Today I wanted to continue my chimp ID series that I started on Wednesday. Above you can watch the Gordo video I made to help trainees get to know his physical features a little bit better. Gordo is smaller than the other male members of his group. He has a white beard that covers lighter skin on his chin and mouth. His eyes are slightly closer together (and a little watery) and his face often has a bit of a “smirk” on it. He is also missing a toe on his right foot. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Gordo?
new staff
Identifying Cy
These last couple of weeks have been a busy one at the sanctuary as we welcomed our newest staff members Amanda and Ellen to the team! They will introduce themselves individually to all our blog readers in a few weeks but for now they are learning the ins and outs of our daily routine.
One of the first steps in their training is to learn to identify all of the chimpanzees. They get opportunities to watch the chimps during meals and in passing as we practice doing door checks but it’s also nice to have additional resources like the blog to check out photos and videos of the chimps. One resource that we have created was an ID playlist on YouTube featuring each of the chimpanzees in different settings. Trainees can watch the videos and see the chimps from multiple angles and in different settings. I discovered that I needed to update our playlist to include the “Lucky Six” so that’s the project I am currently focusing on. Conveniently, these videos can also tie nicely into a blog. Today I made the Cy ID video.
Cy is a big chimpanzee with thick rounded features. He has a silver back and a grey beard. His face features a prominent brow ridge and deep creases. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Cy?
Hello from CSNW’s newest caregiver, Sabrina
Hello all, my name is Sabrina and I am the newest caregiver here at CSNW!
As a Pacific Northwest native, I decided last year it was finally time to return home in order to be closer to my friends and family. Fortuitously, CSNW was in need of a new caregiver soon after my return home – it’s like everything aligned perfectly for me so I can continue to work with chimpanzees in sanctuary.
Unlike the other caregivers at CSNW, this sanctuary is entirely new to me since I’ve never volunteered or interned here before being hired on as caregiver. The last couple months I have had the pleasure of getting to know the chimps, the cattle, the humans and getting a lay of the land at the sanctuary
Prior to working with chimpanzees, I spent many years working with domestic animals, mostly dogs, in shelters and veterinary environments. In my 30’s I decided to return to school and obtained my B.A. in Anthropology from University of Massachusetts – Boston, which led me to an internship at Center for Great Apes in Florida. This was my first experience with great apes and I was instantly hooked! I was offered a job at Chimp Haven as soon as I graduated. I have worked with over 300 chimps in Louisiana over the last five years and during my time at Chimp Haven I filled several roles including Caregiver, Pharmacy Technician and Positive Reinforcement Training Coordinator for the Veterinary department; I’ve learned innumerable lessons from the chimps I’ve cared for and built enduring relationships over the years built on trust and respect and I am thrilled to be able to continue my work here at CSNW.
One more thing! Don’t forget to sign up for next Saturday’s Virtual Visit about medical care. It should be a fascinating look at the sanctuary’s veterinary care process.
Welcome Sabrina!
Last month we added our newest staff caregiver Sabrina to the team! Sabrina comes to CSNW with a wealth of experience from her former job at Chimp Haven in Shreveport, Louisiana. The last few weeks she has been learning our cleaning and safety protocols and starting to sow the seeds of friendship with the chimpanzees. Next on the training docket she will learn to operate the remote doors and shift the chimps around their enclosures for cleaning. At that point she will also take on the task of blog writer and get the opportunity to thoroughly introduce herself to all our followers.
Welcome aboard Sabrina, we’re so lucky to have you!
Lucky and Terry investigate Sabrina’s boots: