Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Party

A Day for Foxie!

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Today was a busy, fun, crazy, happy day here at CSNW! We celebrated sweet and sassy Foxie’s 47th birthday- can you believe it?

She makes 47 look pretty darn great. 🙂

And we’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to Paulette Wrisley for sponsoring Foxie’s special day of celebration! It means so much to us to be able to honor Foxie, and each of the chimpanzees, for the amazingly special individuals they are.

We kicked off the celebrations with a delicious smoothie for the birthday girl, who loves smoothies and holds her own cup every morning. She got new dolls throughout the day, enjoyed a pre-party party, and then had a forage on Young’s Hill complete with Pineapple Bowls (!) full of yummy fruit, bok choy, cucumber, and cabbage. Despite the weather being quite warm, everyone went out on the Hill and was able to grab at least one pineapple bowl. Cy’s group also enjoyed pineapple bowls with lots of fresh goodies! Be sure to check out the video for more.

If you are new to following us, Foxie was born on August 8th, 1976 at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. According to our records her mother, Winny, passed away at the Alamogordo Primate Facility in 2013. Foxie was used in hepatitis vaccine research and as a breeder while living in the lab. She had four babies- all of whom were taken from her when they were very, very young. In the wild, chimpanzees rely heavily on their mothers for many years and live with them through their adolescence. The practice of taking infants from their mothers in laboratories has long-term harmful impacts on both the mother and the offspring- I, personally, cannot imagine this sort of trauma.

When she came to sanctuary, she adopted a doll within the first month here. This single doll has turned into quite a collection and she has one, if not two, babies with her all the time. She enjoys games of troll toss and will often give one of her caregivers a doll to ‘babysit’ for her. She lets us know when she’s ready to have them back by blowing raspberries in the loft of the playroom by the human kitchen. 🙂 When she really gets going and is playing chase with a caregiver, she is known to do these amazing spins across the floor from one end of the room to the other. Or she will climb up the caging and flip so she hangs upside down. After all she has been through, her resiliency and silly nature is truly awe-inspiring.

Foxie is a sweet, spunky, forgiving, and absolutely precious soul who I feel lucky to know. Happy birthday, Fox. <3

Photos from the day:

Foxie allowed a mini photo-shoot in the front rooms this morning:

Negra scored a pineapple bowl during the forage:

Jamie, looking as regal as ever:

Jamie, winning the ‘How-Many-Pineapples-Can-I-Carry-At-Once’ Award:

Annie looking very sweet during the pre-party party in their greenhouse:

And on the hill:

Burrito decided to enjoy his pineapple bowl on Young’s Hill:

Burrito also enjoyed the Gatorade pools:

Birthday girl enjoying her pineapple bowl on Young’s Hill:

And a fresh green onion:

   

Celebrating Freedom

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The Fourth of July holiday is a time when Americans celebrate their independence from Great Britain. For us here, we celebrate the freedom our residents have from the terrors of biomedical testing and harm from humans. For decades, many of the residents have spent their time in small cages and stripped of their freedom of choice. Today though, they have the freedom to make their own decisions, their own choices, and live the life they want to live.

I am fully aware it’s a bit ironic that I talk about their freedom, yet they are destined to live a life in captivity. It really breaks my heart and the rest of the staff here that we will never see Missy sprint in an un-fenced area, or see Rayne exploring new and exciting places. This is the life they have been dealt. The very least we can do is to provide them whatever freedoms and autonomy we can. When I arrive to the sanctuary every morning, I am no longer in my own world. I am in theirs.

To celebrate, the chimpanzees were treated to a forage of fan favorite: Watermelon Bowls! Each watermelon bowl contained: lettuce, a baked potato, baby back corn ribs, green onions, and blueberries! We even put some on the Bray! While everyone was foraging for the bulk of the watermelons inside, Rayne took the opportunity to collect nearly all the watermelon bowls placed on The Bray, as you can see in the video! It didn’t take the boys plus Lucky much longer to realize there was more food outside!

We wish you all a fun and safe Independence Day!

Here are some photos taken throughout the day!

Rayne

Don’t worry! Gordo came by to grab what Rayne chose to leave behind

Willy B

Terry

Missy trying to sneak pass Negra with her haul

Negra in her Cabin

Burrito

Foxie

Jamie enjoying a pre-celebration browse of currant branches

Viola! The prized watermelon bowls

Two Years with the Lucky Six

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Can you believe it? Today we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the arrival of the Lucky Six—Cy, Lucky, Terry, Dora, Rayne, and Gordo—from the Wildlife Waystation. As you probably know, the Lucky Six are now part of a group of nine, along with Willy B, Honey B, and Mave, and together they enjoyed a party complete with young coconuts and Gatorade ice blocks.

The day was also sponsored by Rose Mankowski in memory of her mother:

My Mom, Irene Mayes, would’ve turned 96 today – June 26, 2023 – but she died in August 5th, 2022. Irene loved primates, especially chimpanzees, since she was a little girl. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom.

Thank you, Rose, for honoring your mom in this way.

Today’s festivities took place in the playroom, greenhouse, and on the Bray. The chimps screamed in excitement as they watched us put out the forage and treats. As the party began, both Rayne and Terry grabbed what they could on their way out the door and made a beeline straight for the Bray, where a giant Gatorade ice block awaited them.

