Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

peace

The Reason Why

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I have the most amazing job in the world. I know so many people who would love to be in my place and help run a sanctuary for chimpanzees. There are stressful times though; a lot of stressful times, if I’m being honest.

But then there are the moments that bring me back to the mission of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and the reason that I’m here, and probably the reason you are reading this.

Today, it was a simple moment.

I was finishing up a walk with Jamie (wearing a mismatched pair of boots, at Jamie’s request).

Burrito, Jody, Foxie, Annie, Missy, and Negra all came outside while Jamie and I walked the perimeter of the outdoor habitat. By the time I came to the end of the walk, everyone but Negra had gone into the green house.

Negra remained sitting by the “cabin” that we named after her, in a field of green, sampling the fresh grass, as content as any chimpanzee I’ve ever seen.

 

Thank you, Negra, for this reminder today. It’s all about these moments.

 

A Moment of Peace

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Negra is not normally a “greet the morning with gusto” kind of a person. Like myself, she is more of a, “can I please have just 10 (make that 20) more minutes  of quiet before getting out of bed” kind of a person.

In the summer months, she changes her morning routine, though. Often before the humans arrive in the morning, Negra drags herself out of the nest she’s slept in on the catwalk or the loft of the playroom, and makes a new nest on top of the tall structure in the greenhouse.

Negra covering herself with a blanket

 

For some reason, most of the other chimps remain in the building, which allows Negra to have some glorious peace and quiet and alone time before the ruckus of the day begins.

This morning, she even had a little snack leftover from the night enrichment the previous evening.

Negra holding pinecone

 

Being able to witness moments like this is what makes my heart burst out of my chest for the love I have for Negra and the gratefulness I feel for everyone who shares this love.

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Maybe we could just have 10 more minutes?

Negra covering herself with a blanket

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Sugarplums

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While today was more like spring than winter outside, inside the chimp house is looking pretty Christmasy. Volunteer Denice decorated the Christmas tree with lights, the boot ornaments that Karen Young gave us last year, holiday photo ornaments of each chimpanzee, monogrammed stockings from Jayne R. (one for each chimpanzee), and some toys. The troll doll elf tree-topper is not pictured, because it didn’t last long – as soon as Foxie spotted it, she wanted to hold it.

christmas tree 2013

Jamie was quite interested in the decorating process, and we’ve been removing and showing the ornaments to all of the chimps over the last few days. They gaze for a long time at the photo ornaments, and Jamie loves the little cowboy boots, of course.

Jamie watching Denice decorate the tree

Jamie looking on as Denice decorates the tree

Holiday songs and sayings have been making frequent appearances in my thoughts all week long (you too?), and today I was thinking about ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and sugar plums dancing through sleeping heads.

It reminded me that I have been wanting to explain one of my favorite times of day at the chimp house when I’m Lead Caregiver. It’s when the day is over.

All of the chimpanzees have contentedly-full bellies from their dinner and night bags, they’ve gathered up all of their blankets and made their cozy nests for the night, the caregivers have said goodnight, and, if we’re lucky, we’ve gotten a nest grunt in return. The rest of the staff and volunteers have left for the evening, and I’m alone in the quiet.

I feel satisfied after doing a day of physical work – cleaning and, quite literally, running around. I can glance around the kitchen and see what’s been accomplished during the day.

I think about the last several hours with the chimpanzees and reflect on the many endearing, amazing, surprising moments that have occurred. I think about the chimps on the other side of the kitchen door sleeping soundly, and I feel so gratified that we were able to provide them with yet another day of sanctuary where their needs are the main focus.

Even with a job you love, it’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of everyday tasks or looming deadlines. And, to be frank, it can be stressful to rely on donations – to be thinking about money and fundraising all the time (perhaps now would be a good time to mention the Holiday Pal Fundraising Contest). But being able to experience the profound peace at the end of the day in the chimp house and know that this exists because of the work and support of thousands of caring people is a giant gift – for the chimps and for my own motivation to continue to provide the best care we possibly can for them.

So, here’s to  sugar plums or whatever other treats or happy thoughts we want dancing through heads tonight and every night.

Negra sleeping