Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Day Nests

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At the end of each day, free-living chimpanzees build elaborate nests and go to sleep for the night. These night nests, typically built high up in the crown of a tree, are thought to serve a number of functions including thermoregulation, protection from predators and parasites, and shelter from the elements. According to one researcher who spent time sleeping both on the ground and in chimpanzee nests, they may also simply provide a more comfortable night’s rest. Chimpanzees spend considerable time selecting the proper trees and branches on which to build their nests and then weaving smaller branches and leaves together to form a mattress or basket. This investment of time and energy makes sense; after all, once they are asleep, it is only the quality of their nest keeping them from falling to the ground below.

Day nests, by contrast, are hastily constructed and typically far less structurally complex. They are also more likely to be made on or near the ground. Day nests are simply a place to relax for a moment before the group moves on to another spot.

The chimps at CSNW tend to follow a similar pattern when it comes to the elevation of their nests. Jamie and Foxie in particular regularly make their day nests on the floor of the playroom or front rooms but will make their night nests almost exclusively on elevated benches or catwalks (while Foxie doesn’t build elaborate nests like the others, she does engage in rudimentary nesting behavior). The biggest difference between the nests of the Cle Elum Seven and those of their wild counterparts is that the Seven’s day and night nests are equally complex. Perhaps this can be explained by the fact the the Cle Elum Seven don’t travel very far during the day, and thus they are free to spend as much time in their days nests as they’d like or even return to them throughout the day if they so choose.

In fact, it’s possible that Jamie’s day nests are even more complex than her night nests. This afternoon I watched her make a nest on the playroom floor. With her new favorite boots tucked into her “pelvic pocket,” she twirled fleece blankets in circles around her for several minutes, pushing and pulling each one to form the perfect shape. Then she carefully wove the ends of those blankets through nearby caging, as if to anchor the otherwise unstable nest to something sturdy. She pulled two of her new books close by, one on tractors and another on the chimpanzee children of Gombe, so that she could flip through them as she drifted off to sleep. To top things off, she pulled the last blanket over herself. With each step of this elaborate process she let out a low moan – a sign of contentment.

Jamie’s Mission

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This morning, as I was putting away a squeegee, I accidentally knocked a broom off of the tool rack. I watched it slide to within inches of the playroom caging and before my brain could finish processing the thought that Jamie might be able to grab it, Jamie grabbed it.

Now, the most important thing to convey here is that Jamie really likes to stab and/or threaten to stab humans when she obtains contraband like this. So the first thing you do in this situation is take a big step back. Then you watch helplessly as she tries to knock smoke detectors off the ceiling (a real possibility) and jimmy open every door and window in the chimp house (not going to happen with a broom stick, thankfully).

But today was different. As soon as she had the broom she walked off with clear purpose and intent. And the whole gang gathered behind her as if Jamie had given the cue and the secret plan they had been hatching for weeks was finally called into action.

Their mission: To see inside the new addition.

We’ve given them glimpses into the new quarantine and introduction area connected to their playroom before, but during the construction process we’ve largely kept the door covered with a piece of plywood to protect workers from getting spit on and to keep the building heat in. Clearly we didn’t consult the chimps about that plan, and they were forced to take the matter into their own hands.

 

 

The New Boot Ritual

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Jamie received a new pair of boots from our wish list this afternoon. She has a specific series of rituals that must be followed when she receives a new pair of boots. First, one of the staff or volunteers must wear the boot and join Jamie on a walk around the hill. After returning, Jamie expects the boot wearer to meet her in the greenhouse for a grooming session.

Jamie begins by inspecting the boots carefully.

She encourages the caregivers to show her all of the features of the new boot, such as Velcro or zippers.

Then she begins to groom the boot with a tool – in this case, a wooden chopstick given out earlier as part of a food puzzle.

Eventually Jamie will ask to groom the caregiver herself, pointing and gesturing toward specific areas she wants to groom. Sometimes it’s a freckle, other times it’s a scab or hangnail. She also likes to untie our shoelaces with her grooming tool. Her dexterity is incredible, even when she’s holding the tool with the very tips of her fingers.

With a brand new pair of boots, Jamie will often insist on being given them immediately after the grooming session is finished. With boots that she’s had for a while, she will typically ask for them back when the staff are doing their closing rounds. But you can only give them back to her when she’s ready. If you drop them in the chute too early, she will take them out and throw them back to you (or rather, at you) from an opening high up on the playroom caging. When she is truly ready to receive them, she will wait by the chute and issue a low moan of contentment as they are dropped in. Eventually she will make her nest for the night include them or even use them as a pillow. Only then can you close up for the night, knowing that Jamie is satisfied.

Then and Now

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Negra in the lab:

Negra in lab cage

Negra today:

Sanctuary has given Negra peace, safety, and dignity. She now knows the sensation of the sun on her back, of curling up with a mountain of warm blankets, and of being loved.

