Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

snow

After the Storm

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The days after a snowstorm (or series of snowstorms) are so wonderful, aren’t they? It’s like reawakening to a changed world.

J.B., with the help of volunteer Jonathan, made some pathways in the snow for the chimpanzees today. The chimps watched the work being done for them from the greenhouse. When everything was ready for them, they went outside to stretch their legs a bit, take in the landscape, and get some snow to snack on.

Burrito following Annie:

Jody:

Jody and Missy:

Foxie:

You may have already guessed that Negra wasn’t with the first expedition of the morning, but instead stayed inside until afternoon:

Jamie, meanwhile, was preoccupied with a couple of magazines. In fact, she’s more preoccupied with photos of boots than with boots themselves lately.

She did take the time to go outside to grab a big chuck of snow after lunch before returning to a magazine:

Snowpocalypse 2019

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As the state of Washington braces for more snow, the chimpanzees spent the day thoroughly enjoying the first day of Snowpocalypse / Snowmageddon / Snowzilla WA 2019.

We really just got a few inches here, which is pretty normal this time of year. Anna did do a pretty good job of hyping the drama of the storm with her snow and ice sculpture for the chimps:

Missy did her best to carefully remove an icicle so she could abscond with it to the loft:

Jody decided to eat hers in situ:

Foxie kept a close eye on the snow as she consumed it (as is her way):

Jamie received a bonus treat today! After reading Anna’s post from the other day, donors must have immediately started gathering things to send, because we have already received some special Jamie enrichment.

We thought Snowmaggedon was a good time to give Jamie a donated folio full of interesting things.

She carefully pulled out and sorted through each item. When she came across a piece of paper that had photos of boots, she put it aside. After closely examining each card and envelope, she picked up the paper with the boot photos and went upstairs with some leftover lunch for some private Jamie-time. This chimpanzee knows what she likes:

Fog breaks

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Waves of dense fog rolled across the sanctuary all morning.

We’d set out for walks when the fog would break but another wave would quickly overtake us. Jody was not a fan.

Missy wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

When the fog lifted it felt almost like spring. Even Negra came out to bask in the warm sun.

By afternoon the fog was gone and the sun was out to stay. Annie quickly went to work gathering snacks. She has taken a real liking to eating raspberry plants – not the raspberries, mind you, but the plants themselves. Because the ones we transplanted last fall have yet to fully root, she is easily able to take them to go.

When you catch Missy standing still, it’s tempting to think that she might be taking in the scenery or sitting for a moment in quiet contemplation. But no. She is just making sure that everyone is watching when she blasts down the hill at full bore.

Sometimes when I am walking around the hill with the chimps, it feels like someone is watching me. And asking for grain.

This morning there were still patches of snow lingering in shadowy sections of the hill. As the day wore on, they were getting harder and harder to find. By late morning, the only source remaining was at the very top of the hill. Either Annie was the only one who knew this secret or she was the only one willing to hike all that way.

Fleeting Moments

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This morning the sanctuary was encased in a thin layer of delicate ice.

Here’s Annie taking in the scenery:

Each tiny twig and blade of grass seemed to have suddenly discovered an independence, briefly standing on it’s own, separated from the whole:

It was clear this was going to be a very temporary state – a moment that vanished so quickly the shutter of the camera was scarcely fast enough to capture it.

The air turned warmer and the icicles began to disappear one drop at a time. As I walked around the perimeter of the chimpanzees’ outdoor habitat, I could hear cracking all around me as the trees shrugged off their icy coats.

After taking in the scene, Annie quickly decided to partake in the moment before it was gone.

Soon the sun stood boldly in its place in the sky and transformed the landscape.

Still, in the places that stubbornly hid from the sun, the ice-covered snow remained.

Missy realized that she didn’t need to venture outside herself, she could instead request that I gather handfuls of the delicacy for her.

A lesson for us all, as another year comes to end (a lesson that I’m in need of remembering): appreciate what the day has to offer and enjoy the fleeting moments before they disappear.

Speaking of fleeting moments – we are just days away from December 31st and the end of the huge year-end matching challenge! I don’t know if you’ve looked recently – we are now less than $40,000 away from reaching the goal.

I honestly am not sure what is going to happen. Can we actually reach that lofty goal?! This is where I turn towards you all and ask that question!

Tis the Season

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One frequently asked question we’re asked, well, frequently, is how the chimpanzees cope with snow. Snow is not a part of wild chimpanzees’ environment, to be clear.

However, save for maybe a few months as infants for Negra, Annie, and perhaps Jody, the seven chimpanzees here know nothing about the life and environment of wild chimpanzees. They grew up, for the most part, indoors. And for the last decade (at least) before coming to the sanctuary, they didn’t even have a window to look out.

So, to answer the question about how they cope with snow, I’d say they’ve adapted very well! As a rule, chimpanzees generally don’t like to get their feet wet. However, if the snow is not deep, the chimpanzees at CSNW go right outside, explore, and often collect some of the wintry treat to enjoy back in the greenhouse.

The visual of chimpanzees in snow is still sometimes strange; but they are, after all, honorary citizens of Cle Elum: Heart of the Cascades.

After ten years, a trek in the snow is probably just as normal as walking through the tall pasture grass and planted bamboo in the spring and summer.

And they look darn good against a backdrop of white.

Burrito

 

Annie & Burrito

 

Jody

Speaking of snow season, thank you to everyone who has donated so far in our year-end fundraising! I’ll have some more updates about that soon. I’ve been overwhelmed by all of the generosity from so many people. It really does a heart good to have the support of inspiring, amazing, and caring folks who are rooting for the Bring Them Home Expansion to continue as quickly as possible so we can provide a home for more chimpanzees!

Did you know that artist and friend of the chimpanzees Maragaret H. Parkinson has a special offer of a painting to a lucky person who donates $1,000?! Check out the original 12×12″ oil painting “Rainbow Ele” ©️ 2018 below and get in touch ([email protected]) if you would like to take advantage of this truly amazing gift!