Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

troll dolls

Food and Friends

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Today was overcast but surprisingly warm. The chimps spent most of the morning on the hill. Missy was so happy!

missy playface log stump

 

I was watching Foxie and noticed that she did not have a troll doll with her. I thought, “that’s weird.” Then, I scanned the landscape and noticed that Jamie had a troll doll in her hand…

jamie with troll doll

 

Less than a minute later, Jamie had climbed down from the structure.

Jamie walking with troll doll in mouth

Foxie approached her, pant-grunting (a submissive behavior). Jamie immediately handed Foxie the troll doll.

troll exchange

 

Then, Foxie turned and Jamie followed her up the hill.

Jamie follow Foxie post troll exchange

This was the second troll doll exchange we’ve photographed in the last week (see Elizabeth’s post of the first exchange). Pretty fascinating!

 

For lunch, we decided spread out a forage of tomatoes, small peppers, Brussels sprouts on their stalks, lettuce and chow  all over the two-acres. Foraging for food is serious business, and it’s what free-living chimps spent a lot of their time doing in the forests.

It’s awesome to see a whole group together doing what comes naturally, like in this photo below of Burrito (bottom right), Foxie (carrying the green-haired troll on her back), Jody (to the left of Foxie), Annie (bipedal) and Missy (on the structure). In case you’re wondering, caregivers do get very good at identifying chimps from behind – each backside is unique too, after all.

troop of chimps on young's hill

 

Jamie was off on her own collecting Brussels sprouts and peppers.

bipedal Jamie

 

We scattered the food everywhere, including the top of the structures. Missy doesn’t need much motivation to climb.

missy climbing pole

 

Burrito’s motivation seemed to be to join Foxie

bipedal burrito

Burrito climbing

foxie burrito jody missy

 

Once he was up there, he took in the view. The black and orange in the background is the hill that burned during the Taylor Bridge Fire in August.

burrtio end of plank

burrito end of plank 2

 

 

Link to King 5 story from today

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Here is the link to the King 5 story that just aired: http://bit.ly/PyfMes

and here’s a photo of that sad relic from the fire:

burned troll doll

We are so grateful to the firefighters for all they did making sure everyone was safe and for all of our volunteers and supporters who have gotten us through the last few weeks in so many ways. I think the burned but still smiling troll doll will be a reminder of the fire for years to come.

Pile of Trolls Day

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Watch Foxie choose her daily trolls from a giant pile in the video below.

As the video mentions, you can send your troll dolls to Foxie at the sanctuary for her birthday and to be used in the Troll Olympics. In addition to troll and dora dolls, we are looking for bakers to bring vegan baked goods to sell at the bake sale that’s part of the Roslyn Doggie and Troll Olympics on July 22nd. Contact Diana: [email protected] if you want to bake or if you have any questions. More information about this fun event will be forthcoming!

 

Foxie’s expanding troll doll collection

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Foxie has received a lot of new troll dolls in the past few days. She’s also been even more playful than her baseline playfulness, which is off the charts. Coincidence?

She was sitting in the window ledge watching Connie and me set up the playroom after cleaning today, so I decided to set her troll dolls out so she could take a look before coming back in the room. Annie joined her for a moment and I saw Annie with one of the troll dolls in her nest tonight.

Please excuse all of the mooning in the photo below

Foxie and Annie in window, troll dolls on bench

photos of the day

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First, Lynn brought in some more trolls for Foxie’s birthday and the Troll Olympics. I have become quite familiar with the facial features of troll dolls these past three years, and I noticed one troll in Lynn’s batch whose ears were slightly different than those I had seen before. I realized she reminded me of one of the chimps…

Take a look at the photos below and tell me you think.

Troll doll with chimp ears?:

annie troll?

 

Annie, also with chimp ears:

annie head shot

I believe there’s a definite resemblance. What do you think?

Enough about troll dolls for the moment, here are some great photos that J.B. took yesterday:

Burrito eating cattails from the pond on the property:

Burrito eating cattails

 

Missy being cool:

Missy looking cool

 

Negra being Neggie:

Neggie

What’s for dinner?

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The crowd gathers as J.B. hands out dinner. (Jamie and Foxie. Note the troll torso in Foxie’s right hand.)

jb serves dinner to jamie and foxie

 

For Burrito, it doesn’t really matter what’s for dinner – he’s excited about all food.

burrito

burrito hand over mouth

 

Foxie’s not that keen on vegetables, but red peppers meet her approval.

foxie with troll and red pepper

 

Missy loaded up on the peppers. Good thing she has a big chimp mouth and opposable toes.

missy bell peppers

 

Sometimes the chimps get exotic vegetables the humans aren’t even familiar with, like Thai eggplant. (Jody)

jody thai eggplant

 

Potatoes and radishes round out the meal. (Missy)

missy eating radishes and potatoes

 

And of course dinner is not complete without a night bag. (Burrito and Missy)

burrito and missy with night bags

(Missy)

missy with night bag outside platform

 

We are fortunate to receive a lot of donated food from volunteers, supporters, Spud! in Seattle and Safeway in Cle Elum. Many thanks to all of you for keeping the chimps happy and healthy!