Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Missy

Palling Around with Missy and Annie

by 6 Comments

If you’ve have been following the blog for any length of time, you likely know that Annie and Missy are best friends.  They explore together, lounge together, nap together, and (my favorite) play together!

Recently, on a beautiful summer day, I was cleaning in the front rooms and heard the delightful sound of chimpanzee laughter.  Who could it be?  Burrito is the usual suspect.  But on this day, I found Annie and Missy engaged in a playful wrestling match.  Everyone else was out lounging in their greenhouse, and exploring on Young’s Hill, but these two were happy to stay indoors in a raucous play session!

I was looking at old blog posts about Annie and Missy and I came across a post by Diana from March of 2008 – 3 months before the original group of 7, the Cle Elum 7, arrived at the sanctuary.  It’s clear that these chimpanzee friends have had a special relationship for a very long time!

Photogenic Chimpanzees

by

When I arrived at the sanctuary this morning, I was determined to get as many photos as I could before our weekly staff meeting/training began. One, because a lot of you just love seeing photos of the chimps and their daily adventures. Two, because I wanted to prove to myself that I could get as many photos of as many chimps as I could. Granted, as some of you are aware, trying to get photos of some of them is almost impossible because either they come running up and get too close to the caging to get a photo, or they are in those few spots around the sanctuary where it is impossible to get a photo. Looking at you George, Cy, Dora, and Mave.

So please enjoy the product of this self challenge!

Burrito at breakfast:

I had to get these photos using all the sneakiness I could before he came down

Rayne during lunch today:

Gordo doing a little self-grooming:

Willy B also self-grooming:

It’s imperative to watch the neighbors when you’re done grooming

Foxie and Moana go for a walk around Young’s Hill:

Sweet Lucky:

Missy at breakfast:

Terry waiting for a caregiver grooming partner after lunch:

Just noting that I did indeed get photos of Jamie and Annie, but they were a one shot scenario where the photo didn’t come out. Honey B was busy doing Honey B things on the Bray and in the Chute. She was just to fast/busy for me to get a photo. And Negra said no in her own Negra way by burying her face in her nest when the camera was raised. I obey all of the Queen’s demands.

For me, I would consider getting photos of half the chimps today was a success. Maybe in the near future I will try again.

Waiting

by

As the weather has been warmer lately, we have been giving Jamie chimpanzee’s group access to their outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill, first thing in the morning.  Today, Jamie sprinted out of the greenhouse, ready to patrol her territory.  Foxie, Missy and Burrito were hot on her heels!  They know that, after breakfast, we spend time cleaning their playroom.  Which is the perfect opportunity to take off to explore the hill, looking for young spring grass to graze on (though it might be a little early, yet).

But they always seem to know when it’s just about time for us to finish up and open the doors back up to their playroom.  They know that there will be a leafy green forage waiting for them, as well as fresh blankets and enrichment. Today, they even had hanging raisin boards, which they love!  So it wasn’t a surprise when we heard breathy chimpanzee laughter coming from the front rooms.  There, we found Burrito and Missy finding ways to pass the time, while waiting for their playroom.

Soon, almost all of the chimps were waiting patiently.