I found Burrito nesting.v

This is a photo of Jody and her sweet heart shaped brow ridge.

Willy B has been nesting on the ground with some very plush blankets lately.

Mave nesting under the food chute.

Honey B. I just love this photo. You can see the intensity in her eyes.

I thought I would share some cattle pictures, just because.

Betsy.

Meredith.

Nutmeg.

And Honey.

I will leave you all with a photo I just took before closing up the chimp house for the night. It is a photo of Burrito and Jody nesting next to each other on a bench in the front rooms. Jody spent 15 minutes making her nest perfect. Burrito gathered 3 blankets and put one over his head. Goodnight everyone!

 

 

 

In honor of Jane Goodall

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This lovely day of sanctuary was sponsored by Robin Lundy, in honor of Jane Goodall on her birthday. Robin shared this thoughtful, heartfelt and poignant note about her gift:

“I am sponsoring today in honor of Jane Goodall on her birthday. With Biruté Galdikas and the late Dian Fossey, Dr. Goodall has devoted her life and work to advocate for the survival and well-being of our primate cousins. There are few humans whom I admire more than this woman of courage and vision. As the human species is besieged in the corona virus pandemic, it is well worth considering the ways in which we may have engendered the proliferation of this virus through our use – and misuse – of our natural environment and the non-human animals with whom we share our fragile biosphere. May the experience of the pandemic serve to teach us that human animals do not exist apart from the natural world, and as such, we must respect and protect the ecosystem. In honoring Dr. Goodall as a prophetic voice and witness, I like to think that people like Missy, her daughter Honey B (and for that matter, Honey the cow) also admire her for her life’s work of advocacy and activism on behalf of animals.”

Robin, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate Jane Goodall on her special day and the contributions through courage, hope and inspiration that she, and so many amazing women of all species, have and continue to make to life. And for reminding us that be they primate (including our human selves), bovine, plant, or otherwise, there truly is no separation.

From our sanctuary home in the mountains, we all send intentions of gratitude, joy and well-being across the waters to you, Dr. Goodall! We wish you a beautiful birthday! May the hope, kindness and steadfast resolve you inspire in so many of us stay bright in your heart and may we manifest it in the world around us all.

Missy:

and her daughter, Honey B:

Missy:

Honey B:

Missy:

Honey B:

Honey:

and her daughter, Meredith:

Honey (L) and Meredith (R):