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Shut Up and Blog

August 4, 2021 by Kelsi

Today was pretty busy day for the humans, but the chimps made sure to fit in some fun. Of course, Burrito played with everyone! Jamie had a lovely day napping in a extravagant nest full of book pages and boots. I loved watching her sort through her big bag of enrichment too. Honey B and Mave had a blast unrolling around in the raffle tickets! Cy flipped through magazines. I wasn’t able to capture much from Lucky’s group, but they were busy inspecting one of the security camera JB just set-up.

Today’s blog was going to be my favorite type of blog, a smorgasbord of photos! But, throughout the day I was able to get some fun video clips of some of the chimps. So why not do it all! It made me start thinking. What are all of our blog followers’ favorite kinds of blogs? Do you like blogs that are interactive like games or educational? Do you like blogs with lots of content or are you like, enough already I want to see the photos. Maybe you’re more into the videos where you can see the chimps and get more familiar with the building. Personally, I love photos with descriptions! Whatever you are into, I will stop talking so you can enjoy these photos!

Annie and Jody:

Honey B with her raffle tickets:

Jamie looking through her giant enrichment bag:

And a series of photos of Jamie nesting:

Mave unrolling her raffle tickets:

Queen Negra and Missy:

Theme Scheme

July 7, 2021 by Kelsi

There is no real theme for today’s blog. Who needs a theme anyways! I just have these great photos I wanted to share with you all.

The beautiful, sophisticated, and distinguished Rayne.

Terry, Terry, Terry. He is too much!

Dora! Dora is so sweet. I posted this photo recently on our Instagram, but I thought it needed to be shared here too.

Mave with her legs crossed, giving that laid back feeling.

Yesterday was pretty warm. Honey B looked as though she was melting into her nest.

And of course Honey B shredding on her skateboard.

This morning as I let the seven onto Young’s Hill they all immediately race out to get a glimpse of the new neighbors.

Jamie spying.

Burrito standing bipedal so he could get a better look.

This guy Cy is the whole package! He is sweet, playful, a big goof, well read, and quite handsome.

Tiny a.k.a Foxie.

Negra was pretty silly today. She even let me snap of few close ups of her!

We are truly lucky to be able to spend some time with Lucky.

Don’t forget to check out the Amazon wish list. We have added a lot of books. The Lucky 6 seem to enjoy reading books and magazine just as much as Jamie!

Going Head to Head & Toe to Toe

June 23, 2021 by Kelsi

What a wonderful day, especially for Burrito. To no surprise he was playing all day! If he wasn’t making his caregiver’s run until they almost passed out from heat exhaustion then he was playing with other chimps and even a giant stuffed unicorn. There is some video of him playing with the unicorn, but the clip was hard to fit in with all the amazing other play sessions going on. However, I feel I need to describe to you what happened. It was amazing! Caregiver Chad was outside fixing a few holes on the rattle snake fence when he noticed Burrito dragging a giant stuffed unicorn onto Young’s Hill. He was even throwing it up into the air (that part was not caught on camera). Burrito then dragged the unicorn back to the raceway and eventually into the greenhouse. Which led into a lazy wrestling game with Foxie. Later, we found Burrito playing with Jamie. They had their heads together, breathy panting (chimp laughing), and grabbing each other’s toes. All in all it was a good day, but Burrito had a great day.

We have been very busy getting ready for the arrival of Cy, Lucky, Gordo, Dora, Rayne, and Terry and it’s coming up quickly! We have added more stuff to the Wish List in preparation of the 6 new chimps. We are hoping to get some new chairs. They have been really helpful for Honey B, Willy B, and Mave in the new greenhouses. But, the chimps use the chairs everyday. Jamie loves them for sitting and grooming her favorite pair of boots, many like to lay on them, and sometimes they use the chairs as tables to put their food on.

Chimp Activities

June 15, 2021 by Sam Jones

Today the chimp house was a little busier than yesterday. We are making sure the two new Greenhouses are in order and ready for chimps soon! While waiting for some maintenance things to be completed we found Jamie and Burrito engaging in a long play session. I love hearing chimp laughter. To me, it is one of the best sounds in the world and always brings a smile to my face. There was lots of laughter today, as I saw Burrito playing with Foxie and Annie too.

I checked in on the three to see what they were up to and found Mave and Willy B in a grooming session. I’m still learning so much about Honey B, Willy B, and Mave. I didn’t work with them while I was an intern here, so I have been trying to get to know them better and learn more about their personalities.

Mave grooming Willy B.

Honey B looking to see what photos I was taking.

Willy B taking a break from the grooming session.

Missy resting in the Greenhouse.

Burrito in a Tub

June 5, 2021 by Diana

The other day I was questioning J.B. as to whether he thought we deserved to have playful Burrito in our lives, and his reply was, “I don’t even think the world deserves Burrito.”

Deserving or not, here he is to spread joy to all of us, doing whatever it is he was doing or trying to do with an empty tub and a big tub full of water.

Speaking of spreading joy, have you registered for The Queen’s Brunch yet?

The virtual event is on June 13th, just eight days away!

I was going to share that there were some Burrito pillow cases available to buy now that had been carefully stashed away from past events, but the two we had were snatched up already!

There are, however, still a few pillow cases featuring Negra, Foxie, and Willy B on the online auction site. You might need to act fast to get one!

Burrito’s Barrel

June 2, 2021 by Kelsi

Last week I mentioned in my blog about Burrito playing on top of the barrel while Foxie was below him. Burrito spends a lot of time on that barrel in the playroom. Having Burrito’s kind of energy can be a blessing and a curse because not all of his chimp friends want to go go go all the time. We can often find him on the barrel playing by himself or peeking over at the neighbors waiting for a chimp or human to play. From time to time Jamie and Burrito share the barrel, which is probably the best thing I have ever seen! And the other day I found him dragging the giant wolf blanket onto the barrel with him. Please enjoy this video of the different stages of Burrito on the barrel.

*Important Note* Queen’s Brunch is around the corner so don’t forget to mark your calendars and put a reminder in your phone, June 13th! I have to share with you all that the Royal-Tea Box this year is amazing! Not only do you get a chance to win a virtual visit to the sanctuary, but there is a special tea blend, delicious vegan tea cakes, and so much more! Please do not miss out on Negra’s Royal-Tea box!

Bonus Foxie photos!

Small Moments

May 26, 2021 by Kelsi

Throughout the day I catch small moments of the chimps interacting with each other, with humans, or just by themselves that just make me smile. Sometimes the moments are just a split second, but they always make my heart burst with joy. I thought I would share a few from yesterday and today.

This morning as we cleaned the front rooms, Foxie tossed her strawberry shortcake doll to me by the Playroom. We played chase from front room 1 to the playroom. When Foxie was running she was doing a bunny hop with her back feet. That one always gets me :).

Yesterday, I found Willy B laying on a big comfy blanket. I sat down and we scrolled through some photos on my phone.

Jamie this afternoon was being groomed by Missy and Jody. Because Jamie seeks out humans so often I love seeing her with chimp friends.

Yesterday, Missy came down from the loft in the playroom and began gesturing to something. I looked over and all I saw were some magazines. I offered one to her not thinking she really wanted it, but to my surprise she took the magazine and gestured for the one next to it. Once she had both magazines she climbed back up to the loft to make a nest.

We put out a pre-lunch lettuce forage on Young’s Hill today. I found Negra and Burrito playing right before I let the chimps back on the Hill. They even had a stuffed animal in their mouth playing tug-a-war.

While I was doing a chimp count for some checks ealier. I found Jamie in a nest fast asleep.

While Jamie napped in the loft, I also spotted Jody grooming a very sleepy Negra.

Burrito is often found on this barrel playing by himself, spying on the neighbors, or occasionally getting someone to play with him. This morning he started off playing by himself, but Foxie joined him a little later. Foxie would knock on the barrel while Burrito spun around on top. They were grabbing each others toes and laughing.