There are currently hundreds of pre-sanctuary Negras who have no idea that there’s another kind of life. Help us bring them home by donating toward our year-end fundraising goal! We’re so grateful for your help.

Seattle Times article and Adventures on the Hill

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Yesterday, the Seattle Times published a great article about CSNW online. It will also appear in the print version of the Seattle Times Pacific NW magazine this Sunday. Please share it widely if you can – we are so grateful to writer Sandi Doughton and photographer Alan Berner for giving the sanctuary and the movement to rescue and retire primates such great coverage.

This morning, the chimps took to the foggy, rain-soaked hill to play and explore.

As usual, Missy led the group outside but quickly sped away and forged her own path across the fire hose vines.

Annie struggled to keep up since she is reluctant to walk quadrupedally (on all fours) outside – especially in wet grass.

Burrito had spent the early part of the morning engaged in wild and varied dominance displays, which did not exactly endear him to the rest of the group. As a result, the girls gave him a chance to cool off for a bit by himself. Here he is wadging what was left of his breakfast chow bag and probably wondering what everyone is so upset about.

Jody managed to keep the Thanksgiving buffet alive for another day after discovering some leftover green beans on the hill.

Foxie kept her Strawberry Shortcake doll close by throughout the morning adventure.

A Flurry of Fall Activity

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I can’t remember a time when we’ve been this busy here at CSNW. It’s gotten to the point where it feels odd when the nail guns, diesel engines, and back up signals fall silent for the evening. But we couldn’t be happier to see all the progress around here! Here’s a brief update on what we’ve been working on this fall.

The Cattle Barn and Pasture:

Last fall we purchased a neighboring property to extend the buffer around the sanctuary and to obtain a second access to the road. The property had been used for horses and contained multiple sheds and paddocks. Some of the property had been neglected, but with a little sprucing up and some new fencing, we whipped it back into shape and it now serves as the winter pasture for our new herd of cattle.

Currently the cattle are using the horse sheds for shelter during inclement weather, but soon they will have a new barn! In the process of expanding the chimp building, we needed to remove the pole barn shelter that protected our mobile vet clinic. Rather than demolishing it, we carefully disassembled it and with the help of volunteers we’re nearly done rebuilding it in the cattle pasture.

This is my favorite photo of the bunch so far, taken by Katelyn (from L to R: Betsy, Honey laying down, Meredith, and Nutmeg):

Trusses going up on the new barn, with the help of the Suncadia volunteer builders crew (who helped build the “Escher” play structure for the chimps earlier this year):

The View Property Residence:

In addition to sheds and paddocks mentioned above, the “View Property”, as we call it, also has a house on it. The house was never permitted by the former owner, however. While this was accounted for in the price of the property, it now presents an opportunity for us to create staff or volunteer housing for potentially very little cost. To do this, we need to work with the county to get the house up to code and obtain permits, and the first step is to have architectural “as built” plans developed. CSNW Board President Caitlin made a connection for us to a Seattle architect who developed the plans for us pro bono. Many thanks to Nguyen for donating his time and expertise to this project!

The View House:

The view from the View House:

The New Driveway:

The process of obtaining a permit to expand our chimp facility has been long and arduous. One of the complications we experienced was a requirement by the DOT to put in a brand new driveway to serve the sanctuary. As luck would have it, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which owns the power lines that run through the southern portion of our 90-acre property, needed to build a new road to service their towers. So we made a deal that would benefit everyone – in the process of building a new road to their towers, they would also build a driveway for the sanctuary that would satisfy the DOT. Because their project got delayed and we were counting on this new driveway in order to get our permits, the BPA agreed to build our section first and rushed to get it done before winter. They’ve laid about a half mile of new road and things should be wrapped up and ready to go next week.

Phase 1 of the Chimpanzee Facility Expansion:

Perhaps most importantly, the first phase of our chimp facility expansion is nearing completion. This addition includes a foyer, a larger bathroom, a new laundry and enrichment room, a veterinary clinic, and quarantine and introduction areas that will allow us to bring more chimps to CSNW. The building was recently painted (and they threw a new coat on the old building as well) and today they poured the sidewalks. The interior of the human areas is close to being finished, with the biggest project remaining being the installation of a fire sprinkler system. We aren’t required by code to install sprinklers in this building but we are confident that the extra protection they will provide to the chimps is well worth the added cost.

With all of this activity around the sanctuary, you might be wondering how the chimps are reacting to it all. I’m happy to tell you that these seven seem to take everything in stride.

On behalf of Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy, Negra…and Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg…as well as the CSNW staff and volunteers…and I guess Ellie, our resident elk, too…thanks so much to all of the generous and loyal donors that have made this progress possible!