Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Sanctuary

This One’s for the Girls

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Nothing is more important than your girl friends. As you will see in the video, Honey B and Dora agree! Today, Honey B and Dora held back in the front rooms so that they could have some one-on-one gal time. Sometimes you just need a break from the men, ya know! Watching these two play really warms my heart. I often get asked by people, what sanctuary means to me. For me, it’s the little moments, like watching Honey B build friendships within her group, or to watch Dora flourish and become a social butterfly, or to watch someone like Neggie turn 51 (tomorrow!) and thrive in sanctuary: making choices that was not allotted to her in her previous life.

Tomorrow is the Trifecta Jubilee, celebrating our sweet 16! I cannot believe it has been 16 years since the Cle Elum 7 arrived to the sanctuary or that Negra will already be turning 51 years young. But, lets not forget our sweet friend Terry who is turning 34 tomorrow! It will be quite the celebration! If you would like to help us celebrate, check out our Sweet Sixteen online auction.

I think it will come to no surprise that I personally love this painting, Jamie’s Boot by Cheryl Feng. I love how Cheryl captured Jamie! Place your bids today!

The 6th Annual Running of the Cows

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We got a bit of a late start moving the cows this year but they are finally enjoying the first part of their summer pasture rotation. This year they’re back on the south pasture, next to the Bray, which was inaccessible and remained fallow during the last few years of chimp habitat renovations. Once the weather warms up, they’ll move to the upper pond pasture where they’ll have plenty of shade.

Normally, the running of the cows is a more exuberant affair, but this year things were a bit different. First, a lot has changed between the winter and summer pastures, and cattle aren’t big on change. They’d much prefer to follow a familiar path. Second, Meredith was held back this year so that she could be walked along a route that would be safer and easier on her arthritic feet, and cattle are less confident without their herd mates. And of course, this is the first year that they are moving to the summer pastures without Nutmeg.

But everyone made it (with one short detour), and Honey and Betsy were quickly reunited with Meredith. Now they can kick back and enjoy summer.

The Sweet Sixteen Online Auction is now live! Check out the amazing selection of works from talented artists, including this beautiful oil on canvas portrait of Nutmeg by Leslie Bell:

Image is copyrighted by artist

Wrestle Mania!

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Jamie’s group was SO happy this morning!  We had 3 different groups of wrestlers in 3 different front rooms!  Today, enjoy Negra and Burrito mixing it up in front room 1.

And, don’t forget!  The Sweet 16 Online Auction goes live tomorrow, June 10th, and ends the 16th.  Check out Spring Rayne by our very own Caregiver Ellen.  Although, I might fight you for it!

Class Clowns

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I think it’s fairly well known that Burrito is the jokester among his group. He is constantly making people laugh with his silly antics. He is so funny he can get anyone to usually join in, even Jamie for a little bit! However, if no one is in the mood to play, no biggie- Burrito always has a good time entertaining himself! I think the same could be said for Honey B. Honey B is so funny and always playing pranks on her caregivers, but when she is in the mood to play she is the goofiest of her group member’s.

Bonus Neggie 🙂

PNW Chimp Activities

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No two days are quite the same here in the chimp house and that’s part of the fun! At first, my plan for the blog today was to give you the above video I was lucky enough to catch of Jamie and Missy in a quiet grooming session after breakfast from the other day. Kelsi and I were cleaning the playroom and when I looked over to the window, I was excited to see them spending quality time together!

And then today happened. Today has been a bit busier and the chimps are off doing their own thing. We decided to do forages for both groups today since it was cool, cloudy, and not too windy. A light sprinkle of rain came not too long after when us humans were off eating lunch, so when I went over to check on Cy’s side after lunch I was surprised to see Lucky, Terry, Cy, and Gordo all out on the very top of the Bray! Lucky and Gordo spent a lot of time exploring the new structure that was put in last weekend. It was amazing to see them so confident in themselves as they climbed to the top and walked across the firehose!

There must have been something about today, because then I looked over and saw Burrito and Foxie meandering around Young’s Hill. These PNW chimps didn’t let a bit of rain get in the way of their afternoon adventures! 🙂 So today’s blog has become a video of two friends grooming + photos from today, because I couldn’t choose just one!

Negra wrapped up in her blanket after foraging on Young’s Hill.

Negra foraging on Young’s Hill. 🙂

Jamie with some serious side-eye during today’s lunch forage.

Foxie went back out later in the afternoon and scored some sweet potatoes that had been missed earlier!

Annie taking a moment during the lunch forage to see what everyone else was up to.

This afternoon, Burrito decided to take an enrichment item (a stack-able cup) up to the top of a structure on Young’s Hill to enjoy!

I mean, does it get any better than this?

Terry during today’s lunch forage. Look at that beautiful green spring grass!

Sweet Lucky

Lucky and Gordo exploring the new structure on the Bray!

Go, Gordo, go!

Cy opted to bring his reading material out with him. 🙂

Say Cheese!

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We have a lot in common with the chimps, so this will come as no surprise when I tell you all that some chimps do not not like to have their photos taken. That may sound familiar because I think we all know the people who shine in front of a camera, while so many others loath getting their picture taken. This may also explain why you all see more photos captured of some chimps than others. Cy is very photogenic and never minds a photo shoot. Whereas Missy always seems to disappear when the camera comes out. However, today Missy did not mind letting me take a few portraits while she ate her onions from her forage. Often, when Missy does let us take her picture, she will politely turn away to let us know the portrait session is over. I say this is polite because most chimps try to poke the camera once they have decided the photo session is over, which I can not blame them for!

Please enjoy the Missy and Negra series of portraits and some bonus photos!

Missy portrait series of her eating an onion:

Negra watching her group go out onto Young’s Hill:

Negra at the lunch forage:

And a well deserved nap:

Foxie foraging:

Annie and Foxie foraging together:

Burrito with a handful of forage, watching the neighbors also forage:

Rayne on top of a structure eating her apple out on The Bray: