Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Sanctuary

Happy Birthday, Lynn Williamson

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A very big happy birthday to chimp house volunteer Lynn Williamson. This is super sponsor-a-day! Donations came in Lynn’s name from good friend Diane Thompson AND from Eric & Sheila, Pam & Steve, Mel & Dawn and Cathy & Brad. Are you feeling the love?

Maybe a couple of photos will add to that feeling.

This photo goes way back. It always makes me smile because it contains three things I love: chimpanzees enthusiastically playing, Foxie with a giant playface, and Missy bipedal. Seems good for a birthday wish:

Foxie and Missy play

and here’s Burrito, who just celebrated his birthday a few days ago:

B with bread

Jamie’s intense love of boots

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As a fitting tribute to Kathy Cochran’s birthday, I used the beautiful telephoto lens she gave us way back when with the new camera that the board of directors recently purchased for us. It’s so great to have high quality equipment to capture moments at the sanctuary and share them. Perhaps one of these photos will be in the book Sanctuary: Year Three.

Jamie’s love of boots…

Jamie boot intense 1

Jamie boot intense 2

Jamie boot intense 3

YOUR favorite blog posts

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The staff has shared some of their favorite blog posts of the last 2.5 years.

Now here is the compiled list of readers’ favorites:

Let it snow 12/13/2008 – the chimps’ first snow storm. The video was shared on King5 TV in Seattle and brought in some terrific supporters who remain today

Success 8/26/2008 – our announcement that the chimps were outside for the first time

A new doll for Foxie 10/27/2010 – quoting Elizabeth (even though she specifically says not to in the post), this video shows Foxie’s “ritualistic adoration behavior” with her troll dolls

Cowgirl Jamie 9/20/2010 – when Jamie managed to get her opposable toe into an extra-wide boot

Jamie keeps us guessing and Foxie keeps growing 9/22/2008 – video of Jamie going through a purse and using each thing she finds, including a nail file

The thinker… 12/26/2010 – a recent photo of Jamie in the hand chair, examining her hand

Jamie’s boots 11/4/2010 – Jamie enjoying some new boots and looking through a boot catalog

Easter Party 4/12/2009 and And the party continues 4/13/2009 – video and a photo of Burrito and his coconut

Foxie and the giant troll 10/4/2009 – Foxie being a mom to a big troll doll

Tutu retrospective 10/9/2009 – Jamie during her tutu phase (don’t forget to read Chimpanzees wearing clothes about our decision to share photos of the chimps when they choose to wear clothing).

Mail call 10/7/2009 – Jamie opening up the returned auction invites

Playful bunch of chimps 5/14/2010 – a staff favorite too – Negra really wins people over

Old ladies playing 7/3/2008 – another staff favorite  with Negra being playful

Young’s Hill and Out of the Box 8/19/2010 – video announcing Young’s Hill, our 2-acre expansion project

Way, way Out of the Box 10/3/2010 – letting everyone know about the success of the Out of the Box auction!

Foxie and her adorable toes 2/13/2010 – Foxie expressing herself with her toes

Nest grunts 10/11/2010 – video/audio of the chimpanzees saying goodnight

Conflict 7/27/2009 – photos and description of the chimpanzees having a disagreement, it explains chimpanzee social dynamics and fear facial expressions a bit

And the list below is from one person – Julie Harding, who went back just one year and selected these favorites (those that were duplicated above weren’t included in the list):

Laughter 10/20/2009 – Foxie and Jamie wrestling and laughing

Smiling 10/29/2009 – an explanation of the difference between human and chimp smiles

Negra’s son Noah 1/14/2010 – a photo of Noah who lives at Save the chimps & who Jennifer and James Douglas sponsored his migration from New Mexico to Florida

Mother’s Day party 5/9/2010 – photos of the party, the volunteers (including Julie and her daughter Sarah) and the great party food

Chimpanzees still in labs 5/13/2010 – information about the Great Ape Protection Act

Foxie’s new baby 5/20/2010 – Foxie and a baby doll (not a troll doll!) – a gift from Tamela

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby! 5/27/10 – the garden and landscaping, thanks to Dakotta of Sustainable Landscaping, Cloudview Ecofarms, and Jackie, J.B. & Denice

Burrtio and Sarah Play 6/4/2010 – a happy Mr. B playing with Sarah

Jamie Then and Now 6/8/2010 – photos contrasting Jamie’s appearance the day she arrived at the sanctuary with two years later

Negra Moments 6/13/2010 – caregivers’ favorite Negra moments or favorite aspects of her personality

Bounty of Trolls 7/6/10 – photos of Foxie with a ridiculous number of troll dolls

Senator Cantwell introduces GAPA companion bill 8/3/2010 – good news and links for more info about the bill

How to Nest by Jody and Missy 8/17/2010 – a photo montage of Jody and Missy nesting (this was one of my favorite posts to write)

Grooming 8/31/2010 – photos of Annie and Missy grooming and explanation of chimpanzee grooming

Today in Memory of Marilyn Goodrich 9/12/2010 – photo of hands and feet

It’s harvest time! 9/21/2010 – the garden’s goodness

HALLOWEEN 10/31/2010

Negra’s daughter Heidi 11/19/10 – a photo of Heidi, Negra’s daughter, who is at the Alamogordo Primate Facility

Thanks for sharing, everyone!

Play with me

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This morning Jamie seemed to be feeling a little ignored. She displayed a couple of times, probably in an attempt to draw some attention to herself, but volunteer Denice and I were busy cleaning the front rooms, and the other chimpanzees didn’t seem too impressed. She eventually convinced Foxie to play with her by “stealing” one of her trolls. Once she had Foxie’s undivided attention, she proceeded to drag her around the playroom by her feet.

1,000 Blog Posts

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This is post #1,000 on our blog!

All of the caregivers, like many of you, are completely addicted to the blog. We look forward to finding out what has happened in the chimp house on the days when we’re not there and we often watch videos over and over (and over). Even though we see the chimps in person pretty often, we still learn new things from posts by other staff members. And we LOVE sharing the amazing Cle Elum Seven with you.

I asked the staff caregivers to pick their own favorite blog posts. It was a serious challenge, but here are the staff favorites, with the caveat that these are the posts that jumped to mind. Each time I’m reminded of a past post, invariable I think, “oh, yeah – THAT’s my favorite!”

Next, I’ll compile all of YOUR favorite posts. Let me know your favorite if you haven’t already by just commenting on this post.

J.B. (Director of Operations) Favorite Posts:

Old ladies playing 7/3/2008
I think this was the first time we saw Negra play at the sanctuary. It makes me happy to see her so happy.

Missy and the Kong toy 8/28/2010
Because Missy cracks me up.

Jackie (Development Coordinator) Favorite Posts:

Playful bunch of chimps 5/14/2010
This was on a day that I was here alone and Negra started playing tug of war and letting me tickle her back while she head nodded– it was so special and I had no one to share it with.  Then J.B. came by and I was able to film him playing with her for the first time.  Very special day.

Oh Neggie 5/21/2010
A week later and it was filmed outside, so it may be a better video.

Through the Looking Glass 11/29/09
It was right after we had given them the glass window and maybe the first time they figured out they could play with us through there (or at least the first time on the blog) and all the different things we could do through it.

Elizabeth (Volunteer Coordinator) Favorite Posts:

Great way to start the day 9/25/10
I love this video because what J.B. said is true.  No matter how tired I am in the morning or how much trouble I had getting out of bed, it’s guaranteed that as soon as the door is opened, one of the chimps will make me smile.  I love all of the milestone videos/blog posts as well, of course, but this one is true to my everyday experience as a caregiver

Me – Diana (Director of Outreach) Favorite Posts:

For all you Negra fans 3/20/2010
I am motivated to do a lot of my work just thinking about Negra – what she’s been through and the new life that we are able to provide her with now (like the greenhouse). Knowing that she has other fans out there makes me so happy.  I also just love that Missy can bring out the silly in people. The way she stuck her feet out to be bitten by Negra is such a classic Missy move. The last photo of Negra 100% relaxed is one of my favorites.

The Party Police 9/24/2010
This video cracks me up every time I watch it, and I’ve watched it many times. Missy and Foxie’s reaction to Jamie makes me laugh just to think about it – I don’t even have to be watching the video. I love that everything is going on without the chimps taking note that they’re being filmed too.

Exciting Foxie stories 6/17/2009
I don’t generally believe in the supernatural, but that day was magical. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Sarah (Executive Director) Favorite Posts:

Negra thanks you 1/8/2010
I love the before and after posts – makes me so proud to be a part of the team helping them recover.

Full of beans 12/31/2010
Jody running!

In memory of Sadie

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Today is a sponsor-a-day in memory of Sadie from Cindy, Fred and Barney. Cindy is a volunteer at the sanctuary and here is what she shared:

Sadie, a sweet and beautiful Great Pyrenees cross, was born with the new millennium. We were told she lived most of her first year in a crate. We adopted her from PAWS when she was about a year old  and she spent her next 10 years with her best friend Barney barking and romping on 2 acres. He watched over  her when she collapsed under a favorite tree a few weeks ago. Sadie didn’t suffer and was with her family at the end. This day is in loving memory of Sadie and her 2 acres – and looking forward to this coming year and the chimps on their 2 acres.

And here’s a photo of that two acres for the chimps. This was taken by volunteer Denice the day that her husband Ken came out with his tractor to help J.B. plant bamboo and run irrigation up to the plants:

ken planting bamboo