Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Breakfast, Interrupted

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Nothing can distract chimpanzees from eating their breakfast – except, of course, for drama from the group of chimpanzees next door.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to pose questions on our Ask Us Anything blog post. Based on the video above, I thought I could begin by answering a question posed by Kathleen:

Have you seen any changes within The Seven now that new chimpanzees are living “in their home”. Have any shown signs of stress or anxiety over the commotions and basic existence of chimpanzees living next door? Do any over groom, or are any obsessively curious over the new neighbors? Things like that.

If there is anxiety or stressors, did it/does it lead to any new conflicts/squabbles within the group?

To be perfectly honest, I think there are both benefits and drawbacks to having multiple groups of chimpanzees living near one another.

The main drawback is that chimpanzees exhibit a significant amount of emotional contagion, particularly during high-arousal situations. So yes, there are occasions where a conflict on one side of the chimp house leads to a conflict on the other side, for no other reason than the chimps get worked up listening to the screaming and end up scuffling with each other. That’s not to say that these squabbles aren’t based on some preexisting grudge, but the proximate cause seems, at least from our perspective, to be the behavior of the chimps in the other group.

These “spillover” conflicts are pretty rare, however, and the mere existence of another group nearby doesn’t appear to cause any chronic stress or tension. Generally, I’d say having another group nearby is a benefit. For one thing, all social primates seem to be drawn to drama. And all the better if that drama is happening on TV, in a magazine, or among the folks next door where it won’t impact us personally. The Cle Elum Seven chimps are riveted by the arguments taking place across the way and will stop whatever they are doing to watch The Real Housewives of Phase 2, as you can see in the video. In a way, it can actually improve group cohesion – after all, nothing makes an ingroup like an outgroup! What else could possibly make Jamie and Burrito feel like they are on the same team?

But it’s not just drama that they are interested in. The girls often swoon when Willy B is within view, and Burrito spends a lot of time trying to get his neighbors’ attention at the window. Chimpanzees are social animals and though the two groups can’t live together at this time, they often benefit from interacting at a distance. It makes their otherwise small world just a bit larger.

It’s World Chimpanzee Day!

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In case you haven’t already heard, today is World Chimpanzee Day!

Here are the Goals of World Chimpanzee Day, straight from the official website:

  • Celebrate our closest living relative in the animal kingdom.
  • Improve understanding by educating global audiences about their uniqueness and innate value as a species, as well as their importance to ecosystems.
  • Raise awareness and inspire action about threats they face in the wild including habitat loss, disease, and wildlife trafficking, while also advocating for their welfare in captive situations.

On this World Chimpanzee Day, we also remember one of the day’s founders and dedicated chimpanzee advocate, Steve Ross. Earlier this year Diana wrote this touching blog in his memory.

At the sanctuary, we celebrated the big day with our chimpanzee friends by setting out multiple forages of freshly picked roses. Kelsi grabbed this heart warming video of Terry’s official flower inspection. Eventually, the roses ended up as a snack for him too ☺️

Flourishing in Sanctuary

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If you read the blog daily you have probably heard us use the words elusive or aloof to describe Gordo at some point in time. Gordo has been coming out of his shell for a while now, but recently he has been REALLY playful with not only his chimp friends, but his human friends too. I use this word a lot when talking about the chimps, but it has really been a true honor to watch Gordo flourish in sanctuary. But that is what it is, an honor, especially a chimp like Gordo who always seemed more reserved than others. When someone like Gordo lets you into his circle how could you not!

Gordo’s birthday is on Tuesday, he turns 34! We still have a few party things on the wish list for him!

Bonus photo of Mave:

Thank you all for your questions and ideas! If you missed yesterday’s blog, check it out here! We are so grateful for your support and curiosity! We will be sorting through them and we look forward to writing these ideas for future blogs!

Welcome to Lucky’s Playhouse

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I am somewhat sorry for the redundancy of play videos, but I’m sure no one will mind. This play session happened a few days ago. It started out with Lucky playing a game of chase with caregiver Katelyn. Then Honey B couldn’t resist the urge to join in on the fun. Then slowly more and more chimpanzees joined in! And don’t worry! Though Cy and Willy B were not a part of this play session, they were elsewhere grooming with each other. They were off having their own quality time.

Here are some photos taken in between filming the play session:

Lucky, Dora, Gordo, and Terry play:

Dora and Rayne:

And here are some photos from today!

Rayne excitedly watching from a bird’s eye view as breakfast is being brought out:

Dora taking an afternoon nap in the Riverview Greenhouse:

Willy B excited about a pool full of Gatorade:

Caregiver Lizz Playing with Burrito

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Full disclosure, this video was taken a few weeks ago. Lizz was here today and I remembered I had the clips on my phone, so I decided to put them together into a video to add some classic Burrito play to your weekend.

Little Moments with Big Boys

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There are always amazing moments happening in the chimp house, some weeks you hold them closer to your chest. For me, I have been holding them tight to my chest. So I thought I would share a few little moments with some of the “Big Boys’!

The other day Cy found me and instigated a big game of chase. Sometimes we were sprinting back and forth in the Marmot room, other times we were walking from Marmot room to Riverview greenhouse, and then we were off sprinting again! Often we would take a break in Riverview and just sit with each other, before he was off sprinting again.

The other morning Gordo was really playful. He was bunny hopping around and chasing everywhere. Eventually, Gordo sat down in one of his favorite enrichment items, a box! We sat peacefully together while Gordo enjoyed the warm greenhouse sun. We didn’t do much together after, we just enjoyed each others company.

This photo is of Terry looking adoringly into one of his favorites foods, an avocado! My moment with Terry though is just the sweet kisses he gives us. Throughout the day he will blow raspberries (or Bronx cheer) to get your attention so he can groom your boots or give you a little kiss on the hand. Terry just likes to spend quality time with his caregivers.

Burrito might not be in the “Big Boys Club”, but he has got a big heart! Recently, we have been playing a lot of chase in the greenhouse and Burrito has been throwing out his somersaults too! To be honest, any moment I get with Burrito is a blessing and truly special.

Thoughts About The Past

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The residents here at the sanctuary came from unnatural backgrounds, we know this. Whether it be biomedical research, entertainment, or raised in their early years as a pet, their lives have been far from what they would have experienced in the wild. Though Negra and Annie, and possibly Jody, were born in the wild, they were taken from their home and families across the ocean by humans. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about this fact and I often find it impossible not to dwell on it.

Over the years, our staff have worked to piece together the life histories of our residents. While there is some that is still unknown to us, we have learned quite a bit. As one of the newest caregivers, I am still working to know all these histories. Sometimes, their names appear in stories, our hearts stop, and we know a little bit more about the chimps we have the honor to work with.

A few weeks ago, there was a book sitting on top of the table in the foyer of the chimp house. It was From Elephants to Mice: Animals who have touched my soul (2010) by Dr. James Mahoney. Dr. Mahoney is a complicated character, to say the least. He was a veterinarian and a research professor at the New York University School of Medicine, where he worked at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP). He conducted invasive biomedical research, but later in life became vocal about the conflicting emotions he had about this research. He published a few books over his lifetime and while I have not read Saving Molly: A Research Veterinarian’s Choices (1998), I wanted to read his second novel because, as we know, all of the newly integrated group of 9 were born at LEMSIP.

I am not here to pass judgement on Dr. Mahoney, or to stir any pot, but merely to share parts of the story that I found heavy on my heart after finishing his book. I believe knowledge is power and with more knowledge we can better understand and serve the chimps that call CSNW home.

In 1995, LEMSIP closed and was taken over by the Coulston Foundation of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Dr. Mahoney was made acting director during this time and the deal made between the two organizations included the transfer of 100 chimps from LEMSIP to the Coulston Foundation. When Dr. Mahoney and his colleagues received instructions to arrange transport for the babies from New York to New Mexico, Dr. Mahoney called the founder and director of Wildlife Waystation in California to ask if they could take the babies- in less than a week. The plan is laid out in the book, but the summation is that (under the cover of night) two trucks would arrive at LEMSIP. Maintenance crews and technicians would work together to ensure the safety of the cages during transport and load up the 32 juveniles from the nursery to the transport trucks for their cross-country road trip. He discussed the heartache for the laboratory technicians loading up the chimps, and writes:

“For Cynthia, the heartbreak of separation would be felt most strongly for Cy, her namesake, and Terry, the philosopher of the group, both 6 1/2 years old.” (pg. 209)

After a few set backs, the convoy of juvenile chimpanzees made it safely from New York to Wildlife Waystation- all without the knowledge of the Coulston Foundation and in less than a week since they began planning the move. Terry, Cy, and the other juveniles lived at Wildlife Waystation until it closed down. Willy B, Honey B, and Mave came to us in August of 2019. Cy, Terry, Gordo, Rayne, Dora, and Lucky followed and arrived in June of 2021.

The Coulston Foundation is well known for their infamous animal welfare violations, and I could write a novel about how I feel knowing that so many chimps ended up there. In 2006, though, the Coulston Foundation went bankrupt and the chimpanzees that remained were transferred to Save the Chimps, a sanctuary in Florida, over time. The last group was transferred to sanctuary in 2011.

I find myself grateful to know this part of the lives of everyone in Cy’s group, it feels like I have learned something important about some good friends. I find myself grateful that Dr. Mahoney risked it to save the juveniles and that they are able to live the sanctuary life. I find myself angry that they were there to begin with, that they never had the opportunity to live life the way they were meant to in Africa, and enraged that so many of their family members and peers went on to Coulston- but relieved to know that some have found sanctuary at Save the Chimps. It is overwhelming.

Nine of those juveniles that rode across the United States now call CSNW home. They have indoor/outdoor access, enrichment, yummy meals, veterinary care, and so much more. We can never repay them fully, but we can try.

The 16 chimps we care for are so much more than their pasts, but we have to understand what they’ve been through to better be there for them now.

Terry, now:

Cy, now:

BONUS PHOTO: Annie and Negra, enjoying the cool and rainy morning in their Greenhouse.