Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

northwest

Pine Cones with Peanut Butter

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One of the challenges that we have at our particular sanctuary is that we have one individual who tends to claim highly-prized food items that are meant for everyone.

Pine cones with peanut butter, one of our evening enrichment items, are are a good example.

We make extra before spreading them around in an attempt to ensure that everyone can get at least one. Sometimes the other chimpanzees choose to leave them in favor of other food if they are part of a dinner forage, like they were last night. No matter what, though, Jamie tends to end up with more than her share…

 

Jamie hoarding pine cones

 

She does really, really appreciate them, though:

pine cone contemplation

Jamie lips to pine cone

Jamie eating a pine cone

Jamie eating pine cone 2

Curling up with a good book

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Humans aren’t the only ones that like to curl up with a good book on a rainy morning.

The chimps spent the early part of the day on Young’s Hill, but before long the rain had them retreating back inside to the cozy greenhouse and playroom. Jamie returned to find a new book, one of many sent in recently by a generous supporter, and she immediately gathered all of her favorite things so that she could flip through her book from the comfort of a good nest.

The only problem – the nest was too comfortable.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until she couldn’t fight it anymore, and she drifted off to sleep.

Her new book would have to wait.

Close Grooming Among… Friends?

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Last week, I witnessed an intimate grooming session between an unlikely pair – Jamie and Burrito.

We’ve written many times on this blog about the importance of social grooming among chimpanzees. Jamie is a bit unusual, well, in many ways, but in particular with grooming. She is not seen grooming the other chimpanzees very often, and they are not often seen grooming her. This is all the more unusual because of her boss (or maybe the more appropriate term is “bossy”) status within the group.

Her relationship with Burrito is not a close friendship. I describe Jamie as treating Burrito like an annoying little brother. They do hang out together, and sometimes groom each other, but usually not for long periods of time.

Jamie is most interested in the human activity around the chimp house, and she likes to groom her human caregivers, though she doesn’t usually request that we groom her in exchange. So, when I think of Jamie engaged in social grooming, this is what I picture:

Jamie with tool grooming JB

 

Last week, however, this is what I witnessed:

(Jamie on the left and Burrito on the right)

Jamie & Burrito 1

 

Jamie & Burrito 2

 

Jamie & Burrito 4

 

Jamie & Burrito 5

 

Jamie & Burrito 6

 

Jamie & Burrito 7

 

This went on for quite a long time. I’m not sure how long because, after taking several photos, I decided to quietly depart the area and leave them to their grooming.

Being a removed observer of these moments between the chimpanzees, when they are wholly engaged in their interactions with each other and do not care whatsoever what I am doing, is what makes me most happy as a sanctuary caregiver.

 

Keep them guessing

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Foxie loves playing chase with her caregivers. To start a game, she passes one of her dolls to us and then runs or spins away. As she waits for us to catch up, she takes a big gulp of water from the fountain and holds it in her mouth. Is it because all that running makes her thirsty? Perhaps. Does she think it’s funny to keep her caregivers guessing as to whether she’ll swallow that mouthful of water or spit it in our faces? Definitely.

A Special Anniversary Message

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Arlene and Michael Okun, supporters of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for the last several years, are celebrating their anniversary today and have chosen to include sponsoring a day of sanctuary as part of their celebration.

They included this very touching message, which I think everyone should take a moment to read before you head into the rest of your day or your weekend:

We have so much to be thankful for, and as we count our blessings we include CSNW among them. Thank you for the outstanding work that you do. We would like to share our special day with the chimps. We wish them and all of you what I think we all would like: to be well, to feel safe, to feel loved, to have good company, to be happy, and to find joy in every day.

What a beautiful message, Arlene and Michael!

It is what we wish for everyone reading this too. A big happy anniversary to you both!

annie missy play wrestle