Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

young's hill

Sunshine, flowers, and greens

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Today the chimps’ appeared to get a memo that a fresh crop of wildflowers had sprung up on Young’s Hill overnight. Or maybe Missy was the memo. As soon as everyone spotted her running down the hill with a bunch of flowers they suddenly spread out and started foraging for wild greens for themselves. At one point everyone was walking around bipedally through the tall grass picking flowers one by one to carry back to the greenhouse to enjoy.

The wild mustard is starting to grow as well which is a real summertime favorite:

Foxie, Annie and Jody:

Jody and Missy enjoying their dandelions:

Annie was a purist and chose to just eat sweet spring grass, enjoying her solitude in the sun:

Nice Day

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The chimps had a very nice day! Most of the day was spent out on the Hill or in the Green House. Everyone went straight out to Young’s Hill once it was opened, even Neggie ran out right away. Negra also lead the group out for the lunch forage today! However, it must be snake season because before anyone went outside some surveillance had to be done. Annie, who is terrified of snakes, looked out towards the Hill from in the race way, making sure her toes never touched the ground. Foxie, brave little Foxie, lead everyone out giving everyone the okay, but all the chimps made sure to keep their eye out.

Foxie:

Annie:

Negra wadging pineapple:

Miss eating chow:

Jody with a loose lip giving level 3 caregiver Jake some reassurance:

Annie bipedally walking and inspecting for snakes:

Missy, the good friend that she is, giving Annie some back up:

Foxie, Annie, & Missy going out to venture on the secure Hill:

Jody watching over everyone:

And enjoying the tall green grass:

Negra:

Missy (top), Annie (middle), Foxie (below) hanging out on the new structure:

Jamie doing her perimeter check:

Jamie and I also saw Jody and Negra along the way. They were foraging on some of the natural plants that grow on the Hill.

Jody:

Negra:

Foxie enjoying the sunshine:

Later, while cleaning was going on, we caught Jamie using a toothbrush to brush this dolls hair (It was a very sweet moment):

Days like today make my heart feel so full of joy, these chimps are simply amazing. Nothing makes you feel better than seeing happy chimps grooming and playing together all day.

 

The conifer connoisseur

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As you’ve probably seen previously on the blog, Jody is one of our most adventurous eaters. Wild greens, flowers, bamboo, she loves it all and seemingly the wilder the better!

Yesterday Anna wrote about Negra enjoying some Ponderosa pine tree browse that J.B. recently put out on Young’s Hill for the chimps to find. It took Jody mere moments to find it and haul huge branches back to the greenhouse to enjoy, in classic Jody style, while lying on her belly and taking in the view. It’s been a particularly big hit with a few of the chimps, but I think Jody has moved on to qualify as Honorary Conifer Connoisseur.

Apparently pine needles make for good wadging material:

I love the pine needle in her hair. 🙂

A cabin built for her

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Happiness is watching Negra enjoy some quiet time under the shelter lovingly named “Negra’s Cabin.” The cabin was designed with her comfort especially in mind.

Negra isn’t quite as adventurous a forager as Jody, but she enjoys her fair share of browse. This morning she found a Ponderosa pine tree bough in the cabin and carefully took it back to the greenhouse for further consumption.

Jody’s 43rd Birthday Celebration!

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Today is not only Mother’s Day, but it is also Jody’s birthday! We had double to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate than to have a Green House and Young’s Hill forage, we even set out a whole coconut (I bet you can guess who ended up with it)! We love celebrating Mother’s Day, why not tell the strong women who helped shape who you are how much you love them! We do have a few mothers at our sanctuary including Jody. Jody is kind, nurturing, and always making sure that everyone is safe. For Jody’s birthday we set out lilacs because she loves to go on the Hill and find things like thistles, spruce trees, etc. Well, it turns out Missy LOVES lilacs and got most of them! Jody did get one of her favorites, which is the top of a pineapple (she was pleased)!

Missy eating all the lilacs:

Neggie had a nice relaxing day. She foraged on the Hill in the morning all by herself, attended the party, and napped for most of the day (it was pretty exhausting):

Power pose, Negra actually jump with all her might to get the enrichment, it was very exciting to watch:

Annie gathered some lilacs and then ventured out to the Hill to forage:

Burrito stayed pretty close to the birthday girls side, but found some opportunities to enjoy a drink and go on the Hill:

Foxie actually found the coconut and tried ever so quietly to sneak away:

Foxie eventually ditched the coconut and came back for it later in the afternoon, however Jamie heard Foxie trying to crack it open on the new structure and Jamie food peered her way into getting the coconut…

But Foxie did get to enjoy herself at the party:

Jamie enjoyed some cold drinks and some snacks as well:

Later when it was very warm Jamie and I took a few walks, when she got hot she would just hide in the shade:

Jody spent a lot of her day laying around, enjoying good company, and eating some of her favorite things. That sounds like a great 43rd birthday to me!

The birthday girl, Jody:

 

Cheers Jody! Happy 43rd Birthday (Missy is holding the drink):

 

New enrichment puzzle on Young’s Hill!

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Intern caregiver Grace came up with this cool new enrichment puzzle for the chimps! This bag was originally a slow feeder bag for horses, but to make it into a chimp puzzle, we added fresh vegetables (in addition to hay), locked it closed, and hung it on Young’s Hill! Thanks to Grace for her brilliant idea, our supporters for purchasing everything we ever dream up on our Amazon Wish list, and JB for making it all come together today!