Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

young's hill

Quiet Days

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It was a pretty laid back day around the chimp house today. Everyone must still be resting from Jamieween and Lucky’s birthday! The weather was cold and mostly cloudy today, so it was a good day to just lounge around. In the afternoon there was a window of some sun and the chimpanzees in Jamie’s group took this opportunity to explore Young’s Hill. They were out there for awhile, but then it was back to resting again.

Missy watching the others on Young’s Hill.

Burrito between sprints around the hill.

Foxie with her doll.

Jody took her golden beets from lunch onto the hill.

I couldn’t decide which photo of Annie I liked the best, so I added them all!

This is how I found Willy B lounging this morning when I was opening up the chimp house.

Katelyn took these great photos of Honey B interacting with the foot box today.

Just as I was adding the title of this blog “Quiet Days” Willy B started rolling this scooter back and forth. I think it’s dinner time!

 

I Spy: Movement Up the Mountain

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Last week one of our supporters very excitingly asked when expansion work was going to begin, and I’m happy to inform everyone that today was the day. During the morning, Gary’s Sage Mechanical crew came in to do some work on top of Young’s Hill. This meant that Jamie and her six friends could not go out on the hill during that time but that did not mean that they were unaware that some humans were in need of chimp supervision. After work concluded and it was safe to give them access to the hill, Jamie, Annie, Missy, Foxie, Burrito and Jody sprinted up the hill to assess the situation. Jody went back inside the safety of the green house shortly after, might have been too scary of a situation. On the way up Missy asked for reassurance from all her friends. First from Burrito, then Jamie, and finally from Foxie who gladly complied. Annie was the first one to arrive and climbed up the Twister to get a better view. Jamie, of course, was very excited to see new people but more excited about seeing new boots.

Foxie reassuring Missy on the way up to check out the expansion work.

Missy and Foxie looking at Jody as she turns around to go back into the safety of the green house.

Foxie and Jamie looking at J.B. and the members of Sage Mechanical…and their boots.

Gary’s nephew, who has a background in forestry, Gary, and J.B. smiling for the camera.

Annie supervising from the Twister platform.

After brief visual inspection, the construction boots pass the test and are worthy of a run around the hill.

On the other side of the chimp house:

Rayne eating green apples during breakfast this morning. Courtesy of caregiver Sam.

Dora resting in one of the front rooms.

Rayne in the green house taking advantage of the break from the rain that we got today.

Peak Fall

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In the last few days some much needed rain has rolled in to soak Central Washington. This change in weather seems to have brought “Peak Fall” to Kittitas County. The colorful Autumn foliage is perhaps in its brightest and most plentiful phase. Soon, strong wind gusts will surely move in to whip the leaves away. Young’s Hill is one of my favorite views this time of year.

Annie with an orange backdrop
Walking with Jamie and a view of the trees that line the Yakima River.
Annie, Burrito and Jamie at the top of the hill.
Foxie enjoys her breakfast chow.
Chilly Missy
Jamie chose to wear a special accessory this morning.

Happy leaf peeping everyone!

Fall Vibes

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Fall is starting to set in real nicely here in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures are nice and the days are sunny for the most part. We do have some rain in the forecast that is supposed to last some time. So to take advantage of this nice sunny mid-60º weather today, Jody’s group had one last forage on Young’s Hill before the rain comes in.

On today’s menu was corn, carrots, beets, and primate chow!

Annie:

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Jody:

Missy:

Negra:

Cy’s group and Willy B’s group were also treated to a lunch of corn, carrots, and beets, along with their primate chow.

After lunch, every body spent most of the afternoon snoozing. Well, almost everybody.

Cy had to catch up on some afternoon ready:

And Mave spent her time soaking in as much sun as she could:

Queen of Brussels (Sprouts)

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Please enjoy these photos of Queen Negra obtaining Brussels Sprouts on a gorgeous fall day.

She got in some calisthenics during the forage.

Bonus: Jamie and red peppers in the tall grass

Burrito and the Giant Kong

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Giant kongs are a newer food puzzle and Burrito loves them. We have found him bouncing on the enormous kongs, throwing the kongs, and dragging them behind him. Finally, we have some videos as proof. Though this video doesn’t have any sound, I actually was laughing out loud, usually I can suppress it! However, Burrito can come up with some of the most ridiculously fun games and this was definitely one for the books. If you needed a laugh, something to warm you from the inside out, or just something totally pure of joy this is the video from you today. Burrito is down right funny and we all need a friend like Burrito.

We also did some introductions today. With no surprise Cy and Willy B volunteered, but we were able to get a Gordo to join us, which was a surprise! And of course little miss Honey B popped in too. It took a long time for everyone to settle down at the mesh, eventually things settled and the door was able to be opened, everyone did well! Though, Gordo and Willy B might need some time alone, because Willy B and Cy have a bromance that no one can come between.

Also Jamieween is right around the corner. We just added some new boots for Jamie’s Birthday on the wish-list!

Feels like Sanctuary

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Today really felt like sanctuary, I mean everyday does, of course! But everyday is different, each chimps mood varies, what they feel like doing, or not doing. Today was full of patrol walks, laughter, exploring, displaying, excited breathy pants, and of course a few non shifters ;). The beauty of sanctuary is choice and with that choice gives them a sort of freedom, not the freedom they should have and very much deserve, but the closest freedom they can have. Some days I will catch moments that just make your heart want to burst with joy, like Jamie chasing Foxie on Young’s Hill. Because those moments are what sanctuary is all about!

We just updated our wish list for Wildlife Toybox. They have some really fun durable enrichment, we especially need the mirror cover for our “Looky Lou”!

Rayne says goodnight!