Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

Missy

Where in the World is Annie?

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I wanted to share a fun little story from this morning! As I gave Annie’s group Young’s Hill, everyone including Negra rushed out. Once Anna brought breakfast out to the greenhouse all the chimps were heading back in to eat, except Annie. We couldn’t find Annie anywhere. It had been more than 10 minutes of breakfast being served and she was nowhere in sight. Annie does not miss a meal! Sofia came over to help do checks when I said I think Annie is on the Hill, but we can’t see her anywhere. Sofia told us she did this yesterday, but eventually came back for breakfast. We finally got a glimpse of her 15 minutes into breakfast, she was far up on the top of the Hill foraging for what I assume was grass or some kind of foliage. Apparently, that grass was so good she didn’t even come back for breakfast! Breakfast was not a concern for Annie, because when she finally returned and Anna tried to call her over for food, she very contently laid back on the platform in the greenhouse and took a little nap.

Today was a beautiful spring day so we took advantage of the weather and did a Hill forage for lunch!

Don’t worry Annie got plenty of food!

But Missy seemed to score the most!

Negra was quite pleased with her haul! She even worked pretty hard for her food too, look at Neggie on the Esher structure!

Jody with a mouth full of corn and hands full of forage!

Jamie collected her forage and then took all of it to a secluded hammock to eat alone.

Burrito cradling an arm full of onions:

Little Foxie was having a great day roaming around the Hill and hanging out with friends!

Bonus Photos!

Rayne was asleep in a cozy nest up on one of the leaves in the Marmot Room.

And sweet Dora was hangout in the window ledge watching her caregivers cleaned her playroom.

Some Things Never Change

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As we cautiously move forward with the group of 9 chimps, we are all trying to adjust to a “new” normal for schedules, shifting, and cleaning. Though we don’t know what the future holds for this group, I do want to express that even though we are “cautiously optimistic,” the chimps have worked so hard to build these relationships and their hard work has paid off! We are so proud of them and the way they have been able to navigate difficult social situations so far! While we humans may have helped facilitate these meet ups, they really deserve all the credit for making this group become nine, especially Cy! That guy really knows how to defuse a situation!

Meanwhile, on Jamie’s side of the building, some things never change. This morning Jamie took a nice leisurely stroll while I drove the gator beside her. Burrito and Missy chased each other up Young’s Hill as Annie followed peacefully behind. I took great comfort in doing something so familiar while we have all this change happening. So if today you needed something familiar to ground you and bring you comfort, I hope this video of the chimps on the Hill bring you some joy.

Don’t forget today is the last day for GiveBIG! We are so close to our goal, and you can help us get there!! Also, check out the article written about us in the Yakima Herald!

Grace took these awesome photos of Rayne relaxing in a box in the Oakwood greenhouse:

Let’s Play!

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As I looked through my phone I realized I had so many small clips of the chimps playing. Some were too short to make into a full video, so with the help of some other caregivers we made a montage of the chimps playing over the last couple weeks.

I was also was able to snag a handle full of photos today!

Spring is here because Negra says it is:

The mischievous Miss Honey B:

Dora melting in the warm Oakwood greenhouse:

The handsome freckled-face Terry:

I felt like someone was spying on me while I tried to take photos of Terry. I was right!

It was Lucky spying on me:

Sam took this great photo of Burrito and was kind enough to share it with me. If you are thinking, geez Burrito looks intense you are right! He was ready to play! After he let Sam snap some photos he leaped up and insisted they start playing chase!

Walks with a friend

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Today’s blog and video is all about my walks with Jamie (and others) over my time as a caregiver here. Walking around Young’s Hill with the chimpanzees has been one of my favorite parts and will always hold a special place in my heart. When I first started Jamie would ask me to walk around Young’s Hill multiple times a day. No matter how hot it was outside. Some days she would rest in the shade of a structure and I would wait it out in the sun. I loved every minute of it even if my skin said otherwise. I started to catch on and would sit behind the gator while I waited for Jamie to start walking again. There could be so many different combinations of ways Jamie requested to walk around the hill. It could be me running, driving the gator, or someone driving the gator and me running in front of it. Sometimes others would join us on our walks, but for the most part my time was spent with Jamie on the hill. Every so often if Chad was busy Burrito would want me to race him around the hill and remind me how out of shape I truly am. Recently, Jamie left during one of our walks to go back inside and Foxie joined me for the rest of the way! I’m glad we are finally past winter (although it’s snowing outside right now) so we can spend time on Young’s Hill with the chimpanzees again.

I’m sharing all of these good memories because sadly this will be my last blog post. It has been an honor to work here and be a part of this family and I know in my heart I will always be a part of it. The chimpanzees, cattle, and humans here will always be a part of me now. I’ve really enjoyed my time here and I am staying in the field, just moving to a different opportunity. I wanted to thank all of you for being so supportive and providing such nice feedback over my time here! I really enjoy reading your comments on the blog and getting to know you all.

A bonus photo!

Jamie and her amazing nest yesterday.

 

 

 

Just Another Sunny(ish) Sunday

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Just another relaxing Sunday around the chimp house! As I’m writing this the weather is looking more and more like it’s going to start raining at any moment, but for most of the day though the weather was beautiful! Willy B enjoyed some naps in the Courtyard and later even Negra went out to see the sunshine on Young’s Hill.

Here are some photos of Foxie’s group on Young’s Hill today.

Foxie

Jamie

Jody

Burrito

Annie

Negra

Photos from the rest of the day!

Burrito with a cowboy boot.

Jody resting in the warm Greenhouse.

Annie grooming Missy.

The fabulous Jamie.

Rayne in her comfy nest.

Terry and Dora grooming in the Riverview Greenhouse.

 

Happy Spring!

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Happy first day of Spring! Let’s hope this means warmer weather is on the way soon! It was cold today with even a little bit of snow, so it didn’t feel much like Spring. The chimpanzees didn’t seem to mind though! The three chimpanzees in Willy B’s group were all enjoying interacting with a slinky today.

First, this morning Mave was using it as part of her nest. Honey B is sitting behind her.

Willy B then decided to drag it around the front rooms with it around his ankle!

Honey B also took a turn dragging the slinky around.

Willy B looking pretty handsome.

Here’s what some of the other chimpanzees were up to today!

Terry enjoying time in the Riverview Greenhouse.

Dora spent a lot of time in the Riverview Greenhouse today.

Missy decided to take some of her lunch (red bell peppers and chow) out onto Young’s Hill.

Jamie on a walk with one of her caregivers.

Foxie relaxing in Greenhouse.

 

Double Date With a Side of Bubbly

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Introductions with the hope of merging the two California groups continued today. Starring a double date scenario involving Willy B and Mave, and Cy and Dora. It went overall very well. What goes best with a Saturday night double date? Some bubbly. The chimpanzees got soapy buckets as day time enrichment and it was a HIT. Jody and Annie were the first ones to dig in into the soapy pool that caregivers prepared for them and their friends in the play room. Missy took her time coming down to join in the pool party but did not miss out either. In the green house, Burrito made sure to hog the water bucket and then grabbed a cup to facilitate the drinking.

Jody

Annie

Burrito

Dora getting groomed by Mave

Cy and Willy B grooming each other