Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Sanctuary

Distractions

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Sometimes, while cleaning, I can hear George Costanza saying, “We’re making incredible time!” Patting myself on the back, I begin to think about all of the things we can get done with a few extra minutes before lunch all the snacks I could eat from the snack cupboard while taking a leisurely break. But then I hear the faint sound of breathy laughter. I leave my bucket and scrub brush to investigate…

Chimps playing! I’ll just film a minute or two for the blog.

Forty minutes later, I return to my half-cleaned enclosure, snackless, and running behind on lunch prep once again.

First Snow of the Season

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We got our first real snow of the season last night. The chimps were very content eating snow and nesting in a cozy warm nest, or in Honey B’s case a cozy table cloth. We can not tell you why, but she loves this table cloth! Speaking of comfort, there are just a few hours left in our third annual Comfort & Joy Quid Pro Throw Online Auction! We are still working to meet our goal and we need your help. Two exciting items were added this morning to round out the event! First, a personalized CSNW jacket for you that features the Cle Elum Seven’s favorite comfort & joy items. Second, a Fill the Fridge For the Holidays category! With the holiday season fast approaching, we need your help to fill the fridges and make this festive season extra special.

Thank you to everyone who has participated, your support is the backbone of the sanctuary! We couldn’t do what we do without every single one of you. Bidding ends at 6pm PT tonight (11/20/24), but keep an eye out for Bid Wars! Happy Bidding!

Honey B with her table cloth:

Rayne made a cozy nest on the bench:

And Lucky enjoyed one of her favorite things, GUM, though you can not tell in the pictures that she is chewing it:

Jamie enjoyed her snowy day with a cozy nest, a good pair of boots, and a show about wildlife:

After Lunch Activities

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Primate chow always tastes best after a long walk.

The chimps in Jamie’s group often take a stroll around Young’s Hill just after lunch. Many will take their chow bags—paper lunch bags filled with primate biscuits that are given out after their fruits, veggies, and nuts—and eat them outside. But Jamie saves hers until she returns to the chimp house. Getting to enjoy your food at the time of your choosing without fear of someone stealing it from you is one of the perks of being the boss.

Burrito climbs a Tree!

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This morning, while on a walk with Chad, Burrito took it upon himself to climb one of the trees at the top of Young’s Hill. We’ve seen this at least one other time before but this might be the first time we’ve been able to capture it on video. It’s a very quick video, but totally worth the watch. Go Bubba go!

In other sanctuary news, Kathleen, a wonderful and long-time CSNW supporter, generously wrote us a beautiful testimonial about her experience winning the Behind-The-Scenes Pass in an auction a few years ago. Thank you so much to Kathleen and happy bidding to everyone bidding on this year’s backstage pass!

“I was the very fortunate auction winner of the behind-the-scenes at CSNW back in 2013 (if my memory serves me correctly!). It was such an incredible experience that it is hard to describe. Even as the day unfolded before me, my experience felt like blur. An emotional system overload of wonder and joy! Keep in mind, that during my visit, the sanctuary had not expanded yet. I had the privilege of entering the home of the original Cle Elum Seven. And I met den mother Jody, making my memories all the more special to me now.

Meeting Diana and J.B. in person was such a pleasure and being able to ask them questions and learn details about the chimps, as well as their plans and dreams for the future of the sanctuary (I believe all of those dreams have since come true and perhaps they even surpassed them.), gave me insight and a new appreciation into this “little” sanctuary I supported full heartedly.

I shadowed Anna in the kitchen, the two of us working hard to prep a very large produce delivery that had just arrived when I did. It might sound silly, but there’s a lot of work and time involved in cleaning, drying, cutting all the produce to the exact size needed so the caregivers can pass each individual vegetable or piece of fruit through the squares of their mesh caging. Once the food is prepped, it is stored in their commercial sized refrigerators. I have a photo of Anna posing in front of the fully packed and ready to burst refrigerator, in a “Ta-daa” pose! But I knew it was just another day for her. For me, wow! Preparing their food, was an undescribable joy, because nothing makes me happier than watching them enjoy their meals—food grunts and squeaks soooo much better in person!!!

The other thrill was being able to recognize each chimpanzee. Even from afar. The blog had taught me well. I had the privilege of a lifetime when Jamie, after staring at my footwear and deciding black sneakers with white rubber toes were not acceptable, selected boots for me to wear on a patrol around Young’s Hill. I waddled and clopped around the outside of their perimeter with one boot on while carrying the other because that is what Jamie wanted. The boot I wore may have been four sizes too big. The best walk ever! J.B. was at my side sharing so much information my heart and my mind were having trouble keeping up with all magnificence!

I saw the one and only Queen Negra clap for her night bag…..she did this as soon as meal service began! I saw charming Burrito with a little toy wooden block in his mouth, play a cheeky game of chase with J.B. And while I was preparing food, little Foxie, who was the first one to come and check me out, came up to the glass window of their downstairs room and spied in to the kitchen and spit water on the glass. Just what I anticipated! She did not disappoint!

It is hard to recall all the details from that day, there are far too many, and as I said in the beginning, it all becomes this wondrous blur. But the one thing I will never forget is the beautiful earthy scent of the chimpanzees. They smell wild. They smell like the forest. They smell like the earth in an ever so subtle way—only if you are almost close enough. This is a once in a lifetime experience. I’m considering bidding on it again! I apologize for being greedy in advance.”

Nowhere to Hide

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There’s a drive-up window in Burrito’s playroom where he can order up play partners any time he wants. Even if no one is in the kitchen we’ll catch a glimpse of him on the security monitor, so he knows we won’t leave him waiting long. It certainly makes getting things done difficult at times but what could be more important that keeping Bubba entertained?

As I followed him out to the hill, I was happy to see Honey B and Terry hanging out together on the Bray—and even happier to catch Terry doing not one but two of his patented gorilla displays! He was really feeling his oats this afternoon. As he should, now that he is the (temporary) dominant male in his group.

Have you checked on our Comfort & Joy Online Auction lately? You can pick up some cool stuff for yourself or bid on items that we can give to the chimps and cows, like this cool Easy Swing Cow Brush!

The Matchmaker

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We often describe Rayne as being socially savvy. She seems to have a special ability to understand the needs of her group mates—in particular, to recognize their limitations and vulnerabilities and adjust to them. This is especially evident in her interactions with Willy B but it’s true of all of her relationships to varying degrees. Rayne was the first to be added to the reintroduction group after Cy and Willy B’s week together in part because of this skill.

I share the video below to give you a sense of what this kind of social intelligence looks like in practice. I want to make it clear that interpreting chimp behavior is always a fraught exercise. We simply can’t get in their heads and thus I really don’t know what Rayne intended, if she intended anything at all. Perhaps I’m just telling myself, and now you, a story.

But it’s notable that since Rayne was added to the group, Cy and Willy B have been spending a lot more time grooming one another. Mr. Aloof and Mr. Awkward, brought together by a common interest in dominance, a shared fondness for female swellings, and a good friend that, subtle though she may be, seems to know what she’s doing.

Don’t forget about our Comfort & Joy Online Auction, going on now! You can bid on dozens of items to bring comfort and joy to the chimps and to yourself. Do you know what would bring me comfort? And maybe even a little joy? Replacing the components to our driveway entrance gate that were recently stolen and installing additional security measures to prevent future thefts. We’re about a third of the way there as I write this—thank you!