Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Missy had such an amazing birthday party yesterday! Because we had so much to cover for her party we weren’t able to share what happen over on Dora’s side of the building! They also had a lunch forage to celebrate Missy. Please enjoy the video and photos from yesterday!
Willy B with an arm full and a mouth full of chow:
Rayne in all her pepper glory:
A very distinguished Mave:
Mave swooping in to grab tomatoes:
Gordo with a mouth full of what we think is chow:
Sweet Dora:
Today, caregiver Anthony took off additional panels to the Greenhouse for Jamie’s group. In addition to more air-flow through the Greenhouse (which is why Anthony did this), this allows Jamie’s group a new angle to sneak a peak at Cy’s group (which is always very exciting).
As you can see, chimpanzees don’t spy very discretely.
Burrito:
Can you spot Foxie?
The seven typically like to spy on their neighbors through the Playroom 1 windows. The Playroom 1 windows give them a decent view of the Oakwood Greenhouse as well as one of the Playrooms for Cy’s group. Can you spot Burrito? He likes to set up a barrel for himself so he has seating.
I think his arm propped up on the window sill is a nice touch.
Don’t worry, Cy’s group was pretty unbothered by their nosy neighbors.
Rayne relaxing in the cool front rooms:
In our recent call out for questions or ideas for the blog, some wondered if the chimps still pay attention to the “howdy door”.
All the time!
For those unfamiliar with the “howdy door”, you can watch a video about the door here. It is a door that separates the two sides of our building and our two chimpanzee groups. Any time there is drama on one side of the building, it is nearly a guarantee that at least one chimp will try to see if they can get a peak of the action through small cracks in the “howdy door”. It is also not uncommon for the chimps to target the “howdy door” during their displays.
Willy B and “Howdy Door”:
In the mornings, especially with two groups of chimps, it’s either calm and playful or a little chaotic and loud, it’s rarely in between. However, this morning the chimps on both sides chose calm and playful. I hope you enjoy this nice long video!
Today is also wish list Wednesday. Donating on our Amazon wish list is really great way to support the chimps and staff!
The days have been getting hotter out here in Cle Elum and we have been working to provide the chimps with enrichment to help them stay cool. In Sofia’s Ask Us Anything blog last week, she talked about how we gave them pools of diluted Gatorade as temps were close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We were able to snag some fun reaction videos from Cy’s group and I wanted to share them with you today! Enjoy, stay cool, and happy summer!
Rayne and Gordo:
Terry with one of the roses we put in the pools:
Today was very busy in the chimp house, but I thought we could play a game! Can you guess these lips?
Only one rule: don’t scroll down too quickly or the answer will reveal itself!
One hint: he is a handsome devil!
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer! ⬇️
It’s Willy B!
Are you superstitions? New World Encyclopedia says: “The earliest superstitions were created as a way to deal with the ignorance and fear of the unknown. Chance misfortunes could be ascribed a cause, and the potential to avoid or control them was created. Superstitions are thus a way of attempting to regain control over events, particularly when one feels helpless.”
I wouldn’t say we are superstitious at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, but we are careful about saying how successful the integration is going. I guess you could say we don’t want to jinx anything. Anna pointed out a quote from Michael Scott on The Office that describes us best in our current situation: “I’m not super stitious, but I am a little stitious.” Recently, I find myself knocking on wood if I say the 9 are doing well, just in case something goes wrong. Which is why a recurring phrase you have/will hear from us for a long time is: We are cautiously optimistic! We don’t know what the future holds for these 9 chimpanzees, but for now things are looking up and we are just a little stitious.
I wanted to capture some photos of the 9 grooming and playing, but they were all doing those things in hard to reach places. However, I was able to capture a few individual photos today!
Dora peacefully napping:
Lucky:
And Willy B admiring his own reflecting:
Today is also Wish List Wednesday!! We recently just updated the wish list!
Today is all about the simple pleasures in life. I learned a lot about my caregiver coworkers when I briefly interviewed them for their simple pleasures. Kelsi told me that her simple pleasures include sitting by the ocean, listening to Jody make dinosaur noises when she is very excited about food, and a nice quiet walk around the hill with Jamie. When I asked Katelyn she responded that hers is being out in the woods alone. JB’s simple pleasure is walking their dogs Abby and Benny, and Diana’s simple pleasure is tending to her growing collection of houseplants. Anthony’s simple pleasures are iced coffee and going on road trips. Grace mentioned hers were reading a good book in silence and having a good margarita…also in silence. Raise your hand if you just added these last two to your own list! When I asked Chad for his simple pleasures he responded saying his were the sound of rain, Rayne, and Burrito, of course. Some of mine are fresh clean sheets, and going to sleep listening to the calls of the Puerto Rican native coquí frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) back home or through a playlist.
Gordo has a few simple pleasures we have all noticed since his arrival. Some of these are hanging out in the green houses, sitting in boxes, eating all kinds of produce, and the love of his life: Mave.
Terry likes staring at caregivers boots, laying and grooming with Mave, having the “bros” all back together and kissing the back of his caregivers hands.
Mave’s simple pleasure is hanging out with Dora and happily over-grooming everyone.
Rayne’s simple pleasures are drinking her delicious morning smoothies and nesting high up in the leaf structures of the play rooms. Here she is grooming herself in the platform of Oakwood green house.
Willy B’s simple pleasure is nesting with his leopard blanket, food, and watching videos on cellphones.
Comment your simple pleasures in life below!!!
