Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Palling Around with Missy and Annie

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If you’ve have been following the blog for any length of time, you likely know that Annie and Missy are best friends.  They explore together, lounge together, nap together, and (my favorite) play together!

Recently, on a beautiful summer day, I was cleaning in the front rooms and heard the delightful sound of chimpanzee laughter.  Who could it be?  Burrito is the usual suspect.  But on this day, I found Annie and Missy engaged in a playful wrestling match.  Everyone else was out lounging in their greenhouse, and exploring on Young’s Hill, but these two were happy to stay indoors in a raucous play session!

I was looking at old blog posts about Annie and Missy and I came across a post by Diana from March of 2008 – 3 months before the original group of 7, the Cle Elum 7, arrived at the sanctuary.  It’s clear that these chimpanzee friends have had a special relationship for a very long time!

Willy B’s Creative Play!

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Willy B is always coming up with new ways to entertain himself. Whether it’s a slinky, a table to rattle, a tub to drag and shake, or bouncy balls to throw, Willy B will find a way to amuse himself! Willy B’s latest obsession is the bouncy balls. They are pure chaos, they bouncy erratically and can make a lot of noise if thrown correctly. As you will see in the video, the other day we observed Willy B putting the ball in a box and then biting that box, shaking it around so the ball is bouncing all around like a pinball around his head! Willy B lives in a certain level of chaos, so of course, that is how he would play!

The Humans Are Alright

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For safety reasons, we humans are never inside the enclosures with the chimpanzees, but that doesn’t stop the chimps from considering us part of their social world. A typical day is filled with dozens of delightful interruptions, including requests to walk, play, and groom. Of course, we are happy to oblige (though some days—like today— it can be difficult to get anything done!).

An Afternoon with Teeny Tiny Terry

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Terry is someone who really loves to spend quality time with his human friends. Many volunteers and staff can attest that Terry will go to great lengths to get your attention, and if you can’t interact with him yet (interactions with the chimpanzees require multiple levels of training first), he will let you know of his displeasure with that situation by spitting water at you, often aimed at your boots. Many of the other chimps in Terry’s group also want to spend time with their human friends, so it can be tricky to make time for everyone. I had some extra time the other afternoon, so I sought out sweet Terry. In today’s blog video, come along for an afternoon of Terry!

Afternoon Fun with Gordo and George

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We recently celebrated George’s first anniversary of sanctuary living! From our first blog announcing his arrival, his first ventures into the chute then the greenhouse and finally the Bray, meeting new friends for the first time (his now group-mates Cy, Terry, Rayne, Gordo, Lucky, and Dora, as well as Mave and Willy B), then living full time in his new group and navigating the social intricacies of chimpanzee life, mastering the art of nest building, his first sanctuary Christmas, and his first birthday in sanctuary, George has accomplished so much in his short time here, and there’s so much more to come!

It has been incredibly rewarding to watch him build relationships with other chimps throughout the introduction process, and even more rewarding to watch him live life within a social group. To say he and his progress have impressed us would be an understatement. Cy and Rayne have been his greatest teachers, as we had hoped an anticipated before beginning the introduction process. What was unexpected, but has been the best surprise, was his fast friendship with Gordo. In today’s video, come along for an afternoon of fun with Gordo and George!