Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Missy

Today is for Becky and Karen

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This day of sanctuary was gifted to the chimpanzees by our wonderful friend, Robin Lundy! She shared this note about her gift:

“I am sponsoring this day for my friend Becky and her sister Karen. June 8th would have been Karen’s 61st birthday. Although Karen and Becky were perhaps not as rambunctious in their interactions with each other as when Foxie and Jamie wrestle themselves into the shape of a furry pretzel, or when Missy and Annie chase each other around Young’s Hill to grab each other’s toes, nevertheless, they were each other’s best friends.”

Robin, this is so lovely. Thanks so much for choosing to celebrate the special gift of best friends and sharing that with us all.

Becky, we hope your heart is full of joy, love and comfort on this special day. We’re so happy to think of you and Karen and are grateful to think of her legacy rippling out to make a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives.

Annie and Missy:

In memory of Robert Ruggeri

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Rachel Ruggeri sponsored today in memory of her father, Robert Ruggeri, and shared this beautiful note about her gift:

“Today would mark my father’s 83rd birthday. And though he passed away six years ago in July, he is ever present in our thoughts and a part of so many of our conversations. My father loved to laugh and he found so much joy in the everyday antics of animals, most especially primates. He would be comforted knowing that the gang of seven now joined by the bovine bunch had found a future filled with peace and independence at the sanctuary in the quiet hills of Eastern Washington. I like to think that my father has also found that sanctuary somewhere in the ether…high above the clouds, but still within a distance to see all the beauty in the world he left behind. We miss him each and every day, but know that “sanctuary” is where we all ultimately aspire to be…”

Rachel, thank you so much for remembering your father in this way and for the difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives by doing so. We’re honored to celebrate Robert’s legacy and wish you and your family a day of comfort and joy-filled memories as you hold him in your hearts.

Negra:

Foxie and Missy:

Jamie:

Burrito:

(clockwise) Honey, Betsy, Nutmeg and Meredith (front):

Jody, Foxie and Annie:

Happy Birthday, Amy!

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Kristen Elliott sponsored today for Amy Webster and shared this lovely message about today:

“Amy (Webster) spends her life advocating for animals of all kinds. She works tirelessly to ensure animals are cared for, loved and respected. It is truly a breathtaking thing to watch Amy campaign and work for the animals. If there were more people like Amy in the world, everyone – plant, animal and human – would know they are worthy of love. Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is close to Amy’s heart. In honor of the day she entered this world, we’re sponsoring June 5, 2019, for Amy.”

Kristen, thank you so much for sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in celebration of Amy! What a wonderful way to be honored.

Amy, we are so happy knowing there are humans like you in the world! May you have the best birthday yet!

Ladies of the Hill

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Young’s Hill is a magical opportunity for the chimps. It is a place to feel free, it is a space they can protect, a place to escape to be alone, and a place to play and have fun with friends. And to me that is sanctuary. I have a collection of photos of all the ladies on the Hill from the past week. I can’t explain how it feels to watch these 7 chimps go out on to Young’s Hill and that it’s just part of their every day life. That for some chimps like Jamie they get to do what wild chimps would do; patrol their perimeter. If they can’t be wild I hope all chimps get this experience.

Foxie:

Annie:


Jody:


Missy:

Jamie:

Negra:

We Like to Have Fun!

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If you needed something to make you smile or a good laugh, you have come to the right place!

We had a very silly Burrito:



A Jamie full of mischief:


Negra wasn’t quite ready to get out of bed this morning:

But Foxie and Burrito were grooming up a storm:

Negra did venture out to the Hill later in the morning:

Foxie wanted to play a very lazy game of troll toss in the green house:


Annie and Missy could be found lounging all around the chimp house today or rippin’ around Young’s Hill:

And the wonderful miss Jody spent her day quietly foraging on the Hill and napping in the green house:

Missy in motion

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Watching Missy move, particularly when she is in the open space on Young’s Hill is a true delight. There isn’t necessarily an obvious purpose to her actions, she is simply looking for adventure. I truly admire those that love to run, climb and jump, just for the pure thrill of it.

“She writes things with her movements that I for the life of me could never write with a pen.”
― Christopher Poindexter

Dr. Missy’s Miracle Spring Grass

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The chimps are constantly snacking on grass this time of year. Despite having access to two acres of the stuff, the best grass seems to grow just outside the greenhouse, which means that the humans have to do all the work and the chimps don’t have to get up and walk anywhere.

Convenient, isn’t it?

Missy requested a couple of bunches this afternoon and proceeded to make a nest on the greenhouse platform. This is quite common – when the chimps receive something they know they will enjoy, like when Jamie gets a new book or pair of boots, they often choose to make a nest before settling down with their new treat.

Sometimes the chimps shove handfuls of grass into their mouths all at once, while other times they take a more delicate approach, carefully separating each blade from the stem and eating them one by one.

Using their lips and tongue, they fold the blade up like an accordion and swallow it with minimal chewing.

As we’ve mentioned before on this blog, this is very similar to the way some chimps in the wild ingest certain plants for medicinal purposes.

We do routine checks for parasites so it’s unlikely that they are self-medicating the way wild chimps do. But who knows? Maybe its preventive medicine. Or maybe it’s just a snack. Whatever the reason, the prescription is always the same: More of that grass, please.