Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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The Queen Has Spoken

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Initially, I had today’s blog all planned out in my head. I was going to write about food peering, a behavior where a chimpanzee stares intensely at the food another is eating in hopes of that individual sending some their way. I was inspired to write about such topic based on this photo I got yesterday of Willy B food peering at Honey B for her coconut.

However, as I went to take some photos during lunch service, Negra had other plans for her subject. During lunch, Negra had me stand at the corner and rub her back during the whole lunch service plus some. And to clarify, by “rubbing her back” I mean with one of our approved safe physical contact methods called Knuckle Rub.

That coupled with a biweekly staff meeting, I was not able to have enough time to write out a lengthy blog or get photos of some food peering. The Queen has spoken and I, her dutiful servant, must oblige.

Here are the very few photos I was able to get today:

Foxie and Negra giving each other a kiss during dinner

Cy watching Willy B, Rayne, Terry, Gordo, and Lucky out on the Bray

Both Rayne and Gordo were able to find some coconut husks leftover from yesterday’s celebration

And a photo of the thunderstorm that was rolling in, though it quickly dissipated

Lastly, we added a whole bunch of things to our Wish List ranging from masks for caregivers to keep the chimpanzees safe from human pathogens, two-way radios for staff and volunteers who work in the Chimp House, and new enrichment items for our residents! If you are able and willing to, please take a look at the items needed to help maintain our quality care of these magnificent beings. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Priorities

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The rain pounds the metal roof above in a deafening roar. Bolts of lightning streak across an ominous sky. Thunder cracks just overhead, shaking the building to its very foundation. This could be how it all ends.

Mmmmm, but this night bag…

Mave’s certainly got her priorities straight. There’s some interesting research dating back to the ’70s showing that primates often overreact to perceived dangers when they are young, and only with the help of those around them do they learn to narrow their alarm calls to specific threats such as predators. Perhaps Mave never got that lesson, as she is the only chimp at CSNW that reacts in such a sustained and exaggerated fashion to thunder. But I can’t blame her. Fortunately for Mave (and our poor dogs), thunderstorms are relatively uncommon here in Central Washington.

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:

Rainy Memories

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You have probably heard about, or maybe you are experiencing, the dramatic storm that is hitting the Pacific Northwest today.

The majestic Cascade Mountain Range protects Cle Elum from a lot of the wetter weather that our friends to the west in the Seattle area receive, and we are certainly not getting the extreme rain and wind that is expected closer to the coast. Nevertheless, it rained ALL day today, and it’s still coming down.

This is what the chimpanzees were up to today (similar to many of you, I suspect):

 

Jamie watching the rain from the greenhouse:

Jamie looking out of greenhouse

Don’t worry – Jamie managed to get a walk in before it really started to come down.

 

Annie nesting in the front rooms:

Annie in nest

 

Yesterday, Margaret, a friend and supporter who has known the chimpanzees since their arrival, reminded me of the first time the chimpanzees experienced a real rainstorm at the sanctuary. Margaret was volunteering that day. It was almost exactly eight years ago.

I wrote about the chimpanzees’ experience and posted photos in the blog post Rainstorm Bravery. This was three years before Young’s Hill was complete and before the greenhouse panels were on, so the rain came down right into what is now the greenhouse.

Imagine your very first experience being able to go out into a rainstorm (or just watch from the safety and comfort of your bed). Though they were in their 20s and 30s, everything in their sanctuary life was just so new to the chimpanzees.

Today, the rain doesn’t faze them too much, but when we get thunderstorms or other out-of-the-ordinary weather, they do still react. One of my favorite experiences at the chimp house was watching Burrito do a “rain dance” in 2013.

In honor of the power of weather, the connection that we have to our environment, and the inner chimpanzee in all of  us, I’ve reposted the video below.

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm as you wait out the storm.


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Winter Beauty

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We’ve had our first real snowstorm this week. Here are some scenery shots:

The bench outside of the greenhouse, used for observing the chimpanzees during summer months when the greenhouse panels are removed:

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Negra’s cabin (the triangular structure) and the bamboo and climbing structures in the background:

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The lexan-enclosed human area of the greenhouse:

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The snow falls off the roof of the greenhouse and creates snow banks that require frequent shoveling:

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This is what I saw Missy doing most of the day:

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For a quick video of Jamie’s snow-eating technique, take a look at our instagram account (@ChimpSanctuary)

 

First snow

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It’s been a pretty mild fall / beginning of winter, and we finally got our first snowfall at the sanctuary overnight. It was just a dusting, but Missy was VERY eager to get outside for a taste.

Missy's hand reach for snow

Missy eating snow

Jamie also went out quickly to get a snack.

Jamie's hands reaching for snow

Jamie with handfuls of snow

We were wondering if the colder weather might slow down Jamie’s desire to walk around the hill. The answer is no. So far four walks and counting. She did wait until the snow melted, though. Missy joined Jamie on one of her walks. She gave us a big head start then ran full-speed up the hill. You can see a photo on her Facebook page.

 

Speaking of Facebook, a few weeks ago we asked on our Facebook page how fans became interested in chimpanzees. The answers were really interesting. One person recalled the video of the chimpanzees at CSNW first experiencing a big snowstorm, which was shared on a couple of news stations.

The video, which is now almost five years old, is posted below. That was before we put the panels on the greenhouse, so really before they had a greenhouse, and long before they had the 2-acre Young’s Hill. The chimps are leaning out of front room #4 into what we called the outdoor area then. Listen to those happy food squeaks and watch the prehensile lips in action!