Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

Sanctuary

Cubby Holes

by Leave a Comment

Way back in 2010, we replaced a bunch of caged windows with chimp-proof glass. On the greenhouse (what we used to call the outdoor area) side of things, this created deep window sills that the chimpanzees appreciated right away.

Below is a flashback video from when the windows were first installed in 2010. You can see that the chimps were still working on getting the hang of navigating the space using the hanging fire hose.

 

Today, Burrito and Missy were each in their own cubby. The frames are tall enough for chimpanzees to sit in them:

 

Missy can even sit upright in the smallest of the windows that looks into the playroom loft:

 

Missy was using her private cubby time to sift through some nut and seed shells:

 

While Burrito decided to get REALLY comfortable in his sill:

 

In memory of Kevin Clark

by 2 Comments

Shelley Winfrey sponsors this day each year in memory of her brother, Kevin Clark with these sentiments: “For my brother, who passed away…he would have loved the chimps.”

Shelley and her mother, Patty, are such good friends to the chimpanzees and we’re so thrilled to have them as part of our chimp family. We’re touched to be able to celebrate Kevin’s memory with them today.

Thank you, Shelley, for always holding the chimps in your heart and for all you do for them. We are all thinking of you and your family today and sending all good thoughts for comfort, peace and joyful memories.

Burrito:

Going gray

by 5 Comments

People often mistake the white hair around a chimpanzee’s mouth and chin for a sign of old age. This “beard”, however, is part of a chimpanzee’s normal coloration and is generally present at birth.

But many chimpanzees do go gray as they get older. Over the last ten years, we’ve watched Foxie’s patches of gray hair proliferate into a “salt and pepper” look, most notably on her arms.

As my own gray hairs have also begun to proliferate, I prefer to think of it as a distinguished look.

Chimp Proof

by 10 Comments

One of the chimpanzees’ front rooms was closed off for maintenance recently. For seven straight days, the chimps watched as Co-Directors J.B. and Diana stripped the walls and gave the room a facelift. Most of the chimps took it in stride, but boss Jamie is always very interested when maintenance is happening, and she did not appreciate being locked out of the room (on principle only – it’s not a room where Jamie chooses to spend any significant amount of time). Because chimps are very strong and very destructive, any maintenance done to their enclosures has to be chimp-proof. Jamie, especially, can always be relied upon to point out any flaws in workmanship.

Jamie Tries to Undo the Humans’ Hard Work: A Photo Essay

Eagle eyes

by 5 Comments

There are moments in every caregiver’s life when a chimpanzee is wildly gesturing for something that they want, but we simple minded humans just can’t decipher their communication.
This afternoon Jamie spotted something on the ground that she needed me to give her.

After several minutes of frustrated gesturing. I spotted this single tiny black currant that had fallen on the ground at breakfast.

All is well.

Bonus!
Annie has chosen to make the switch from yellow to orange.

The portrait studio recently received an extreme makeover (more on that tomorrow). Look for portraits to feature a lovely grey backdrop from now on. Here’s Jody:

Not worth the risk

by 12 Comments

Missy and Jamie have tightrope walking skills that are unparalleled by any of the other chimps at the sanctuary.

Some of the other chimps will use the horizontally stretched fire hose, but usually more like this:
(Annie)

Today Burrito tried his hand at the tightrope:

But immediately thought better of it:

His preference seems to be a more solidly built platform:

A summer day

by 12 Comments

When the sun began to lower in the sky and shift away from the greenhouse this afternoon I found Foxie and her doll sleepily stretched out in the heat. In classic Foxie style, she stuck her toes out for a tickle to greet me as I sat beside her. And for just awhile, we got to spend a quintessential summer day lingering together, two friends, in silence and the shade found on a hot summer day with a warm breeze.