Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Missy

Missy doing what she does best

by

Missy seems to have boundless energy and is the chimpanzee most likely to be seen climbing structures with absolute ease, fire hose walking without so much as a wobble (or the use of her hands) and also sprinting around Young’s Hill at full speed. I think JB’s description of her being like a coiled up spring waiting to be released captures her spirit perfectly.

After foraging for lunch on Young’s Hill, Missy made her way up to the top of the hill and climbed the tallest structure. She barely sat down long enough on Carlene’s Tower to take in the view of the valley below before heading over the bridge and climbing back down. And then she was off, doing what Missy does best.

It takes a village…

by

The Cle Elum Seven are lucky to have an army of humans at their disposal who all contribute directly to their well-being. Chimp house volunteers make sure the chimps always have good, healthy food, interesting enrichment, plenty of blankets, and a clean and safe place to live.

A few dedicated volunteers are chosen to continue on to the highest available level of training, and become direct caregivers to the chimpanzees. These are the volunteers who develop personal relationships with the chimps, serve their meals, play and groom with them, and get to know each individual intimately to ensure everyone’s needs are being met.

These volunteer caregivers become such a regular and seamless part of the chimps’ lives that it’s hard for everyone to say goodbye when the time comes. Volunteer Connie has been a constant presence in the chimp house for over six years, but this is her last week as a caregiver to the Cle Elum Seven since she is moving on to new adventures in another state. We haven’t yet figured out a legally sound way to require lifetime service from our volunteers, so we are forced to let her go. 🙂

In all seriousness, we will miss Connie’s smile, energy, and enthusiasm. She has been a wonderful friend to the chimps and humans at CSNW, and will always be a part of the family.

web_Connie_volunteer_caregiver_prepare_breakfast_kh_IMG_8221

web_Connie_volunteer_caregiver_serve_breakfast_GH_kh_IMG_8209

Thank you to Connie and to all of our volunteers for helping these chimps live as happily and freely as possible.

web_Burrito_on_the_move_forage_food_hands_mouth_YH_kh_IMG_8281

web_Annie_sit_treat_rock_eat_YH_kh_IMG_4490

web_Jamie_look_out_food_in_hands_forage_YH_kh_IMG_8271

web_Negra_food_in_mouth_forage_YH_kh_IMG_4483

web_Jody_bipedal_forage_mouth_hands_full_YH_kh_IMG_4488

In memory of Carlene

by

Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored in memory of Carlene Olson-Garza by her husband, Tony, and their family who send this special message:

“Today would of have been Carlene’s 58th birthday. She was an advocate for the great work CSNW is doing and an avid follower of the blog. We, her family, mark this day in memory of her by our continued support of the seven.”

As you may recall, as a result of our wonderfully successful Share the Chimp Love fundraiser in February we were able to build the chimpanzees a new climbing structure on Young’s Hill. As part of the campaign two generous families, one of which was the Garza family, won naming rights to the two towers. The tower with the roof was named Carlene’s Tower and the open-air tower was named Jamie’s Lookout by Joan and Pat Borders. And let me tell you the chimps have been loving this structure!!

web_new_structure_top_of_hill_jb_IMG_3199

We here at the sanctuary, are honored by Carlene’s presence every day. When we walk around Young’s Hill with Jamie, we pass Carlene’s memorial stone along our new Memorial Walkway. Just in the distance of the walkway, is Carlene’s Tower. The chimpanzees sometimes take a detour during walks around the perimeter to climb up one of the towers and often sit quietly to take in the view before crossing over and down the other side to resume the walk. The only person we haven’t seen climb this amazing structure (yet!) is Negra. But she has ventured up to check things out and enjoy the abundance of wild mustard that grows below it in the spring.

To Carlene’s family, our hearts go out to you as you navigate your lives without this special woman whom you all clearly love so much. We are continually touched and inspired by all that you do to ensure her love of the chimpanzees continues. As we all celebrate Carlene’s life today, please know that not only you, but Carlene as well, make a difference in their lives every day. And we are so fortunate to have you all as part of our sanctuary family.

Missy taking in the view from Carlene’s Tower:

web_Missy_look_at_mountains_carlenes_tower_YH_jb_IMG_3597

web_Missy_carlenes_tower_mountains_YH_jb_IMG_3606

Annie:

web_annie_tower_look_down_jb_IMG_3236

Burrito:

web_Burrito_qp_Carlene_tower_structure_YH_kh_IMG_2298

Boss lady, Jamie:

web_jamie_sit_tower_kd_IMG_1997

Foxie, taking in the view from Jamie’s Lookout on the opposite side:

web_foxie_tower_look_camera_jb_IMG_3229

Jamie:

web_Jamie_look_out_at_mountains_jamies_tower_YH_jb_IMG_5340

To Annie on Her 41st Birthday

by

Dear Annie,

You haven’t always had it easy. Your first thirty years on Earth were full of fear, pain, and boredom. A lab cage is no place for anyone. Even now in your sanctuary home, you have your struggles. Being the lowest in the hierarchy isn’t easy.

But we have watched your anxiety diminish and your confidence grow. We’ve watched you make new friends, gain the courage to stand up for yourself, and learn to appreciate your own company. We love how much you love your best friend Missy. We love that as you start your 42nd year, you are still growing. We love that you haven’t let the world harden you. You inspire us all.

