Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Missy

Nice Day

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The chimps had a very nice day! Most of the day was spent out on the Hill or in the Green House. Everyone went straight out to Young’s Hill once it was opened, even Neggie ran out right away. Negra also lead the group out for the lunch forage today! However, it must be snake season because before anyone went outside some surveillance had to be done. Annie, who is terrified of snakes, looked out towards the Hill from in the race way, making sure her toes never touched the ground. Foxie, brave little Foxie, lead everyone out giving everyone the okay, but all the chimps made sure to keep their eye out.

Foxie:

Annie:

Negra wadging pineapple:

Miss eating chow:

Jody with a loose lip giving level 3 caregiver Jake some reassurance:

Annie bipedally walking and inspecting for snakes:

Missy, the good friend that she is, giving Annie some back up:

Foxie, Annie, & Missy going out to venture on the secure Hill:

Jody watching over everyone:

And enjoying the tall green grass:

Negra:

Missy (top), Annie (middle), Foxie (below) hanging out on the new structure:

Jamie doing her perimeter check:

Jamie and I also saw Jody and Negra along the way. They were foraging on some of the natural plants that grow on the Hill.

Jody:

Negra:

Foxie enjoying the sunshine:

Later, while cleaning was going on, we caught Jamie using a toothbrush to brush this dolls hair (It was a very sweet moment):

Days like today make my heart feel so full of joy, these chimps are simply amazing. Nothing makes you feel better than seeing happy chimps grooming and playing together all day.

 

The long game

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Missy and Annie often play a long morning game of chase on Young’s Hill. This game isn’t always so obvious to the observer because it involves them each taking long breaks on opposing structures, where they seem to be doing their own thing. However, with just a flicker of communication between the two of them, the game resumes periodically, and usually ends with one racing the other back into the greenhouse.

This morning we got a nice rain storm at the sanctuary, so the ground was soaked when the chimps made there way out onto the hill. Annie and Missy’s game seemed to also include touching the earth as little as possible.

Annie spent a lot of time bipedal so she only had to touch wet grass with as few limbs as possible.

Until she could get off the ground..

Missy moved from structure to structure in her own style:

Annie wasn’t adverse to drinking the new moisture:

The chimps moved up the hill with Annie finding another playmate for a brief game of this terrifying (to human eyes) game of chase and wrestle:

That’s Foxie’s brow ridge you can barely see poking up from the platform below:

Meanwhile Missy investigated the wild plants to see if anything was worth eating:

But here comes Annie!

They reconvened on the logs before racing to the newest structure!

Then more wrestling was on the agenda:

A quick stop at the final platform before it was time to run inside. Somehow Missy knows how to get those short little legs to move at astonishing speeds 🙂

Jody’s 43rd Birthday Celebration!

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Today is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Jody’s birthday! We had double to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate than to have a Green House and Young’s Hill forage, we even set out a whole coconut (I bet you can guess who ended up with it)! We love celebrating Mother’s Day, why not tell the strong women who helped shape who you are how much you love them! We do have a few mothers at our sanctuary including Jody. Jody is kind, nurturing, and always making sure that everyone is safe. For Jody’s birthday we set out lilacs because she loves to go on the Hill and find things like thistles, spruce trees, etc. Well, it turns out Missy LOVES lilacs and got most of them! Jody did get one of her favorites, which is the top of a pineapple (she was pleased)!

Missy eating all the lilacs:

Neggie had a nice relaxing day. She foraged on the Hill in the morning all by herself, attended the party, and napped for most of the day (it was pretty exhausting):

Power pose, Negra actually jump with all her might to get the enrichment, it was very exciting to watch:

Annie gathered some lilacs and then ventured out to the Hill to forage:

Burrito stayed pretty close to the birthday girls side, but found some opportunities to enjoy a drink and go on the Hill:

Foxie actually found the coconut and tried ever so quietly to sneak away:

Foxie eventually ditched the coconut and came back for it later in the afternoon, however Jamie heard Foxie trying to crack it open on the new structure and Jamie food peered her way into getting the coconut…

But Foxie did get to enjoy herself at the party:

Jamie enjoyed some cold drinks and some snacks as well:

Later when it was very warm Jamie and I took a few walks, when she got hot she would just hide in the shade:

Jody spent a lot of her day laying around, enjoying good company, and eating some of her favorite things. That sounds like a great 43rd birthday to me!

The birthday girl, Jody:

 

Cheers Jody! Happy 43rd Birthday (Missy is holding the drink):

 

Practice Makes Perfect

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Jamie had a lot to do today. J.B was doing some work around the Chimp House so of course Jamie needed to monitor his work, but Jamie also had to get her perimeter walks in, as well as practice her tight rope walking.

Jamie started the day with making sure J.B. was doing his job (he was, as always):

Than Jamie and I surveyed the Hill (it was clear):

Once the Hill was secure, Jamie hit the logs to warm up her balance:

After Jamie was warmed up she decided to get straight to business:

Wow! She really nailed round 1, but this was practice so she had to go again:

Her technique was impeccable, so she tried again:

Wow, Jamie was flawless by round 3! Practice really does make perfect! But, with her busy schedule Jamie decided she needed to get back to work. This morning was nice and warm, so it wasn’t just Jamie out and about. Everyone made an appearance on the Hill at one point in the day, even Neggie came out to forage for some grass, or at least before the rain came.

Missy exploring on the Hill:

Annie lounging around:

Foxie was hanging out on the Hill too:

Foxie and Jody spent some time outside together:

But, Burrito was never too far behind Jody:

Negra made a nice nest and took advantage of the peace and quiet while everyone explored the Hill:

 

 

Missy’s Perfectly Playful Day

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Missy is having a really good day. She and Annie enjoyed some grass together first thing this morning.

 

Later, they played chase at the very top of the new structure.

 

For lunch, they sat next to each other eating some beets.

 

Missy often does things for the sure joy of movement, like this tightrope walk and dismount on some fire hose.

 

Missy shared her good spirits this afternoon by inviting me to play a game of tug-of-war with a blanket. She does this by pushing a blanket under the caging and giving a casual glance at her prospective play partner. Often these tug-of-war games are gentle, but she loves a serious match once in a while. Today, she was being particularly vigorous and I was left having to let go of the blanket when she was pulling very hard, which resulted in her falling backwards. She seemed to find this quite funny, so we repeated it several times.

Watching Missy today was a reminder to get outside, embrace the little moments, and have some laughs with a friend or two.

Flower foodies

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The chimpanzees had their first lilacs of the season this morning! The lilacs are just starting to bloom so should be perfect just in time for the chimps’ Mother’s Day celebration. Jamie collected an entire bouquet for herself, leaving the other chimps with one flower each. While Jamie enjoyed hers at a leisurely pace at her private table in the frontrooms, the others literally inhaled them before I could get photos. But at least they got one!

Missy:

Annie savored hers with sweet Foxie unabashedly food-peering at her in hopes she’d share hers, but Annie isn’t easily swayed when it comes to food. And lilacs are something all the chimps really love. Annie decided to build a nest and finish up the stems in comfort.

Gorgeous Day

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Today was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the barn doors were open! Words could not describe the day we had, but pictures can!

This photo was actually from last week but Jamie just looks so good I coudn’t resist:

Jamie and I sauntered around Young’s Hill mid morning and afternoon:

Annie made bird noises and relaxed all day in the Greenhouse:

Missy looking fierce:

Foxie enjoyed some carrots and chow:

Jamie had lunch with her boot and was skeptical about the broccoli… (However, she did like it):

Burrito:

Negra and Jody spent their day napping in the greenhouse and a little in the Playroom. While napping in the Playroom, I did preform a jig for Neggie while she laid in the sun. Too bad there is no video to show how much she enjoyed the show…

Jody napping: