Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Party

Negra out and about on her birthday + the 7th anniversary celebration

by

Below is a video of the elusive Negra, who was very active on her honorary 42nd birthday! All seven chimpanzees were in terrific moods and very busy all day. There are a few photos below the video.

Negra wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the surprise breakfast night bags. Burrito savored his too:

Burrito eating breakfast night bag

Thanks to supporters who sent party supplies, today’s celebration featured many piñatas.

If you attended our recent successful HOOT! fundraiser, you will recognize this piñata, which Annie is looting:

Annie treasure chest piñata

Jody scored the dog piñata:

Jody with dog piñata

And Jamie (not surprisingly) got her hands on more than one piñata, then decided to take them into the front rooms:

Jamie with pinata 3

Jamie with pinata 2

Jamie with pinata 1

Foxie had her favorite France Dora with her for most of the day:

Foxie with France Dora

 

Until we gave her a new, more compact Dora that was left at the gate by some anonymous donor with some other fun new gifts:

 

Foxie with little Dora

To set up the lunch forage, volunteer Lynn climbed the new tall towers to hide food there. Jody and Missy were the first to partake:

Jody and Missy climbing

Though we haven’t yet seen Negra climb the new structure, she surprised us by climbing another platform today to get some lettuce:

Negra climbing

Negra on top of platform

And then we only caught glimpses of her this afternoon as she confidently explored the hill:

Negra walking in the tall grass

Proving, once again, that the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees have been aging in reverse for the last seven years. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible!!!!!

Celebrating Jody on Mother’s Day

by

In honor of Jody’s “adopted” birthday, we chose to celebrate today with a party!! Parties are a great way of celebrating special days and the chimpanzees love them. This morning was full of excitement as staff and volunteers Anna and Jake set up the party in the Greenhouse, complete with many of Jody’s favorite things, including streamers, blankets, socks, toys and fresh lilacs and grass.

This morning’s breakfast included fresh pineapple and kiwi and a grapefruit and banana smoothie with protein powder. We supplemented the fresh fruit with peanuts and primate chow as well.

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_breakfast_forage_GH_kh_IMG_1496

Fresh flowers for Jody’s 40th birthday!
web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_lilacs_breakfast_forage_GH_kh_IMG_1501

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_party_setup_GH_kh_IMG_1499

Once all of the party pieces were in place, it was time for the celebration to begin. The lilacs were a huge hit with the birthday lady as well as some of the other ladies in the group. The smoothie cups were a close second, at least for the ladies. Burrito went straight for the primate chow.

Jody
web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_party_lilacs_in_mouth_hands_GH_kh_IMG_2430

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_breakfast_forage_lilacs_grass_enrichment_GH_kh_IMG_2376

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_breakfast_forage_lilacs_grass_enrichment_GH_kh_IMG_2379

Negra
web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_Negra_eat_lilacs_GH_ek_IMG_1563

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_Negra_hold_lilacs_drink_smoothie_cup_GH_kh_IMG_2388

Missy
web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_Missy_sit_window_eat_lilacs_GH_kh_IMG_2401

web_Mothers_Day_Jody_birthday_Missy_sit_window_hold_birthday_box_GH_kh_IMG_2431

Foxie
web_Mothers_Day_birthday_Foxie_lick_smoothie_cup_GH_ek_IMG_1540

Jamie
web_Mothers_Day_birthday_party_Jamie_inspect_smoothie_cup_GH_ek_IMG_1526

web_Mothers_Day_birthday_party_Jamie_inspect_treat_box_GH_kh_IMG_2428

Burrito
web_Mothers_Day_Burrito_sit_streamers_face_shot_GH_kh_IMG_2420

web_Mothers_Day_Burrito_face_shot_streamers_GH_kh_IMG_2424

Annie
web_Mothers_Day_birthday_party_Annie_mouthful_handful_chow_GH_kh_IMG_2363

web_Mothers_Day_birthday_party_Annie_eat_lilacs_GH_kh_IMG_2437

Today we honor Jody for the strong, intelligent, beautiful and independent woman that she is. We truly admire her for her ability to make the most elaborate nests with blankets, bamboo, paper and whatever else she deems necessary for maximum comfort. We also admire her foraging ability (being able to gather as many food items as possible in her arms and mouth and still be able to walk). And we love her for her enthusiastic greetings, helping us out by getting stray blankets out of the doorways when shifting the chimps and rounding everyone up for meal times.

Happy birthday Jody and happiest wishes for all mothers of all species everywhere! And thank you again Tracy for sponsoring today for Jody and the rest of her family!

Celebrating Easter Chimp Style

by

How did the chimpanzees celebrate the Easter holiday this year? In pure chimp fashion, of course (meaning, a lot of food, enrichment and a good ol’ fashion Easter egg hunt on Young’s Hill). Some of the party preparations included festive blankets, streamers, boxes in the shape of bunnies, books, toys, Easter baskets, bags and eggs.

web_Easter_enrichment_preparations_ek_IMG_0399

We decided to set out a breakfast forage in the Greenhouse this morning using appropriate dinnerware, including Easter cups, plates, napkins and straws. Breakfast consisted of grapefruit, muskmelon, grapes and oranges. Probably the biggest hit (next to primate chow) was the morning banana, almond milk, coconut flake smoothie topped with violet flowers.

web_Easter_breakfast_smoothie_straws_ek_IMG_0401

web_Easter_breakfast_forage_preparation_ek_IMG_0403

Setting up the streamers and the forage is a pretty exciting time and the chimps will often watch from the windows of the loft area that overlooks the Greenhouse. There’s usually a lot of food squeaks, head nodding and intense watching from the chimps, as staff and volunteers use their skills to transform an area into a party room.

web_Easter_setup_preparations_GH_kh_IMG_0404

web_Easter_breakfast_forage_food_enrichment_GH_kh_IMG_0406

And what would Easter be without an Easter egg hunt? Young’s Hill is the perfect place for just that. We also “planted” carrots, beets, radishes and kohlrabi on the hill for the chimps to forage for lunch.

And finally, photos of the Cle Elum 7 enjoying their Easter party today.

Negra
web_Easter_Negra_lick_smoothie_cup_closeup_GH_ek_IMG_0438

web_Easter_Negra_forage_kohlrabi_YH_kh_IMG_0763

Jamie
web_Easter_Jamie_drink_breakfast_smoothie__lick_straw_GH_ek_IMG_0450

web_Easter_Jamie_forage_eggs_YH_kh_IMG_0738

Jody
web_Easter_Jody_inspect_basket_GH-ek_IMG_0466

Foxie
web_Easter_Foxie_hold_troll_doll_look_cup_smoothie_GH_ek_IMG_0556

web_Easter_Foxie_inspect_cup_smoothie_breakfast_GH_ek_IMG_0497

web_Easter_Foxie_dora_doll_look_for_forage_YH_ek_IMG_0782

Burrito
web_Easter_Burrito_eat_orange_breakfast_forage_GH_ek_IMG_0462

web_Easter_Burrito_hands_full_chow_breakfast_forage_GH_ek_IMG_0538

web_Easter_Burrito_forage_chow_YH_kh_IMG_0743

Missy
web_Easter_Missy_qp_platform_enrichment_GH_ek_IMG_0537

web_Easter_Missy_eat_forage_beets_chow_YH_kh_IMG_0812

Annie
web_Easter_Annie_inspect_bunny_box_enrichment_basket_GH_ek_IMG_0481

web_Easter_Annie_mouthful_handful_chow_breakfast_forage_GH_ek_IMG_0518

web_Easter_Annie_forage_eggs_eat_chow_YH_kh_IMG_0800

Sometimes I wonder who has more fun at these parties; the humans or the chimpanzees. Often times, weeks before a holiday or birthday party, there is talk of what sorts of items (food, enrichment, decorations, etc.) that would be “chimp approved” that can be used to throw the party. Then there’s the time and energy that go into the preparation of the food, enrichment and the actual party setup (and clean up too). Every single bit of it is completely worth it, once we see how much the chimps enjoy the parties.

Parties are a way of breaking up the routine of day-to-day life and we’re more than happy to make this happen for the chimps, but we certainly do not do it alone. We want to be sure to offer a huge thank you to everyone that helps make celebrations like these so special, including Jayne Roepke, Lisa Stuverud, and Patti Sims. Thank you for all of the holiday decorations, enrichment, eggs and food. You helped make this Easter a hit!!

Sanctuary is love.

by

Today has been all about love! We threw a big party in the greenhouse for Valentine’s Day with the help of decorations and enrichment donated by Lisa S., Carol M., and volunteer Patti—plus delicious food donated by Anne R. and Patti, including some tasty buckwheat waffles with walnuts and carrots. They smelled delicious! Patti excluded the sugar and salt from the recipe, but the chimpanzees didn’t mind one bit. They wolfed them down!

