Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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young's hill

The calm before a storm

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As I write this blog, lightning is flashing and thunder rolling along the surrounding mountains near the sanctuary. Jamie of course, has convinced staff member Katelyn that this is the best possible time to go for a fast walk around Young’s Hill before the rain really hits.

This cooler weather made for a nice afternoon lunch forage (earlier before the storm hit). All the chimpanzees ventured out onto Young’s Hill to collect fresh garden lettuce, snap peas and broccoli (not everyone made themselves available for decent photos).

Negra:
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Annie:
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Foxie:
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Burrito:
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*Don’t worry about Jamie and her accompanying caregivers, they took a quick walk and made it safely indoors as I finish up this post!

Climbing to new heights

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It’s always great to share a story when one of the chimpanzees does something that we have not seen before. What is even better, is when we capture pictures or video footage of it!

This morning, we spread fruit (apples and peaches) throughout Young’s Hill, as part of the chimps’ breakfast. For those of you new to the blog, Young’s Hill is the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure, with open skies overhead. On the hill, are a variety of wooden structures (Twister, Carlene’s Tower & Jamie’s Lookout to name a few) and bridges, fire hoses and tire swings for the chimps to climb and sit on. There is also Negra’s cabin, built with the Queen herself in mind.

We threw some of the cut up fruit on top of Negra’s cabin, with Missy in mind. She is the chimp most likely to climb that structure. But, today some of the other chimps beat her to it, one of which, most of us do not think we have ever seen climb to the top.

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In all honesty, climbing isn’t exactly one of Burrito’s strong points. He can be a little awkward and doesn’t exhibit the most grace when climbing. But, when I stop to think about it, it’s not something he grew up doing or was taught how to do. Having spent decades in a cage the size of a bathroom stall, there isn’t much space or need for climbing to get from one place to another.

We’re just happy to see Burrito expanding his horizons to include climbing Negra’s cabin…perhaps, peaches and apples were the motivating factors 🙂

Jamie and the crow’s nest

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The chimpanzees continue to spend time playing on/in/and around their newest structure, “Twister.” Jamie loves to investigate the happenings of the neighborhood and finds the vantage from the crow’s nest to be the perfect spot to keep tabs on the locals. She is always interested in whatever is going on at the neighboring ranches (after all it is her job), but she seems particularly vigilant since the recent brush fire she alerted us to.

It may just be a coincidence or she may just be really loving what a great view she has, but Jamie’s been rushing out and climbing up to her lookout in the mornings and loves to spend time up there as a stopping point during her evening walks with her caregivers as well. Whatever the reason, we are so grateful she has one more tower from which to be Queen of the Hill. I kind of feel like she needs a Jolly Roger flag up there.

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The Queen on High Alert

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Today, Negra was the first on the hill for the forage. At one point, she heard or saw something that she wanted to investigate further, so she stood up bipedally. This is not a posture we see Negra adopting very often, so I was very pleased to have gotten photographs:

Negra standing

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Negra standing and looking

 

She looks pretty innocent and sweet, doesn’t she?

Negra behind grass

 

Well, let’s not forget that she is a chimpanzee. Last week, before the drama of the fire, this sweet and innocent queen of the sanctuary caught and ate a hummingbird.

sweet Negra

 

I really like hummingbirds, and I don’t wish a violent end to any life, but, at the same time, I did experience a feeling somewhat related to pride… it’s not an easy task to catch a hummingbird, and it’s a pretty “chimpanzee thing” to do for a not-very-active, old grandma of a chimp who has lived in captivity almost her entire life.

Negra looking down

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Tucked away

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With things returning to normal after our recent brush fire and the warmth of summer, the chimpanzees have been tucked away relaxing for most of the day.

During a walk, Jamie chose to sit in the shade of the tall grass (while a certain caregiver accompanying her sweated it out in the hot sun until she gave the cue it was time to move on):

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Jamie’s view at the time so I don’t blame her:

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Negra enjoyed the breakfast forage from her shady cabin on Young’s Hill…:

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…before making her way in for a nap:

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And then there was this person relaxing every which way at the top of the toasty greenhouse:

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Of course, it’s Foxie and Dora.

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The Watcher

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Jamie chimpanzee is a person with many talents. One of her extraordinary skills happens to be an almost total awareness of her surroundings. Not many things slip by her. She regulates all activities at the sanctuary, and makes sure everyone knows about it. While Jamie can’t actually access places like the highway, neighboring houses, and the sanctuary parking lot, she knows just where to go in her domain to get the best views of all the goings on.

Looking out the barn doors, Jamie can see part of the garden and the trailer that houses the sanctuary’s clinic.
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When she enters the portrait studio, Jamie has a good line of site on the kitchen with the parking lot and barn out the window beside her.
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And let’s not forget about the 360 degree panorama views out on the Young’s Hill structures!
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Sometimes she can be quite stealthy about her surveillance, often appearing out of what seems like thin air to put an end to an interaction that caregivers might be having with one of the other chimps. Today I caught her keeping a watchful eye on caregiver Lizz as she played chase with Burrito.
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I’ve never thought too much about her diligent supervision until last Saturday, when she alerted us of the brush fire that had broken out on a hill not too far from the sanctuary. At that moment, I was very thankful to know such a dedicated governor as Jamie chimpanzee.
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Chimps back on Young’s Hill After Recent Fire

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To say that yesterday was filled with “excitement” would be an understatement. If you have not already heard the news, there was a fire on a neighboring property that started yesterday. The firefighters were on it right away and all of the safety measures we have at the sanctuary to deal with wildfires were enacted immediately. Fortunately, the fire was much smaller and slower moving than the Taylor Bridge fire of 2012, that burned through part of the sanctuary property.

Today, everyone is safe now that the fire is contained, the smoke has cleared and the temperature is just right. So, we decided to celebrate with a lunch forage on Young’s Hill. Everyone went out to gather food, soak up the sunshine and climb the various structures to look around.

Annie (left), Jody (center) and Burrito (right)
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Burrito (foreground) and Jamie (background)
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Foxie (left) and Missy (right)
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Missy searched high and low to find the “hidden” food…
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…including corn on the cob.
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Jody with red onions in her mouth.
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Annie with a mouth full of primate chow.
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Burrito
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Jamie
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Foxie brought her Dora the Explorer doll onto the hill.
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Negra posted up and ate her corn on the cob.
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We’re so thankful to all the firefighters that work so hard to protect our community, to our dedicated staff and volunteers, and for all of the well wishes from supporters around the world!!! Thank you all so much for caring and sending us your loving thoughts! We’re forever grateful!