Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Rayne

Quality Time

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The past couple mornings we have found Mave’s group spending a lot of quality time with one another before breakfast. For chimps, especially Terry’s group, it’s important to strengthen bonds. A great way to make a friendship stronger is by grooming. Recently, this group has been having their ups and downs like most chimp groups do, but when we have a few calm mornings or afternoons, watching them play or groom feels very nice to see. It is crazy to think that it has been almost a year since this group was officially put together. What they have accomplished as a group is truly something to celebrate!

There is more social work to be done in the next years to come for them, but let’s give them a round of applause for what they have accomplished so far!

Here are some bonus photos of Foxie’s group!

Foxie with one of her dolls:

Annie in the raceway:

Jamie in the portrait studio:

I love Jamie’s side-eye:

Curiosity and the Chimp

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Chimpanzees are very curious by nature. They love to investigate and understand things, both in captivity and the wild. You can see that in action in Sunday’s blog where Honey B was able to figure out how to get the hose as well as yesterday’s blog of Cy’s group watching J.B. put together a new scale and Missy inspecting the tree roots. Curiosity is one of the many things I love about chimpanzees and my job because I get to see it in action. It is also one of the many reasons why chimpanzees (and all primates) should not be pets or used for entertainment. (I have been preparing a blog to tackle that subject, so more on that later.)

When I look into the eyes of someone like Jamie or Honey B, I always throw myself into the rabbit hole of trying to figure out what wheels are turning behind those eyes.

For instance, there was this from today.

What was going on through Jamie’s mind when she was trying to shove a plastic tube through the barrier that separates both groups? Was she trying to attack them with it? Was she trying to sneak them some contraband enrichment? Did she just want to groom them?

Or even the confidence level someone like Jamie has. To me, there is a lot of mental calculation to be had to just leave your breakfast on the windowsill to go find some more food someone left behind possibly, and be confident that nobody will try to steal it.

Or Burrito’s new favorite reality show, “The Neighbors” starring Cy and friends. Burrito spends a lot of time at the window trying to get a glimpse of his neighbors, even using a mirror to get a better angle on those hard to see areas of the chute.

He also will almost systematically go to the window at the same time in the afternoon everyday and nothing can pry him from his seat. This is usually around the time either Willy B or Gordo begin their afternoon displays and rouse things up in their group, which more often than not now will make it’s way into the chute.

The minds of chimpanzees are fascinating, which help make them such an fascinating species overall to me.

Just some random thoughts I had about today as I was doing some Chimp House chore and finding these hints of goings on they were getting themselves into earlier on in the day.

I will end it with Rayne laying on the firehose reaching for her breakfast being served.

Please, May I Have Your Chow?

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There are so many sharable moments that happen in a day, but sometimes I’m not sure if a video is worthy of the blog. So, I thought if I added some cinematic flair to this story that I caught through the window while I was cleaning the Mezzanine, it would make it seem that much more blog-worthy.

If you didn’t know before, now you know what those white bags are for on our Amazon Wish List!

All Quiet on the Northwestern Front

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The battle between Winter and Spring has seemingly begun. With Spring right around the corner, the weather has been bouncing around cold, gloomy, and snowy, and sunny and warm (like today). When caregivers arrived in the morning, it was a brisk 25º, but an hour or so later is was nearing 40º. With the winter paneling still up on all the greenhouses, the sun and the rising temperature helped create a nice, warm atmosphere where the chimpanzees spent much of their day relaxing. This all made for a nice and quiet day.

Negra spent the morning portion of the day covered in blankets. Later on she was seen relaxing without the blankets.

Lucky was seen lounging about in several different spots in her greenhouses.

Gordo enjoyed his entire lunch service in the greenhouses.

Willy B looking for any leftovers someone may have left behind.

Honey B calculating her next move after lunch.

Rayne especially was seemed relaxed all day!

She even took a quick nap on one of the leaf benches on the artificial tree structure in the Marmot Mountain Playroom.

Even Barn Kitty thought today was the day to take it easy!

Here’s to hoping Spring breaks through this winter spell and brings warmer weather soon!

Bonus photo of Foxie waiting for dinner to be brought out!

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!

 

Man! I Feel like a Woman!

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Today is International Women’s Day! I feel so blessed to work in such a female dominated field, it is truly empowering. Not only is our field dominated by women, but so is our chimp house, sorry Chad and JB :).

In the wild, males are usually the most dominate, however in captivity you can find females leading a group or allowing a male to think he the one in control, when really the female(s) are really calling the shots ;).  Let’s meet the real individuals that run the show in this chimp house!

Obviously, Jamie rules this Sanctuary:

Negra, our true queen:

Jody, our forager:

The adventurer Missy:

Foxie, the prankster:

The ever so kind Annie:

Mora, besties for life:

Miss popular Mave:

The friend to everyone, Dora (but mostly Mave):

Rayne, the calming presence:

Lucky, the sweetest of sweet:

Honey B, the master of mischief:

The care staff ladies aren’t so bad either!

Between Love and War: Valentine’s Day 2023

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Valentine’s is a day meant to be spent with loved ones and show affection to them. But as you know, sometimes you can fight with loved ones. J.B. actually just wrote a magnificent blog about conflict and resolution the other. Well today both Jamie and Cy’s groups spent a good chunk of the morning what I will call “bickering.” There wasn’t too much physical contact between everyone, just a lot of screaming. But, also as J.B. mentioned, they were quick to reconcile. What they were all bickering about? It would be hard to say, though I am going scapegoat the six inches of snow and colder weather that came in overnight.

Regardless, everything calmed down once they all realized something special was in store for them today: lots of strawberries, blood oranges, grape tomatoes, radishes, and sparkling blush cider with raspberries and mint leaves! Once their bellies were full of delicious treats, bygones were bygones and everybody had a restful afternoon.

Here are some photos from today:

Missy enjoying her plate of tomatoes and strawberries

And her daughter, Honey B, enjoying the same thing on the other side of the sanctuary!

The devilishly handsome Willy B

Gordo lovingly admiring his radishes

And Dora. Oh so sweet little Dora resting after the parties

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!