Happy Birthday,
Your devoted humans

Annie:

web_Annie_peanut_in_mouth_hold_food_bowls_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8103

web_Annie_hold_food_bowl_birthday_party_GH_aw_IMG_8069

web_Annie_lie_down_streamers_in_mouth_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8155

web_Annie_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8132

Jamie:

web_Jamie_hold_treat_bag_green_onions_forage_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8136

web_Jamie_bipedal_hold_treat_bag_forage_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8138

Missy:

web_Missy_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8122

web_Missy_eat_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8124

Jody:

web_Jody_streamers_in_mouth_birthday_party_GH_kd_IMG_4402

web_Jody_hold_eat_food_birthday_party_GH_kd_IMG_4368

Negra:

web_Negra_profile_hold_green_onion_birthday_party_GH_kd_IMG_4387

web_Negra_smoothie_cup_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8091

Foxie:

web_Foxie_eat_food_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8111

web_Foxie_tongue_lick_smoothie_shot_glass_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8120

Burrito:

web_Burrito_forage_streamers_birthday_party_GH_ek_IMG_8142

web_Burrito_hold_smoothie_cup_birthday_party_GH_kd_IMG_4397

Sanctuary Vantage Points

by

One of my all time favorite views of the sanctuary is from the top of Young’s Hill. From this spot you can see the Cascade Mountains and the Yakima River. You can see extensive forests of pine trees as well as the hustle and bustle of cars and trains going by. If you are lucky, you can spot chimpanzees taking full advantage of this beautiful weather.

Chimpanzees like Missy
web_Missy_platform_bamboo_yh_aw_IMG_7979

web_Missy_bridge_yh_aw_IMG_7991

And Jamie
web_Jamie_walk_yh_aw_IMG_7970

Taking advantage of the good weather

by

What a gorgeous day it turned out to be; not too hot, not too cold and not too windy. That’s a pretty good combination for spending time on Young’s Hill (the chimpanzees’ 2-acre outdoor enclosure) if you’re Negra chimpanzee. She tends to be pretty particular about when she chooses to venture out onto the hill and how long she will spend out there.

So, we took advantage of the great weather and set up a lunch forage on the hill. All of the chimpanzees spent quite a bit of time foraging. Some focused on gathering their favorite food items and eating those first, while others went more for the “sampler menu.” Lunch consisted of green onions, red cabbage, potatoes, green beans and primate chow.

As you can see in the following pictures, green onions were a big hit with Negra, Missy, Jamie and Annie.

Negra
web_Negra_forage_green_onions_mouth_YH_kh_IMG_7917

Missy
web_Missy_green_onions_in_mouth_forage_YH_kh_IMG_7842

Jamie and Annie (in the background).
web_Jamie_sit_log_eat_inspect_green_onions_Annie_background_forage_YH_kh_IMG_7928

Burrito. Both he and Jody had their mouths and hands full of an assortment of food items.
web_Burrito_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7858

web_Burrito_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7859

web_Burrito_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7860

Jody
web_Jody_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7880

web_Jody_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7881

web_Jody_bipedal_eat_forage_mouthful_hands_full_food_YH_kh_IMG_7883

And Foxie carried around two troll dolls in her mouth after she was done foraging. One of them was the same doll she carried yesterday.

web_Foxie_two_troll_dolls_in_mouth_YH_kh_IMG_7947

Missy has wings

by

While Jamie and I walked around Young’s Hill yesterday, Missy decided to make her way across the hill via the highest points of the climbing structures. I think she traversed every climbing structure the chimps have on the hill, taking in the view from each spot. Walking is boring, if you’re Missy.

web_missy_stand_platform_look_right_kd_IMG_4158

web_missy_stand_platform_look_left_kd_IMG_4159

web_missy_stand_platform_look_over_yh_kd_IMG_4160

As Jamie and I reached the top of Young’s Hill, Missy raced pass to the next climbing structure and we were greeted by Foxie, Dora and troll, who were on their way over to check out what was happening on the neighbor’s property. Foxie spent most of the morning sitting on the very top of the new structure. Balancing precariously (from my perspective, not hers) on the railing to be precise.  She spent over an hour all on her own, seemingly taking in the view in every direction from the highest lookout on the hill.

web_foxie_dora_and_troll_in_mouth_yh_kd_IMG_4161

Back to Missy, who took Jamie’s and Carlene’s Towers across the top of the hill. My heart will never tire of watching the chimpanzees as they take in the views from the hill. My heart swells thinking of the courage they’ve found to climb to such heights and sit peacefully in solitude. Can you just imagine the awe they must feel after having survived over 30 years in cages the size of bathroom stalls to now find themselves with the freedom to run, roam, and climb to their hearts’ content? The awe they must feel when taking in such a vast landscape after having lived in a windowless basement?

web_missy_sit_ladder_jamies_tower_kd_IMG_4164

web_missy_under_jamies_tower_kd_IMG_4166

web_missy_climb_ladder_jamies_tower_kd_IMG_4167

web_missy_sit_jamies_tower_kd_IMG_4168

web_missy_look_over_shaky_bridge_tower_kd_IMG_4169

web_missy_walk_shaky_bridge_new_structures_kd_IMG_4170

web_missy_climb_down_log_from_carlenes_tower_kd_IMG_4171

web_missy_climb_down_carlenes_tower_kd_IMG_4172

You can just see Missy’s head at the bottom of the ladder as she looks toward Jamie and I at the bottom of the hill. At this point Missy ran full speed all the way down the hill and back to the greenhouse. But then, why walk when you can fly?

web_missy_under_carlenes_tower_tall_grass_kd_IMG_4173

Thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the support and love you so generously share with the chimpanzees. And thanks to all of you who were able to participate and make our amazing auction as amazing as it was. It’s each of you that make this life of awe, wonder and hope possible for the chimps.