Within minutes they were joined by Gordo, Lucky, and Cy, who also brought their treats outside.

While Lucky did get to enjoy the ice block, she actually seemed to delight in the turnips as well. For a chimp, there’s nothing better than liking food that the others aren’t as interested in.

Ever the explorer, Rayne set out for the other climbing structures on the Bray and ate her way across the habitat.

Terry also went for a walk through the habitat and was rewarded for his efforts with a second coconut.

While the others were outside, Honey B, Mave, and Dora cleaned up the forage inside and in the chute.

Willy B was very happy to have gotten a coconut for himself. There was just one problem…how the heck do you open these things?

Do you bite them?

Smash them?

Not long after the party began, a thunderstorm rolled in, with one particularly loud clap of thunder catching Gordo by surprise.

The rest of the gang took their loot back inside and we closed off the habitat for their safety.

Earlier in the day, the chimps on Jamie’s side had their own party to celebrate their neighbor’s arrival. While they don’t live with the Lucky Six, the presence of another group next door amounts to an ever-evolving soap opera to which they are all glued—and that’s worth celebrating, too.

Negra:

Burrito:

Jamie:

Foxie:

Missy:

Annie:

2023 Day of Days: The Trifecta Jubilee

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Today was such a busy day in the most of exciting ways! Today is the Trifecta Jubilee! Today we celebrated Terry’s 33rd birthday, Negra’s 50th birthday, and the 15 year anniversary of the arrival of the Cle Elum Seven!

Today was a non-stop celebration with many happenings that came along with the undying support of Paulette Wrisley in today’s second sponsor! Thank you so much Paulette for sponsoring Terry and Negra’s birthdays!

It’s hard to  believe Negra and her group arrived in Washington from the Buckshire Corporation in Pennsylvania. There have been many growing pains for both chimpanzee and caregivers both former and current, but all of them for the better. In the 15 years, they have experience the outdoors for the first time in their lives, had room to run around and play in, and as of this year, able to climb their first tree!

It’s also really hard to believe Negra is now 50 years old! Negra is such a strong-willed person who knows exactly what she likes and wants. Though she is 50, is still doesn’t stop here from experiencing new things, when she wants to of course. Negra is such a well respected person by both chimpanzee and human. For her 50th birthday, there were many surprises for her. You have to watch the video to see what they were!

And Teeny Tiny Terry. How lucky are we to just know such a special person. In the couple short years we have known Terry, one thing about him we know is certain: he is the purest of souls! Terry wears his heart on his sleeve, and that heart holds nothing but sincerity. There are no tricks with him. What he does or says, he means, and it’s 100% love.

Here are some bonus photos from today!

Negra

Rayne

Missy

Gordo

Annie

Celebrations, Forages, and Sunshine!

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Today we celebrate a long-time supporter of the sanctuary! Karen Young and her family have made so many things possible for the chimps in our care and we are so very grateful. From Young’s Hill to Ryan’s Lookout on The Bray, they continue to help provide amazing moments in the chimps lives. Karen- from each and every one of us here, thank you and happy, happy birthday!

Today, all the chimps enjoyed forages of avocado cups, corn, celery, and more! It’s been a beautiful sunny day here in Cle Elum so Jamie’s group enjoyed the forage on Young’s Hill. I hope you enjoy the photos and videos from today!

Burrito enjoying his forage on Young’s Hill:

Cy, staring lovingly at his corn:

Foxie enjoying a moment of sunshine on Young’s Hill:

Gordo choosing to enjoy his corn behind the cover of bamboo plants:

Honey B, mid-forage:

Rayne enjoying her avocado cups:

Jamie, after a moment of grooming with her caregivers:

Annie, waiting for the lunch forage on Young’s Hill:

Members of Cy’s Group exploring Ryan’s Lookout (sponsored by Karen Young and her family in memory of their son, Ryan) for the first time:

Love a Chimpanzee Day 2023 Party!

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Thank you again to Monica for going above and beyond for the chimpanzees and making Love a Chimpanzee Day an annual celebration for her friends. You can keep the celebration going by making a donation on our GiveBIG page! BIG thanks to those who have already made a gift towards our goal. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Here are a few photos from the party that Grace and Sabrina helped obtain for the blog. I like the series of three below of Missy maneuvering on the fire hose with her two coconuts!

Foxie:

Annie:

Burrito:

Negra:

Here are two creepy photos I took from the window of the Marmot Mountain Playroom while we were setting out a pre-party party of kale and popcorn. Creepy because neither J.B. nor Chad knew I was there taking photos of them:

Cy’s 33rd Birthday Celebration

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There’s a lot of love going out to Cy today on his 33rd birthday. Thank you to everyone who sponsored the day in his honor, made donations in his name, and purchased the limited edition Cy’s book club merchandise!

Today was also the first day of Daylight Savings Time. For CSNW, that means that, while we turn the clocks back like everyone else, we keep on the same actual time schedule for the chimp house. So, expect your blog posts an hour later than “usual” (or even later if I’m writing the blog, especially if it’s a party day).

If you haven’t already, please do think of Cy this evening and wish him a happy birthday in your heart. We don’t know what we’d do without him and his leadership over the sometimes rowdy group of nine!