Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
The other day Missy was grooming a small scrape on her back with a piece of bark. Chimps love to groom injuries, so if no one else was going to help her, Missy was going to find a way to do it herself.
For Negra, it’s never too warm for a blanket. I think she just feels more secure when she’s wrapped up in something.
The way the chimps react to new enrichment says a lot about them. This morning, I installed some new fire hose swings in the outdoor area. Missy tested them out playfully. Jamie had something else in mind…
The other day, as the chimps were entering the front rooms for breakfast, we noticed that there was a blanket lying in the track of one of the pneumatic doors. This prevents the door from closing all the way, so we asked Jody if she would grab the blanket for us. Without hesitation, she walked over to the door and pulled the blanket out, dropping it on the floor and out of the way. No begging, no bartering…just a kind gesture from Jody. If only every day were like that!
Negra loves to watch us dance. Usually we initiate the dancing, but yesterday, as Diana was walking past the front rooms, Negra clearly indicated that she would like to be entertained. So we obliged! As we started dancing, Negra came down from her bed and danced along with us in her own special way.
Jamie sometimes disapproves of us having too much fun with the other chimps, as you can tell from her scowl in this video. Thankfully, she chose not to spit on us this time.
If you received our latest e-newsletter, you know that Negra has been a little more active lately (if you don’t get the e-newsletter, you can sign up here). I thought I’d post another photo of Negra and Missy playing chase around the climbing structure. Missy usually has only one speed (fast), but she was nice enough to slow things down a bit for Negra’s sake. Afterwards, Negra took a well-deserved rest.
The chimps had a great party today, complete with Easter baskets and treats courtesy of their wonderful friends and supporters. There were plastic eggs filled with nuts and dried fruit, homemade bagels and muffins, even cornbread peeps! Of course, there were also plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, including eggplant, cucumbers, green onions, and coconuts, which we were able to purchase because of your Easter party donations.
It was rainy and gloomy today, so most of the party was set up inside. However, Annie realized that we threw some treats in the outdoor area and she got to enjoy them all by herself. Burrito grabbed one of the coconuts and clung to it for dear life. When he first came to the sanctuary, he didn’t know how to crack one open, but he must have learned from Missy because today he cracked open his first!
Many thanks to all who contributed to the party!
