Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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young's hill

Negra, reinvented

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I’m used to telling people, Negra is more of a fair weather chimp. If there is any hint of wind or rain or if the temperature is too hot or too cold, she would most likely stay indoors. Also, if she does venture out onto Young’s Hill (the outdoor area of the chimps’ home), she usually sticks close to the building.

But, we’ve seen Negra exhibiting some “unusual behavior” this spring. She’s stayed out late, ventured to new areas on Young’s Hill (far away from the building) and is generally more independent.

So, today, the NOAA forecast called for “northwest wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph” and it seems pretty accurate. But, the Negra of today, doesn’t seem to mind the gusty winds or not so perfect temperatures as she was the first one out on the hill for the lunch forage we set up.

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I love that after almost eight years in sanctuary, she is still reinventing herself!

Intangible expansions

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I’d like to say that I no longer think of the decades the chimpanzees spent living as biomedical research subjects in open slat cages the size of a bathroom stall, the last couple of years which were in a windowless basement. But I do. I’d like to forget the images of my friends’ familiar eyes peering out from between the bars that their familiar hands clung to. But I can’t. I wish I couldn’t picture them having spent their days – their years – with no enrichment, nothing to nest with, no room to rip and run and climb, unable to engage in natural chimpanzee behaviors and family relationships, or just be free to be themselves, however that looked. But these thoughts, and most importantly the chimps’ histories, are inversely proportional to the growth and expansion they demonstrate with each passing day, season, and year.

We are fast approaching the anniversary of the chimpanzees’ arrival to their sanctuary home eight years ago, on June 13th. Eight years! And yet every single time I see them foraging on the hill, climbing new structures and taking in unobstructed views, pushing their own comfort levels with such courage, grace and dignity, it takes my breath away. No matter how many times I see all these moments in each of their lives, it never for one second feels less than wondrous and breathtaking.

And this morning, one of now countless particularly beautiful mornings the chimpanzees have had here, was no different. As they foraged for breakfast al fresco on Young’s Hill, as they traversed seemingly every inch of every structure, their hair shining in the sun and blowing in the breeze, moving as a family, each step through the electrifying green grass another step further from their histories, my friends’ familiar eyes cast to the expanse of sky and valley and mountain beyond, I watched, my heart on tiptoe.

Jamie:

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Burrito and Jamie:

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Burrito:

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Foxie and Annie:

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Foxie and France Dora:

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Annie:

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Annie and Missy:

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Missy:

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Jamie taking in her new viewpoint from the new structure, Twister:

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And then moving on to check out the view from Jamie’s Tower:

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And not to worry, Jody and Negra were both at the far reaches of Young’s Hill foraging for breakfast with a side of wild greens right along with their family, but unfortunately my photos of those two beautiful ladies didn’t turn out.

The continuing adventures of Negra Chimpanzee

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Just off to the side of the newest Young’s Hill structure (aptly named “Twister”) lies another “garden” mound of prickly lettuce. As caregivers searched to identify all seven chimpanzees so we could safely enter and clean the chimpanzee-free front rooms this morning, this is where we found Negra! It’s the farthest I have yet to see Negra travel on Young’s Hill (in my first year of employment at the sanctuary) and it’s pretty amazing to see this homebody continue to throw off her blankets and go just a little deeper into her 2 acres of green.

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The Queen of late night

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While Burrito and Annie utilized their bipedal skills to navigate the growing grass on Young’s Hill in the hopes of finding a missed piece of forage, or a new patch of wild greens sprouting up…

Burrito:

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Annie:

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Jamie, of course, opted for something a little higher up.

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And in other news, if you’ve been following the blog for awhile you’re probably aware that as the weather grows nicer boss lady, Jamie, often keeps us out late walking around the perimeter of Young’s Hill with her. After the chimps are served dinner at 4:30 they typically start heading inside to collect their evening food puzzle and make their nests for the night (unless you’re Jamie). The humans’ day ends at 5:30 after the chimps are all safe inside and mostly asleep. But if anyone (again, Jamie) wants to stay out late, we stay until they are ready to come inside. But who do you think stayed out past bedtime this evening?…

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Yep, that’s Negra!! Sitting on her current favorite mound at the very top of Young’s Hill happily eating prickly lettuce! No matter the evening sky is growing darker with the threat of a storm coming, the Queen is in no hurry to come in. So it looks like we have a second boss lady in town. But that’s what sanctuary is all about. And this is probably a rare job where one’s heart grows a little bigger every time your bosses make you work late.

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Intrepid Explorers

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It’s not the wilds of Africa, but Young’s Hill is looking pretty good this time of year. Even nervous Negra is exploring more than ever.

Negra:

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Missy:

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Jody:

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Burrito, Missy, Annie, Jamie, and Foxie:

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Burrito, Foxie (with Dora), and Jamie:

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Annie:

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Foxie:

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Negra opts out

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Independence is a trait we celebrate in the chimpanzee sanctuary community. If a chimpanzee exhibits independence, it means they take advantage of the sanctuary environment they are provided with, and choose to do what they want, when they want it. You may recall that Jamie shows a deep independent streak when it comes to letting staff close off Young’s Hill for the night (especially on warm evenings).

Negra (like Jamie) is an independent character. But unlike Jamie, she is not known for choosing Young’s Hill as the place to spend her time. She mostly prefers to nap indoors in a cozy blanket pile or sit at a window and survey the valley below the sanctuary. Lately, Negra has harnessed her courage to travel to almost the top of Young’s Hill and pick mouthfuls of wild prickly lettuce that grows especially thick on several mounds of earth.

It was on one of these mounds that I found Negra last week. As the rest of the staff set about doing a positive reinforcement training session with their chimpanzee partners, my partner (Negra) opted out of the training session and chose instead to munch happily away on the hill. The fact that Negra got to make a choice is what life in a sanctuary is all about.

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We bring you TWISTER, but it’s not what you might think

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Do you remember when Diana wrote to stay tuned for a new unveiling? Well, today is the big day!! Blog readers and sanctuary supporters, meet Twister; the chimpanzees’ newest climbing structure. The Twister design was conceived by J.B. with a starting idea by Nick and built by J.B., Keith, Josh, Becky, Mark, Jack, Jim, Brian, Gretchen, and Patrick.

Funds for building it were donated by friends of Bill Walters. He and his wife Nicki and their friend Dave were here today to see the chimps explore the structure.

Twister chimp structure-1

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Jody, Annie, Missy and Jamie checking out the newest addition.
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Some of the chimps were daring enough to reach the top and take in the surrounding view.

Annie sitting on top and Missy just below.
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Missy
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Jamie
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But, I think the highlight, and perhaps they would agree too, was seeing Annie and Missy playing on and in and around it. Here’s an action shot Katelyn took today of Missy and Annie.
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Stay tuned for more photos and videos of the chimps exploring this newest addition to their 2 acre outdoor enclosure (Young’s Hill).