Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

young's hill

Best Kind of Sundays

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Negra was really into the weather today and who could blame her. It’s 51 degrees outside in January! Seriously, these chimps spent all day in the Greenhouse or on Young’s Hill, so it was a quiet and content chimp house today…

Negra out on Young’s Hill this morning:

Later Neggie found some snow/ice and set up shop on a comfy platform with a great view:

Foxie decided to keep Neggie company:

And I think Neggie didn’t mind:

Negra and Foxie’s view this morning:

Meanwhile, Missy (left) and Annie (right) were having an epic game of chase, as Foxie observed on the side lines:

Jody came out to enjoy the sun:

Burrito and Foxie also foraged for some snow/ice:

Happy Birthday, Jaclyn!

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From the lovely heart of Jaclyn Sinclair:

“In honor of all the Schipperkes which my husband and I have rescued over the years. For my birthday this year, I am sponsoring a day of sanctuary in the hopes that the Cle Elum 7 will live as long and as joyful a life as I have had, and that the expansion will soon benefit more chimps still confined to laboratories.”

Thank you so much for sharing your heart and special day with the chimpanzees, Jaclyn! All of us here wish you the most beautiful of days! Happy Birthday!

Beautiful, beloved, Annie:

Icy days, flying pigs and bonobos

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Yesterday we had freezing fog rolling through the sanctuary all day and overnight the sanctuary turned into an icy wonderland. With a wind chill of 20 degrees it’s remained enchanting, if not frigid, but that hasn’t stopped several of the chimpanzees from a quick run around Young’s Hill. But most of the chimps have been enjoying their day indoors, playing constant games of chase and making huge blanket nests.

And boss lady, Jamie, has no problem finding indoor activities to keep her busy in between her frosty runs. She began by taking an after breakfast nap complete with yawns and choosing to wear a hot pink sock with flying pigs in capes on it. Naturally.

We put out a forage of purple cabbage and dried oranges, but Jamie was most interested in what might have been hidden in her kitchenette. And we just love that giant caterpillar:

She later discovered a surprise pair of new boots:

And then she finally settled back into her nest for some reading about her cousins, the Bonobos. Jamie is utterly fascinated by the books she has been given about bonobos, even more so than her chimpanzee books. She spends ages looking at them over and over:

 

Ready to Go!

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Well these chimps were ready to go this morning! Jody and Foxie sprinted out the raceway onto Young’s Hill this morning. Annie sat and soaked in the crisp winter morning. Missy came rippin’ onto the Hill and had a quick morning hug with Annie and ripped right back inside! Burrito attempted to go out but quickly turned around to wait for everyone to come back inside. And when Jamie came out she was ready to conquer any quest!

Here is Foxie a little pilo out on the Hill:

After a brave attempt to hang with the girls, Burrito patiently waited for them to return to the Green House safely:

Burrito retreated back to the warm front rooms eventually:

Neggie with all her wisdom knew where she wanted to be (on the platform in Front Room 2 with a pile of blankets):

Jamie taking a quick yoga tree stand:

Later, after her Hill adventure she spent her leisurely morning wearing an ankle boot and another boot in her pelvic pocket all while laying on a barrel watching the volunteers clean the Playroom:

Home

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Every chimpanzee deserves a territory – a home space worth defending. One measure of welfare in a captive chimpanzee is whether they demonstrate territorial behavior. If they take ownership over their home, that’s a sign that they consider it home.

Here at the sanctuary, boss Jamie does the work of defending her family’s home. Every day, often multiple times a day, in all weather conditions, day and night, Jamie takes perimeter walks around the two-acre outdoor habitat to make sure everything is on the up and up. Sometimes she brings friends, and sometimes she goes it alone.

A calm December

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Heavy rains and mild temperatures have changed the December landscape at the sanctuary. Last week’s snow has all but melted away and the chimps have been taking full advantage of Young’s Hill. All but Negra were eager to start their exploration first thing this morning.

Annie, Foxie, Missy, Jody:

Jody leading the charge:

Friends Missy and Annie:

Foxie: