Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

seven

rule #1 – make your boss happy

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We talk a lot about how Jamie is the boss not only of the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees, but of the humans at the sanctuary too. People ask us what makes her the boss. I don’t know that I’ve ever explained it quite this way before, but I’d say a good 75% of the “why” behind Jamie’s leadership status is that she just knows she should be in charge. I don’t think there’s any question in her mind that she should have a privileged status among all of us.

This entitlement means that Jamie can be demanding. If she’s trying to get our attention in order for us to give her something, she’ll often stand in the loft of the playroom, look into the kitchen and stomp her feet or hit the caging. Today she did this after lunch. Volunteer caregiver Connie and I were the only humans in the building at the time. Connie did her best to try to figure out what Jamie wanted, bringing her out various favorite things like crayons, big container,s and a couple of pairs of boots.

But the boss was not satisfied.

So, we decided to get ALL of Jamie’s boots (even the extras that were in storage) and line them up outside of the front rooms. It’s something that I had tried over a year ago that worked (see that blog post), and we were out of options. I don’t know if this is exactly what Jamie wanted, but she was definitely pleased with our solution. She would point to certain boots and we would hold them up for her. Some of them she seemed to just want to look at, some she wanted to touch, and others she asked us to give her by standing near the chute with her hand in the position to grab a boot that we dropped in (you can see the rectangular hole and the wire mesh chute below in this photo).

boots on display

 

jamie face

Wood Art and Art on Wood

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We have some amazing art pieces made out of wood in the Biddin’ for the Seven online auction.

I have been waiting since October to share three pieces created by retired biologist and woodturner Keith Welsh. He donated them for the Out of the Box auction last fall, but we received them a bit too late to include, so I’ve been hanging on to them and admiring them ever since. I really can’t decide which one I like the most. What do you think?

Brown Mallee

Brown Mallee

Brown Mallee is an Australian burl wood. The dish is 8″ in diameter. Woodturning artist Keith Welsh’s intent is to highlight the nature of wood by taking fallen trees that would normally be burned or thrown away and turn them into art.

 

New Orleans Pride

New Orleans vase

New Orleans Pride shows the influence of the French in the culture of Louisiana represented by a fleur-de-lis – also the symbol of the New Orleans Saints. The painted and intricately carved wooden vase is 7″ tall and 3.75″ in diameter.

I have a big appreciation for New Orleans after spending some time in the area after Hurricane Katrina. I think it’s perfect that this piece was a collaborative effort by several artists lending their personal touches to make this vase delicate and strong at the same time.

 

Out of Africa

Out of Africa

The cheery wood used to make this sturdy 8.25″ tall and 5.5″ diameter wooden vase by Keith Welsh is almost mesmerizing. The animals depicted on the vase are the perfect compliment to the natural grain of the wood.

 

Handpainted Barstool 1

Handpainted barstool 1

Have I mentioned that we have some amazingly talented volunteers?! This 29″ saddle style wood barstool was hand painted by volunteer Stephanie Perciful.

Not only does Stephanie have a natural artistic gift, she has a gift of throwing some of the most squeak-inducing parties for the chimpanzees at the sanctuary. Burrito loves her for it. The fun bonus to this beautiful barstool is Stephanie included a hidden chimpanzee somewhere in the design. I can’t wait to see guests at Sippin’ for the Seven looking for the chimp! This is one of two barstools by Stephanie that will be available for bidding.

 

Nine Lives – A Child’s Rocking Chair

nine lives rocking chair

I love that artist Jana Clark entitled this 29″ child-size wooden rocking chair “Nine Lives.” Most of my most treasured possessions had multiple lives before ending up with me. Jana was able to bring this little rocking chair back to life while maintaining its storied past.

The artist Jana and her husband Bill are good friends with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest founder Keith LaChappelle and early financial supporters of Keith’s dream to create a home for rescued chimpanzees.

Even if you’re not able to attend Sippin’ for the Seven next Saturday to see all of the amazing art pieces in person, you can register for the online auction and bid til your heart’s content from March 24-26th. Good luck!

220 posts adopted on this significant day

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Exactly three years ago today, the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees left their laboratory lives behind and began the journey to the sanctuary.

And today we reached our 3rd anniversary fundraising goal – all 220 fence posts on Young’s Hill have been adopted. We have a LOT to celebrate!

The seven individuals we have cared for these past three years have changed and grown so much, and we’ve been so happy to be able to chronicle these transformations.

As amazed and in awe of the Cle Elum Seven as we are, we are equally amazed by the supporters of this organization.

We are all so grateful to you – the people who read the blog, connect with us on Facebook, send donations, attend events, volunteer, and write emails and letters on behalf of great apes.

There would be no Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest without you.

Here’s the first chimpanzee photo we posted on this blog, taken from this June 10, 2010 blog post.

Jody in her transport cage on the way to sanctuary:

Jody in transport cage in trailer 6-10-08

and here are just a few of my favorite photos of Jody over the last few years:

Jody in profile

jody holding feet

jody smelling rose

jody blue paper

jody with stuffed dog

jody sandbox eyes closed

jody after 4 months

jody logo

 

Foxie and Negra

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Foxie continues to change… on Saturday, J.B. and I saw her display for the first time! She pant-hooted and even banged on the plexiglass window the way that Burrito does when he displays outside. I thought I was seeing things for a moment. Foxie is gaining so much confidence and obviously feeling more comfortable – I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Below is a photo of Foxie outside shortly after her display, with Negra behind her draped in a blanket.

And here is Negra – a photo I recently found and edited. I wish I could put into words how special and beautiful Negra is, but with images like this, maybe I don’t need words.

Two months & a big announcement

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A few days ago we reached a milestone – the chimpanzees have been at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for two months. Decades in research, and now two months in sanctuary. So much has happened in that short time. We’ve learned so much about each of the chimpanzees, and they seem to be changing every day. Jamie has stopped plucking her hair, Foxie now handles enrichment and has displayed rudimentary nesting behavior, Burrito has been working on some really great displays in his expanded space, Jody’s hair is growing back in and she’s developing some muscle, Missy is playing all of the time, Annie is coming into ‘her own’ and standing up for herself, and Negra is enamored with the views out of the windows.

And now the big announcement – the chimpanzees will be in their outdoor area on August 26th!! I can’t wait to share photos and experiences of the chimps touching ground for the first time. Thank you all for you support – you’ve helped make all of this possible!

Being a caregiver

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I started to write the post below a few months ago. I didn’t finish it because I thought it might be too much of a downer, but I think it speaks to the question of whether we would allow babies to be born at the sanctuary. To be clear – there is no way we would intentionally bring another chimpanzee into a life of captivity. I have no doubt that some of the chimpanzees at CSNW would love to have a baby to nuture, and it could bring new energy and focus to the group, but the cost is too high. Chimpanzees belong living free in the wild.

It is not possible for the Cle Elum Seven to have the life of free-living chimpanzees for a variety of reasons, the main one being that they would not know how to survive – they were not brought up by other chimpanzees and taught the necessary skills to be a ‘free’ individual. What we can do, with the help of all of you, is do the best we can to provide for them for the rest of their lives in a sanctuary. Thanks to all of you who are doing this and for asking great questions!

Here’s the post I began in April before moving back to Washington to work at CSNW:

It won’t be long before I am in Cle Elum and I will be returning to caring for chimpanzees on a daily basis. After being away from that work for a few years, and spending some time with the Buckshire Seven, I’ve been reflecting about all of the good and bad that comes with caring for chimpanzees in captivity. Sometimes it is really difficult – not just the heartbreak when a chimpanzee dies, or the worry that comes when watching chimpanzees fight with one another, or the concern that arises when a chimpanzee behavior changes – it’s the daily knowledge that neither you nor the chimpanzees should be in that position. When I was at Fauna there were definitely days when I felt much more like a prison guard than a caregiver. And it wasn’t just because there were chimpanzees throwing things at me (a favorite past time of Binky) and spitting to get my attention (or just to get me wet), it was the understanding that chimpanzees simply don’t belong in captivity, but we have no choice but to keep them behind bars, penned by electric fencing, or surrounded by moats for the rest of their lives.