Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Phillippa Kassover has sponsored today for the chimpanzees. Phillippa first learned of the Cle Elum Seven earlier this year from the media coverage on the Taylor Bridge wildfire, and she suggested that we take today to celebrate new beginnings! We’re running with Phillippa’s suggestion and setting up a New Year’s Eve dinner forage for the chimps in the playroom tonight. Here’s to a happy and safe 2013!
Today was sponsored by Elizabeth Porter as a gift to her daughter, Tracy Headley. Tracy is a fan of Foxie, so I found a few photos of Foxie to go with the blog post.
Tracy will be happy to know that Foxie had a really great day today. I put a big bucket of snow in one of the front rooms and Foxie snacked from the bucket all afternoon (troll dolls in hand, of course). At one point, Foxie noticed that the cover of the television was partially removed. When I asked her if she wanted to watch a movie and moved toward the t.v., Foxie became really excited. So I put in a dvd that included some Dora the Explorer episodes. She was so immersed in the cartoons, that she barely noticed lunch being served by volunteer caregiver Connie. Foxie also played chase with Jamie and Missy.
All in all, I’d say Foxie had a great day. We hope you did too, Tracy! Thank you and your mom for being such great supporters of Foxie and her friends. Happy Birthday!
Jamie, as you probably know, is a very industrious chimpanzee person. Sometimes we create enrichment projects for her. Other times, like today, Jamie assesses the objects that we put out for the chimps and takes it upon herself to come up with a project of her own making (see video below).
Jamie took a well deserved rest this afternoon after all of her industrious work. Note the carefully placed boots in her nest:
Once and a while we put out buckets of soapy water, using plant-based soap, for the chimps’ enrichment. Jamie likes to use the soapy water to clean. Jody shoves handfuls of soapy foam into her mouth as she makes her “dinosaur noise” (actually a combination food grunt and low moan).
I don’t know if she did it intentionally, but the other day, Foxie was actually blowing bubbles.
The chimpanzees really love snow, which is great because it just keeps falling and they never get sick of it! Check out the newsletter that was sent out today that also includes a video of the chimps enjoying snow.
Anyway, with snow comes icicles. Today J.B. noticed that there were quite a few on the building, and the sun is out now so they are melting fast.
I knocked down a few and passed them out to the chimps, but found that it was pretty tricky to pass them out AND get photos before either the chimps ran off to a hard-to-see spot with their icicle, or the icicles melted. My solution: I placed some icicles delicately on the caging so the chimpanzees would have to pull them through on their own. Missy was the first to come over, and she grabbed most of them before they melted. The other chimps were happily munching away on the ones I passed out earlier.
I know you can’t see her whole face in the picture below, but I just love how you can see her drooped lip, which means she’s relaxed and happy.
The chimps were so excited for the Christmas party this morning. We hung the tree (still decorated with beads, trolls, and cowboy boot ornaments) and placed all the presents underneath. Many thanks to Jayne Roepke, Jeff and Lori Anderson, Lori Kiers, Dick and Robbi Brown, and Patti Simms for supplying the amazing gifts and decorations.
On the menu this morning was Field Roast with bean gravy, baked yams, cranberry sauce, and pomegranates. We also put out some of Denice’s beautiful cranberry-stuffed mini-pumpkins and cups of sparkling cider.
Burrito and Jody loved the pumpkins.
As soon as they finished all the food, it was time to open presents. The gifts had started the day under the tree but by the end of the morning, the entire pile had moved ten feet as Jamie went through each and every bag.
Annie’s not much for toys, but there’s always a chance that we might have hidden a few snacks in with the gifts.
And we all could have guessed who would end up with the Christmas pinata, right?
Foxie got a bunch of new trolls this morning but her favorite, which she has been sharing with us throughout the day, is also the most appropriate for today.
Pictures don’t do justice to the excitement of the party, so here’s a short video. Our thanks again to all of you that helped make today special, and to those who helped support us throughout 2012. We’d also like to thank our dedicated team of volunteers. There are no days off here at the chimp house, and we couldn’t make it through the holiday season (or any time of year) without your help.
The chimpanzees are currently busy snacking on a giant tub full of snow in the greenhouse.
Burrito:
Foxie:
Meanwhile, volunteer caregivers Denice and Seana are busy preparing today’s lunch plus cooking up a storm for the feast tomorrow and wrapping presents delivered by the Ellensburg Santa.
Tomorrow is going to be a great party at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest! Thank you again for all who have contributed to the chimps’ happiness this week and for the last four and a half years!
