Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Best of Both Worlds

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Today has been a busy day, well for the humans anyways, for the chimps it has been very pleasant! It has finally cooled off a little and I think we are all thankful for a break from the hundred degree heat! The chimps spent their day playing, grooming, foraging, and a little hooting and hollering. In the video, you will find Dora and Honey B playing in their regularly-scheduled hookie session from their group to have a solo play session while we clean around them. On the other side of the chimp house, Jamie, Missy, and Negra had a very sweet grooming session before their lunch forage!

It wouldn’t be Wednesday without some bonus photos!

It must be Christmas in July because our foyer is full:

Sweet Annie bird:

Gordo grooming himself:

The greatest honor you can have is to receive a kiss from Negra:

If you’d like to help supply the sanctuary with food, enrichment, medicines, supplies, and other necessities, please check out our Christmas in July drive and help empty our wish lists!

World Chimpanzee Day 2024 Celebration

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Happy World Chimpanzee Day. I’m so glad there is a day to think about and celebrate our closest living relative, and it’s so fitting that July 14th is the anniversary of when Jane Goodall arrived to what was to become Gombe. Dr. Goodall has changed the world for chimpanzees, and has made millions of people aware of how extraordinary they are as a species and as individuals. We are all part of her legacy of scientific discovery and advocacy.

Front Room Shenanigans

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A few weeks ago, Krissy posted a blog titled ‘Wrestle Mania!‘ about a morning here in the chimp house where we had three different pairs of chimps in Jamie’s group playing in three different front rooms. Today, I wanted to share some more footage with you from that fun morning- plus a few more clips I’ve snagged since then! Despite both groups of chimps having access to multiple enclosures, indoor / outdoor spaces, and their big outdoor spaces, there’s just something about the front rooms that they all seem to love. 🙂

Bonus Photo:

Rayne sitting in her tub (in the front rooms, naturally)

A Meeting of the Girls Club

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I was lucky enough to stumble upon a meeting of the Girls Club last week, aka Mora B, aka Mave, Dora, and Honey B. I was walking around the sanctuary to give out some juice before heading to lunch myself when I found these 3 ladies lounging in the shade in the chute. Dora initiated play with me, so I sat down to enjoy the moment. She tapped the back of my hand with her (super cute) toes, let me knuckle rub her arm and back, and then I took my phone out so she could look at herself in my camera. While she was admiring herself, Honey B realized the camera was out and joined the party, which turned into playing with Dora while occasionally still watching themselves on the phone. I hope you enjoy watching all of this play out in today’s video, and be sure to stay until the end for a special guest appearance at Girls Club.

Enrichment is Fun

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If you are watching with sound, you can hear that I was unable to contain my laughter at one point. Nevertheless, I attempted to frame Burrito’s silliness in the most educational way possible ;). Thanks to Krissy for the brand new Jolly Ball that she made sure Burrito had today!

We stuffed cabbage and a few nuts in each of those red ball puzzles.

Please learn more about our enrichment by perusing the Enrichment Database!

 

Mora B: Playing Hooky

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This week Mave, Honey B and Dora decided they would prefer not to shift with the rest of their group for cleaning and instead played hooky in the front rooms. where it was just the three of them. This is the not the first time you’ve heard about Honey B enticing her friends to skip out on shifting and hang out with her for a private play session and as you’ll see in today’s video, none of the girls had any regrets!

 

This One’s for the Girls

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Nothing is more important than your girl friends. As you will see in the video, Honey B and Dora agree! Today, Honey B and Dora held back in the front rooms so that they could have some one-on-one gal time. Sometimes you just need a break from the men, ya know! Watching these two play really warms my heart. I often get asked by people, what sanctuary means to me. For me, it’s the little moments, like watching Honey B build friendships within her group, or to watch Dora flourish and become a social butterfly, or to watch someone like Neggie turn 51 (tomorrow!) and thrive in sanctuary: making choices that was not allotted to her in her previous life.

Tomorrow is the Trifecta Jubilee, celebrating our sweet 16! I cannot believe it has been 16 years since the Cle Elum 7 arrived to the sanctuary or that Negra will already be turning 51 years young. But, lets not forget our sweet friend Terry who is turning 34 tomorrow! It will be quite the celebration! If you would like to help us celebrate, check out our Sweet Sixteen online auction.

I think it will come to no surprise that I personally love this painting, Jamie’s Boot by Cheryl Feng. I love how Cheryl captured Jamie! Place your bids today!