Here’s some photos from the set-up:
web_valentine's_day_party_set-up_gh_dm_IMG_4533

web_valentine's_day_party_set-up_connie_drinks_dm_IMG_4529

During the party, Foxie started to whimper a little bit. Jamie swooped in and comforted her and even shared a waffle piece with her. Now that is love! Jamie is the boss of the group, and in the chimp world, that means she doesn’t have to share anything if she doesn’t want to. In fact, she can take anything from anyone to assert her dominance. So for her to share something with Foxie is a true gesture of friendship.

Negra especially loved the waffles:
web_negra_eat_waffle_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8521

web_negra_eat_waffle_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8474

web_negra_drink_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8482

Jamie loved the drinks—we had red gatorade watered down plus smoothie in little shot glasses!
web_jamie_drink_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8498

web_jamie_get_last_drop_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8499

web_jamie_lick_smoothie_cup_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8503

web_jamie_hold_smoothie_cup_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8502

web_jamie_forage_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8526

web_jamie_eat_raspberry_forage_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8528

Foxie:
web_foxie_twin_pink_haired_troll_babies_in_mouth_gh_dg_IMG_4252

web_foxie_profile_close-up_twin_pink_haired_troll_babies_in_mouth_gh_dg_IMG_4258

Jody:
web_jody_eat_apple_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8464

web_jody_drink_valentine's_day_party_gh_dg_IMG_8461

We all appreciate your gestures of friendship and love for the chimpanzees and are blown away with how we surpassed our Share the Chimp Love goal! It warms our hearts to know that these chimpanzees mean so much to all of you that you would share your generosity with them.

share_the_love_heart_names_2015

note: Patty Clark’s name should have also been included in the heart above!

 

You all have played a part in a second chance at life for these chimpanzees.

As supporter Kathleen C. put it in her sponsor-a-day message for today, “Sanctuary is love.” Just watch the video below to see how much love they had for sanctuary today!

 

 

And here’s the final Share the Chimp Love image of what love is for Negra

Love is for Negra

Bill and Nicki Walters – more celebration!

by

Mari and Adam Osuna are continuing the three day streak of honoring Bill Walters for his birthday, and they are also honoring Bill’s wife Nicki, who was the first to sponsor-a-day in honor of Bill’s birthday.

As Mari and Adam suggest: “let’s keep the party going for Bill’s Birthday!”

We at the sanctuary are more than happy to do just that.

If you missed the first blog and you’re curious who this couple is who obviously have some very caring and generous friends, you can read about Bill and Nicki on their business page.

Many thanks to Nicki, Kenneth, and now Mari and Adam for sponsoring the last three days in honor of Bill.

Parties are an important part of sanctuary life, too. Celebrating and having fun with friends is good for everyone. Burrito is often the most enthusiastic party-goer amongst the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees, and here are a few photos demonstrating his enthusiasm:

Burrito with easter basket

web_Burrito_smoothie_drink_party_forage_gh_ek_IMG_9198

burrito licking bottle

web_Burrito_face_in_watermelon_party_GH_jb_IMG_1712

 

with his friend Foxie:

Burrito with Foxie

Go Hawks!

by

We’re always looking for a reason to celebrate and throw a party here at the sanctuary. What better reason for a party than to join fans in cheering on the Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl XLIX today?

So, how exactly do we throw a Super Bowl Party for chimpanzees you may ask? Well, nothing says a party like green and blue streamers, blankets and toys. Throw in some Seahawks cups, plates, napkins, a football, 12th man socks, t-shirt and arm sleeves. And finally, to top it off (and quite possibly the best part if you ask Burrito) we set up a lunch forage in the Playroom, consisting mostly of green colored foods (lettuce, green peppers, cucumbers and potatoes) and blue drinks (watered down gatorade).

Here are photos from the set up:
web_Super_Bowl_2015_12thman_party_setup_PR_kh_IMG_8347

web_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_setup_PR_kh_IMG_8344

web_Super_Bowl_Party_setup_2015_12thman_Liz_volunteer_PR_kh_IMG_8346

Be sure to watch the video at the end of the blog to see who ended up drinking these!
web_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_12th_man_cups_PR_kh_IMG_8343

And now, the chimpanzees enjoying the party.

