Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sanctuary

Happy, Happy!

by

Dear friend to all the primates (and bovines) at the sanctuary, Kathleen Corby, also sponsored this extra special day of celebration! Woot! Or rather, Hoot! Kathleen shared this beautiful, heartfelt message about her gift today:

“Happy Birthday Negra! For eleven years you have been blossoming into your true self and during this time you have shown us what a brave and beautiful chimp woman you truly are. It is an extraordinary pleasure to witness the small, consistent transformations you have made over this short period of time. The love in my heart that I hold for you expands each and every year so I sponsor today to celebrate you on your honorary birthday. Much love to you from me. XOXO And I celebrate eleven (11!!!) years of Sanctuary. Happy Anniversary to all! Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, like Negra, is always growing, expanding, transforming — especially now with your Bring Them Home Campaign. You are one of the finest animal welfare organizations, every thought is filled with compassion and care for the Cle Elum Seven and the new Bovine Gang. Best of everything to you in your 11th year of Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary…. 7 (Seven amazing chimpanzee people). 11 (Your eleventh anniversary). 13 (the lucky day the Cle Elum Seven came to their new sanctuary home) Forever Lucky Numbers now!!!”

Kathleen, we are so grateful for the abundance of love and compassion that flows from your heart. The lives of so many beings are enriched by your presence here on earth. So much gratitude to you for helping us celebrate this special day!

Negra:

Jamie:

Jody:

Foxie:

Annie:

Missy:

Burrito:

And of course, we also celebrate Betsy, Honey, Meredith, and Nutmeg, the bovine members of our sanctuary family:

Among the Tall Grass

by

It’s our favorite time of year when the grass is green and so tall that you can barely see the chimps!

Burrito hidden in the grass:

Jody protecting and foraging:

Annie:

Missy:

However, with tall grass means patrolling for snakes becomes even more important (Missy and Annie looking for snakes in the morning which they did find one in later in the day):

And tiny Foxie:

 

Gifts

by

I don’t think I see a day go by where it’s not demonstrated somewhere, somehow, that someone is thinking of the chimpanzees and how to make their day better in some way. Whether it’s gifts coming from afar via our Amazon Wishlist (including all the amazing Safeway gift cards that allow us to shop for all the chimps’ favorite foods and keep their fridge stocked with fresh produce!), companies who donate produce, someone sending a book or a boot or a doll, volunteers and interns who take the time to think of new enrichment the chimps might like, or who work to grow mini-gardens in the midst of construction, who sit and groom Jamie with a toothbrush while she falls asleep, who buy special treats when they come for their shifts, and countless other thoughtful gestures. Your donations, your engagement on the blog and social media, sharing your love of the chimps and their lives with others, including them in your celebrations and honoring and remembering of loved ones, supporting our gala and auctions, lending your time to help improve and expand their home, and the home of those to come. There are countless ways you each make a true and lasting difference in their lives. In the lives of us all, really. What a gift you each are to us.

Imagine having spent decades in small cage in a windowless basement, unseen, to having people across the world, near and far, thinking of you and you’re well-being every single day. It’s an incredible, incredible privilege to witness.

Today, the chimpanzees were given the gift of the most gloriously fluffy and flamboyant peonies from a long-time friend and volunteer’s garden! Jamie took her time picking up each flower and smelling it and then gently setting them down until she chose the ones she wanted. I missed photos, sorry! But Annie and Jody were particularly enamored with these amazing flowers and gathered armfuls of bouquets to just bury their faces in, inhale their intoxicating scent, and then munch on.

Annie:

I love Annie’s flower petal vampire teeth. 🙂

Jody:

Happy Birthday, Barbara!

by

Today was sponsored by Jessica Mayhew in honor of her mother, Dr. Barbara Lopez-Mayhew!

Jessica plays several valued roles within our chimpanzee family. In addition to being an Assistant Professor in Anthropology and Director of the Primate Behavior and Ecology Program at Central Washington University where she works alongside the many student interns and volunteers who help us care for the chimps and their home, she also generously gives her time as one of our Board members and a volunteer caregiver. She adds to the chimps’ lives in countless ways and today we’re so lucky to celebrate her mother, Barbara with her. Jessica shared this really beautiful message about her mother:

“This day is in celebration of my amazing mother and her birthday. She has always led by example, and from an early age taught me critical life lessons about tolerance, celebrating diversity, standing my ground in the face of a challenge, and about speaking up for the things I believe in. She has been my biggest champion, and I credit much of my success to her teachings. She is so loved!”

Jessica, thank you so much for sponsoring this day of sanctuary! We can’t thank you enough for everything you bring to the lives of all the primates here at CSNW! We’re so lucky to call you part of our family and are honored that you would choose to celebrate your mother this way.

Happy Birthday, Barbara! We’re so happy to share in your special day with you and your family and all of us wish you the happiest of birthdays yet!

And in even more exciting birthday news, you are now pals with the Queen herself, Negra:

A big week!

by

We’ve got a big week full of excitement planned here at the sanctuary. This Thursday we are celebrating the 11th year of the chimpanzees’ arrival at their forever home in Cle Elum. Of course, the chimps’ party planning committee is working hard to make the day special for them!

Here’s Jody during last year’s party forage:

We also celebrate Negra’s honorary birthday on the same day (June 13th). This week she will be turning 46 years old!

As if this wasn’t already enough excitement, staff, volunteers and many amazing supporters are all ending the week together in Seattle at HOOT! our big gala fundraising celebration. There are just a few tickets left in case you haven’t purchased yours yet. This year everyone gets to participate in the big day, even if you can’t make it to the actual venue. First, you can start by previewing what’s going to be up for auction here. Then, starting tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m., you can get involved in the auction and start pre-bidding online!

So much to celebrate, we can’t hardly wait!

Happy Birthday, Donna!

by

Today we have a lovely day of sanctuary sponsored by long-time friend of the chimps, Donna Dinsmore! Donna shared this note about her wonderful gift:

“This is my birthday and I would love to have the chimps celebrate it with me!”

Donna, thank you so much for sharing your special day with the chimpanzees! What a generous thing to do! Your support over the years has made a lasting difference in the chimps’ lives and we’re so happy to celebrate with you. Have a beautiful, chimp-style day!

Jody:

Foxie and Jody: