Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Missy

Going Her Own Way

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Annie has been steadily growing in confidence since arriving at the sanctuary. And with her newfound confidence has come an increased independence. There was a time when Annie wouldn’t leave her best friend Missy’s side. Missy was not only friend but security blanket. And while Missy is still no doubt Annie’s favorite person in the world, Annie is spending more and more time in peaceful solitude. It seems Annie’s finally learned to enjoy her own company.

This afternoon when Missy decided it was time for a little exercise on Young’s Hill, Annie followed her out but then went off in her own direction for a lazy stroll.

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After several minutes of sprints on the hill, Missy wore herself out and headed inside to the warm playroom to rest. Annie watched Missy go inside but took her time following. When she did go in a few minutes later, she stopped in the empty greenhouse for a few moments of alone time. (She found a leftover corn cob from lunch to wadge.)

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A little later, Annie headed into the playroom to curl up next to Missy. Despite her growing independence, Annie’s always appreciated the comfort that can be found in a good friend.

Stability

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We often mention on the blog the changes that we observe in the chimpanzees and how we’ve seen them grow over the past five and a half years. There’s no doubt that they are still coming into their own, after living the majority of their lives in lab cages and having no control over their choices and no ability to predict what could happen next.

One of the tragic things about captivity is that the chimps are entirely dependent on us caregivers—we provide food, blankets, enrichment, and we shift the doors between their enclosures. For this reason, it is very important to have a routine so that the chimpanzees can have expectations, and can make decisions based on what they know will happen next. This is what is truly the epitome of being in a sanctuary.

Through these choices, we really see the chimpanzees develop their idiosyncratic likes and dislikes, and we see them grow and change over time. Foxie used to only want to play with trolls, and then some time ago she expanded to nurturing Dora dolls (though she still loves trolls). Jamie has a extreme love for boots, but recently it’s been more fashion boots that she prefers over cowgirl boots (her old favorite). Missy loves socks and slinkys, Burrito loves to have wooden toys to bite on, Annie loves to rub water on her face, Jody likes edible flowers and soapy bubbles, and Negra likes peanuts and nesting.

Having choices has allowed the chimps to relax, enjoy the sunshine, friends, good food, and space to run—and that has made them so much healthier and stronger than they ever were in the lab. See for yourself, check out the before and after photos of each of the chimps on their story pages here.

Although we see so many wonderful changes in the chimpanzees due to all the choice they have now, there are some things that never change. I was looking back through some old blog posts from this time in 2008, before the chimpanzees arrived. Diana’s first impressions of the chimps were spot-on and still six years later, they enjoy the same things she predicted they would when they came to CSNW. She talked about Jamie and choices, Negra and nesting, and Missy and Annie’s close friendship and their desire to play, play, play. These are things that the chimpanzees love to do everyday, but unlike in the lab, they are able to fully appreciate and express their preferences.

Today, the enrichment theme was “grooming day.” Jamie had lots of enrichment to choose from. Boots, scarves, emery boards, scrub brushes, trolls, pillows, blankets, paper, and even a toothbrush. Out of all of that, she chose to make a big nest out of a tube of exam table paper. (Thanks, Carol!)

Negra cuddled in a giant nest:

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Missy and Annie:

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And just for fun, Missy’s enrichment item of choice on grooming day:

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I so look forward to the changes that are to come and see how the Cle Elum Seven will continue to flourish in sanctuary , but I know I can still count on some stability in the foundation of what they each love, and will continue to enjoy more and more for the rest of their lives.

Greenhouse mornings

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As JB mentioned in the video of his recent blog post, “Lending a hand,” the days at the sanctuary revolve around a routine that relies on chimpanzee participation. For example, the chimpanzees are asked to shift into different areas throughout the day so that we can have access other areas to clean while they are not present. The majority of enclosure cleaning happens in the morning (provided everyone is in the mood, of course). On warm, sunny, summer days this often means that the chimpanzees spend an hour or so exploring Young’s Hill. During the winter, however, this is sometimes not the most appealing way to spend time! This morning, with windy gusts up to 40 miles an hour, the chimpanzees opted to spend their morning in the greenhouse while we cleaned in the playroom.

Missy:
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Annie in the foreground, Missy in the background:
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Missy catches me taking pictures from the loft in the playroom:
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Annie rests after a quick wrestling game with Missy:
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Burrito catches the paparazzi:
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Burrito and Jamie inspect the boxes:
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And, finally, Jamie comes over to see what I’m up to:
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Fun for Everyone

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We received some fun toys for the chimpanzees recently and it appears as though the advertisements were correct, “slinky” (or the magic spring as ours are called) is apparently fun for everyone, including chimpanzees! Here is Missy enjoying the new enrichment and thank you for donating these wonderfully entertaining toys!

Missy discovering the box:
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Missy opening the box:
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Missy playing with her “magic spring:”
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Today is for human Annie!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Elizabeth Cromer in honor of Annie Norris! Elizabeth shared this lovely message for Annie:

“We would like to sponsor this day to you, Annie. You are so very special to us and God knew we needed you in our lives. Thanks for loving us. We know you are a blessing to all the chimps and everyone you come in contact with. Love, the Cromer clan and your Daddy-O.”

Annie is not only a dedicated chimp house volunteer, but she helps us out in countless other ways, including playing an instrumental role in the planning, coordination, and success of our events. Annie has a beautiful, big heart and we humans and chimpanzees are all so fortunate to have her as part of the CSNW family. Elizabeth, thank you so much for sponsoring today for the chimpanzees in Annie’s honor!

Human Annie’s Pals, Missy and Annie Chimpanzee, sharing a relaxing moment together:

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Missy and Annie play wrestle

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Are you sick of seeing Missy and Annie play? I didn’t think so! These two are always wrestling and having a good time. Here’s a video that is bound to brighten your Tuesday afternoon:

Happy Birthday, Don Young!

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Today we’re celebrating Don Young’s 75th birthday. Don and Karen Young have been endlessly generous in their support of the sanctuary and the Cle Elum Seven. Among many other things, Don and Karen provided the contribution that allowed us to break ground on what is now known as Young’s Hill. Each time the chimpanzees step outside onto their two-acre open air habitat, we feel so thankful to the Youngs for making it happen. See Diana’s blog post from this morning for more on Don and Karen.

Karen sponsored today for the chimps in honor of Don’s birthday, so we threw a lavish party to celebrate. The weather was unseasonably nice today, so first thing this morning we set up parties in the greenhouse and on Young’s Hill. The chimps foraged for coconuts, pineapple, kiwi, beets, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and fruit smoothie in Dixie cups.

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Although the weather was beautiful for January in Cle Elum, it was still a little cool for Negra, so she chose to stay in the greenhouse:

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But everyone else went outside and foraged for breakfast on Young’s Hill:

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Burrito gathered some Brussels sprouts:

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And Jamie collected some beets:

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The real prizes of the morning were the two whole coconuts. Missy quickly found one of them:

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and looked for a safe place to enjoy it:

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She was soon joined by Jody:

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Jody was very happy to find the second coconut a little later:

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There was plenty of coconut to go around, and everyone eventually got a chance to enjoy some.

Foxie:

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Annie:

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We can’t possibly count the ways in which we’re grateful for Karen and Don’s generosity. The Cle Elum Seven wouldn’t enjoy the life they do without them. Happy birthday, Don!