Here’s Jamie
web_Jamie_stand_behind_seattle_seahawks_SuperBowl_party_chow_in_mouth_12th_man_PR_kh_IMG_3591

web_Jamie_lick_pb_plate_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_8358

web_Jamie_hold_foodball_plate_SuperBowl_Seattle_Seahawks_party_sit_floor_PR_kh_IMG_8384

Missy
web_Missy_sit_floor_hold_football_napkin_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3640

web_Missy_hold_inspect_qwth_man_arm_band_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3673

web_Missy_Seahawks_superbowl_party_12th_man_sock_2015_PR_kh_IMG_3668

Missy and Jamie
web_Missy_forage_food_in_hands_mouth_Jamie_stand_behind_barrel_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3621

Jody
web_Jody_stand_forage_barrel_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_8354

web_Jody_forage_food_in_mouth_look_camera_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3611

Burrito (with Missy in the background)
web_Burrito_eat_chow_forage_Missy_background_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3630

Annie
web_Annie_eat_forage_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3654

web_Annie_hold_green_streamer_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3686

Foxie during the party.
Foxie_drink_from_cup_lips_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_3658

Foxie after the party. She may have partied a little too hard.
web_Foxie_napping_lie_on_floor_after_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_PR_kh_IMG_8370

Negra
web_Negra_drink_cup_chow_in_hand_forage_Seahhawks_SuperBowl_party_12th_man_PR_kh_IMG_8364

Who drank most of the drinks from the blue and green cups? Watch the video to find out….did you guess right?

GO HAWKS!

What to write after 2,701 posts?

by

I just checked – as of this morning, we have published a total of 2,701 posts on this blog! When we started to write about the chimps, even before they arrived at the sanctuary, I wondered if we would run out of ideas at some point. Would  the days become routine and after a few years, we’d be scrambling for something to share?

I laugh now at that thought. Today, I had no fewer then nine ideas for the blog, and I’m still not sure what to chose! Some are timely – our WA State Seahawks are playing in the Superbowl tomorrow, so it would be fun to share some photos of Seahawks parties, like this one of Burrito, who had the best Blue Friday with some streamers last year (video here).

Burrito with streamers

and we’re going to launch a super fun Share the Chimp Love campaign in just a couple of days, and I just happened to get a photo of Negra with a “love” blanket, so I could share that photo, even though it’s not the best quality, and maybe tease that there’s special perks involved with this campaign, one of which involves Negra.

Negra under love blanket

I also got some cute video of Annie and Missy playing on the catwalk earlier. I was thinking about learning how to make an animated gif file, or maybe use their play session for a vine video, but I’m running out of time – dinner is in less than half an hour.

I also thought about finding photos of the chimpanzees that have a particular “hopeful” look that I love so much and talking a bit about the State of the Sanctuary email/video we sent out to e-news subscribers a couple of days ago.

Then again, I was thinking I really wanted to do a post about Jody, because she doesn’t get quite as much attention as some of the other chimpanzees. And I just happened to get a few photos of her today.

The main reason we don’t post as much about Jody is she is more elusive. Jamie is always right there, and really the same with Foxie and Burrito – they are all so human (and/or food) oriented, that we just naturally interact with them more and therefore have move photos and videos.

Then there’s Negra, who doesn’t move around as much, has that amazing droopy lip, and is just darn photogenic. I almost forgot! that was another post idea – I have a few photos of Negra from last week that haven’t been posted yet (I think I’ll save them).

And let’s face it, Missy and Annie play so frequently, we could probably get video of them and their antics everyday.

But Jody is very independent. She does love meal time (and has an amazing “hopeful” look), but once the meal is over, she’s off doing her own thing. During the summers we sometimes “lose” her on the hill because she’ll just go off exploring alone. And she likes to be up high, making photos a bit more difficult.

She is so full of personality, just like all of the Cle Elum Seven, and I have a lot of admiration for her. She went through more than I could have endured during her time in biomedical research, but she is a survivor.

Today, after cleaning the playroom, Debbie and I thought that Jody might get to work right away taking apart the blanket forts that we put together, as she has in the past. Instead, she got some alfalfa cubes, laid down perfectly on the new bridge under one of the new playroom lights between two blankets hanging above her, and just relaxed.

Jody in triangle of blankets Jody up close

 

So, I don’t know – what do you think I should post to the blog today?