Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

young's hill

Golden days of summer

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Even with recent thunderstorms (thankfully full of rain) and cooler temperatures again, we’re officially into the dry, golden days of summer. Everything and everyone is shimmering in the summer sunlight.

Burrito exploring Young’s Hill this morning:

Stopping to finish off his chow from breakfast:

Annie still modeling the height of summer fashion:

Each spring we’re so fortunate to see at least a couple pair of fawns grow up on the property. This tiny being is full of sass and was stomping a warning when she saw Jamie sitting at the gate to Young’s Hill:

There is a Ponderosa pine that seems particularly favored by our avian neighbors and it’s been a training ground of sorts to many bird families. Parents bring their fledglings here to learn to hunt for their own food in between continuing to beg their parents to feed them. I was so excited to see the white-headed woodpeckers have a family and along with the nuthatch family the tree is a cacophony of bird chatter throughout the day.

The cattle continue to enjoy their summer pasture and with all the exercise they’ve been getting traipsing between pastures they definitely have their swimsuit bodies. 😉 Nutmeg smooching his mama, Betsy. It’s so special to watch the incredibly close bond shared between cow mamas and their children. Even when the children reach adulthood, their bond remains lifelong. And it’s even more endearing when those adult children are twice as big as their mothers:

Beautiful Meredith. (Meredith’s mother, Honey, declined having her photo taken today, but she occasionally poked her head around from behind Meredith):

Missy in a blur, speeding through the grass. Summer’s going to good use here at the sanctuary. We hope it’s equally so for you, wherever you may be (or a warm and cozy winter, as the case may be):

The Oversight Committee

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As if unanimously appointed, the chimpanzees have taken on the responsibility of supervising the ongoing expansion.

As the interior of the new wing nears completion, Gary and the team are making quick progress on the exterior renovation. The keystone of this project is an immense archway tunnel that will soon allow chimps to move freely between the expansion’s indoor areas and the existing outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill.

Just last week, pieces of the new tunnel were brought to the sanctuary, assembled, and set in place. Today, the crew began the extension of Young’s Hill that will align the end of the tunnel with the outdoor enclosure’s primary fence.

The chimpanzee residents are not visibly distressed by all of the commotion. In fact, they seem to be intrigued by the people operating heavy machinery right in their backyard. Diana took these photographs as the chimps used the high ground provided by Young’s Hill to keep watch over the crew.

Foxie
Missy (foreground) and Foxie (background)
Jamie
Foxie
Annie (left) and Foxie (right)
Annie (left) and Foxie (right)

Back in the Chimp House, the only drama seemed to be entirely unrelated to the construction. It revolved around onions.

Onions and Green Beans

While serving lunch, I dropped some onion petals and green beans outside of the caging of the Greenhouse (above). Any items dropped in this area are usually claimed by Jamie and she makes an effort to pull them within reach using whatever tool is at her disposal. Apparently, someone else made an attempt to retrieve some onion scraps and Jamie threw a tantrum, causing a fiasco in the Greenhouse that spilled over into the Playroom. Eventually, everyone else gave up and Jamie triumphantly ate her onions in the front rooms  (below).

Jamie then spent the rest of the afternoon watching all the humans dig holes, clean enrichment, chop produce and fold laundry. Although she supervised from afar, her plans consisted of nesting with boots, foraging for more leftover onions, and flipping through books about shoes.

 

Dining Out

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It’s almost like summer officially arrived today. The sun felt stronger this morning, and the grass on the hill looked considerably more golden than it did they day before. On this side of the Cascades, the Northwest is drying out. Although we have blue skies and warm weather ahead, we also have to contend with an arid and dusty landscape until the snows arrive later this year. It will be a sad day when the last raspberry is picked and the chimps will have to wait until next summer for more.

The chimpanzees are dealing with the annual desiccation of Young’s Hill in their own way. Today’s lunch of nuts and veggies was spread across the habitat, motivating them to spill out of the Greenhouse and forage. The prairie grass was extra crispy underfoot, causing the chimps to tread carefully while wading through in search of food.

Negra:

Burrito:

Jody:

Jamie:

After collecting handfuls of produce, the chimps all climbed onto the habitat’s various wooden structures. From there, they could eat their meal in the warm sunshine while sitting far above the prickly grass below.

Foxie:

Negra:

The meal ended the way that all great meals end; the chimps put their feet up and took a well-deserved siesta.

Burrito:

Even this dismembered troll doll dozed off.

Only one chimpanzee returned to the outdoors to enjoy some alone time in the shade…

…and I soon identified her as Foxie, enjoying a moment of solitude in the warm summer breeze.

Today is for Kevin Clark

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Long-time friend of the sanctuary, Shelley Winfrey, sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees today in memory of Kevin Clark:

“For my brother, who passed away…he would have loved the chimps!”

Shelley, thank you so much for the lasting difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives in honor of your brother, Kevin. We’re always touched to share in this special day with you. All of us are sending all the good thoughts for a day of comfort and joy as you think of Kevin.

Good friends, Foxie and Burrito:

Keeping Watch

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The weather has been unusual this summer. As Katelyn noted yesterday, the temperatures have been cool and the skies have been misty at times. Today is a better example of a typical July day in central Washington- dry, sunny, and warm- and the sanctuary residents are making the most of it. The chimps enjoyed their breakfast while basking in the sunlight on the upper decking of the Greenhouse. The meal included some generously donated green apples and was lovingly served by Level III volunteer Miranda (below).

Afterwards, the chimps seemed to be sufficiently full of fruit and chow and appeared to be extremely content as they slipped into mid-morning naps in various corners of the Greenhouse. Neggie, per usual, settled in a ring of blankets on the upper deck (below), and even Jamie seemed to doze off between bouts of monitoring the caregivers through the playroom window.

Annie sprawled out on the lower decking, tucked her feet in, and inspected the writing on the underside of a toy (below).

Per usual, Missy stationed herself next to Annie and used the opportunity to give herself a quick groom (below). All was quiet in the Greenhouse.

Even when they’re resting and recharging, however, the chimpanzees don’t miss any of the events unraveling around them. Each part of the facility offers a unique view of the surrounding valley, enabling the chimps to be the sentinels of their own territory. Everything the light touches is theirs, and everything that occurs within sight is their business. This morning, that included the team of laborers constructing a new access road that will soon flank the sanctuary to the East (below).

As soon as they started working, Missy took notice (below). Then Annie sat upright and began to follow along. Soon, everyone was spilling out of the raceway onto Young’s Hill to check out the action.

Jamie led the way up the hill, pausing at regular intervals to watch the distant excavation. I could only imagine what she was thinking, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if she was analyzing the grade of the switchbacks or making sure the workers were wearing the proper protective equipment. She’s always supervising.

Foxie and her tiny troll doll traveled in the vanguard, providing Jamie with support and monitoring the situation (below). Missy, Annie, Jody and Burrito all followed close behind. (Neggie “kept watch” over her nest in the Greenhouse.)

Even with all of the planned activities and provisioned objects that the staff and volunteers provide, unexpected events can be the best source of enrichment for the chimps. Both free-ranging and captive chimpanzees engage in regular boundary patrols to survey the landscape and monitor neighboring communities, so unexpected changes can make things interesting. With all of the new developments in their vicinity, the chimps have a lot to keep tabs on as summer progresses and they seem to welcome the responsibility.

Summer things

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Summertime mornings on Young’s Hill:

Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake…

…joined by Burrito

Jody patrolling the hill…

Missy, being her cool self…

…until bestie, Annie, shows up for a game of wrestle and chase on the high beam…

In other news, the chimps have bellies full of berries today (see Anna’s post from yesterday). But that’s what summertime is about, right? Jamie tossed me a bowl today and politely “requested” that I immediately fill it up with raspberries and currants for everyone. Well, for her really. I just gave her her own bowl and made sure the others had some as well. And we humans may have snuck a few ourselves, but do not tell the boss lady.

And thanks to the generosity of one of our lovely supporters (thank you!!), I received a new pair of muck boots today and naturally, they did not for one second go unnoticed by Jamie. She was smitten by the brand-new-shininess of them and gave a head nod of approval at the green kelp design on the lining. Though they’re a fantastic Salmon Sisters design for XTRATUF, Jamie and I both agreed they should henceforth be referred to as the Chimp Sisters boots. Well, probably if you asked Jamie she would just say HER boots. 😉

For Ned and Noreen

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Joan O’Flaherty graciously sponsors this day each year in loving memory of her parents, Ned and Noreen O’Flaherty:

“This is my parents’ wedding anniversary. They loved animals and supported conservation and would be glad that the chimpanzees enjoy this special day.”

Joan, we so appreciate your continued support and love for the chimpanzees as you celebrate your parents and their lovely legacy. Thank you so much for the difference you make in the chimpanzees’ lives. We’ll be thinking of Ned and Noreen today and wish you all the good that comes with memories of loved ones.

Negra and Annie:

Annie and Missy:

Burrito and Jody:

Jamie and Foxie: