Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sanctuary

A New Day

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Burrito was full of energy today! He spent most of his day monitoring the other chimpanzees somewhat wistfully.

If I had opened up the door, he would have gladly joined them.

He still has a while to go with his recovery, and we need him by himself so that we can closely monitor him and so his sutures don’t open up. But the fact that he was so alert and up and about and paying attention to all things was a wonderful sign that he’s feeling better.

Paying attention to all things except, apparently, the tape we left on him after his latest visit to the clinic. We purposely left some tape on him in the hope that it would distract him from his stitches, but he isn’t bothered enough by the tape to have removed it. Luckily he’s not paying attention to the stitches yet either!

Tonight, he got a blanket and climbed up to the bed in front room two. This is the first night he chose to sleep up on a platform instead of on the blanket-lined floor. He’s acting more and more like Burrito each day.

Happy Birthday, Mari!

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Today was sponsored by Lynn Wilson, in honor of Mari, to wish her a Happy (Belated) Birthday!

“Mari has come to love all of the chimps since following them after the 3 came from California. She would love to bundle Burrito up in a blanket and hold him tight.”

Thanks so much, Lynn for adding to the chimpanzees’ lives through your celebration of Mari! We so appreciate you thinking of them all in this way.

Mari, we hope you have a beautiful day, full of all that makes your heart happy! Thanks so much for following Mave, Honey B and Willy B on their journey to their new home and for embracing all ten members of this chimpanzee family.

Mave:

Honey B:

Willy B:

 

In honor of the CSNW staff, interns and volunteers

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This special day of sanctuary and gratitude is sponsored by Dr. Jennifer Wallace in honor of the humans of CSNW! Jen shared this lovely message about today:

“On this day of thanks, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the CSNW staff, interns, and volunteers. Special thanks to J.B., Diana, Anna, Kelsi, Anthony, Katelyn and Dr. Erin. I am so grateful there are compassionate and dedicated people such as yourselves to provide a safe, loving and comfortable home to the 10 chimpanzees in your care. The world is a better place with all of you! Happy Thanksgiving!”

Jen, thank you for such a kind and gracious gift for the chimpanzees and humans here! We are so touched. Please know the profound gratitude that we hold in our hearts for you, Dr. Erin Zamzow and Dr. Erika Nelson Rinear, and all the incredible veterinary and medical professionals who give so generously of your amazing skills and incredible hearts to help ensure the highest level of health and well-being possible for the chimpanzees.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our beloved Burrito guy seems most appropriate to share as we celebrate the gratitude in our hearts:

Rainbow Toe Socks!

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This morning I found Mave in a very silly mood. She was playing chase in the front rooms, rolling around on the ground, giving me her toes to tickle. But, the best part was looking at Mave’s feet and seeing her wearing not just any sock, a rainbow toe sock! When I told her I liked her stylish sock, she pulled it up higher on her foot.

Also, if you have not seen this article, Almost Human by 425 Magazine, check it out!

 

The grateful things

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After all the constant change and unexpected events of the past few months, today I’m grateful for all the little signs of normalcy returning for many of the chimpanzees. All the live long day not one chimpanzee person offered to sit still for the camera for a proper photo. But as much as I love to share their beautiful selves, them getting back into small snippets of their routines, enjoying their lives, having more easeful days, I care more about that than their photos.

Things like Foxie tossing a troll down from the loft and asking a caregiver to play chase up and down the human hallway while she raced back and forth above. Or spinning in pirouettes throughout the loft – I haven’t seen one of her patented Foxie spins in a long time – she’s had other things on her mind. Or Missy, asking a caregiver to brush her hair while she sits atop a barrel against the caging, warming up after a brisk gallop around Young’s Hill. Mave, Honey B and Willy B asking for kisses in the excitement of mealtime. I can’t say this is or isn’t “routine” for them as we’re still getting to know them, but I still take it as a sign of happiness from them. Or Mave low-moaning in happiness up in the mezzanine when I toss up extra blankets warm from the dryer at bedtime. Then there was Annie running over to greet caregivers and asking to groom their toes (Annie LOVES human toes). Jamie being back to asking for her cowboy boots at bedtime. Jody (!!) swinging from a firehose while she play-kicked her friends below. Negra clapping and using salty chimp language in demand for her meals which outside of her amazing nests, she pretty much lives for. Even our beloved Burrito, though he’s busy working hard on healing, giving the sweetest laugh to a caregiver, grooming with his chimp lady friends, and closing his eyes in sleepiness and calm while I knuckle-rubbed the top of his head as he lay next to me pressing it against the caging. Or ending the day with all ten of the chimpanzees giving long and hearty nest grunts goodnight in response to lights out and “Goodnight everybody, we love you.” It’s these little things I’m most grateful for today and always. Because these little things are indicative of such big things. The things I hold most dear to my heart. The chimps’ hearts and happiness, contentment and well-being.

All I managed to capture today was Missy from afar, enjoying her lunchtime chow as she sat suspended in a sunbeam while balancing on a firehose in the middle of the playroom. Such a wonderful Missy thing to do: