Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

nest

Nest Envy or Snuggling Up?

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The security cameras continue to be insightful as well as entertaining, catching so much that we would otherwise miss.

We’ve actually be doing a bit of an experiment these last several days and having Willy B sleep solo in order to cut down on the drama during the night and in the early mornings.

It’s worked well as a temporary measure, and it’s been interesting to see how the other chimpanzees navigate his separation. Rayne’s first nest in this video was right next to the Mezzanine where Willy B was sleeping that night. I wondered if she was signaling some sort of alliance or wanted to keep tabs on him. In the end, I think the blanket that Lucky had found for her nest looked too enticing for Rayne to stay in her original nest. Or maybe she wanted to be super close to her friend Lucky.

I almost forgot! This Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance and Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest are having our 4th discussion about the docuseries Chimp Crazy. We’ll be discussing the fourth and final episode of the series (Fantasy Island), and we have a very special guest who will be joining us – Ana Paula Taveres, CEO of Save the Chimps! Ana Paula will be able to tell us all about Tonka’s new life in sanctuary! Register to join the discussion by zoom.

THOSE MISSY TOMATOES

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Sometimes, a blog post just appears.

Like today, when Ellen told me that Missy was sitting in Negra’s usual nesting spot with a tomato blanket draped over her shoulders. The blanket was purchased with Missy and her love of tomatoes in mind, of course.

When I went to snap some photos, I saw that Missy was sitting with her stocky legs straight out in front of her on top of the nest that she was borrowing from Negra, with her perfect (toma)toes curled with contentment.

The photos aren’t the best quality, but the subject matter is what makes them winners in my book.

Nesting with Annie

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It’s been a long, hot week here at the sanctuary, so today we’re kicking back and chilling with Annie as she constructs and enjoys her cozy nest on this breezy afternoon. But don’t worry, if that’s not your speed today – we’ve also got playtime with Burrito and babysitting duty with Foxie in store for you in today’s video!

The Sunrise Committee

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Early mornings in Cy’s group can be pretty rowdy. Some of the boys (usually Willy B, but occasionally Gordo, Terry, or Cy) will begin displaying at some ungodly hour—5 or 6am if we’re lucky, or 2am if they know we have to work in the chimp house the next day—and the whole group will take turns screaming, pant hooting, or even chasing each other around. The chimps don’t usually bed down for the night, per se, but instead engage in first sleep, second sleep, and so on, sometimes moving to a new nest each time. But as the sun begins to rise over the Bray, things start to change.

One by one, they make their way to Greenhouse 2 (the Oakwood Greenhouse), compelled by the sun. As the greenhouse heats up and becomes bathed in a warm glow, the chimps groom, nap, and engage in their favorite activities together. This is the one time each day when the group reliably comes together as a whole (with one typical exception, of course!). I think of them as the Sunrise Committee, and when the Committee convenes, I know I can drink my coffee in peace.

If you know Honey B, you know she’s not one for committees. So this is usually her personal time, when she gets to enjoy the freedom of being alone. Sometimes she’ll pull one of the committee members for a game of chase or mall walking, but it’s rare to see her in the middle of the grooming session.