Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

young's hill

Keeping things interesting

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We’ve always considered Young’s Hill a work in progress. This was partly out of necessity, because it started as an empty horse pasture and it would have taken a lot of time and money to build everything at once. But it was also in part by design, because life in captivity can be boring, and adding even a few plants or a simple climbing structure to the hill each year keeps things interesting for the chimps.

The structure we built last weekend is a big hit.

Annie:

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Foxie:

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Jody has been sampling the new bamboo plants, but it seems they are best enjoyed while relaxing in the greenhouse, so each day she breaks off a new cane and hauls it downhill. Yet another reason why we need to keep planting more…

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Hitching a lift

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As autumn transitions into steadily colder and darker days, the chimpanzees (even Negra!) have been extra busy on Young’s Hill. And thanks to the Armstrong family, with a new structure to explore, and new dolls to explore with, Foxie took her current favorite troll doll along to check things out. And JB got some ridiculously adorable photos!

One of Foxie’s most endearing habits is how she carries her dolls on her back. Chimpanzee mamas are highly invested in raising and nurturing their children. The bond they share is the same we experience with our human children. They carry their infants for about the first six months of their lives and then as the babies become strong enough to grasp for extended periods, they begin to ride around on their mother’s back. Chimpanzee children are highly dependent on their mothers and even as they grow and become more independent they remain in close contact for the first several years of their lives.

Foxie’s four children were all taken from her during her years in biomedical research and it’s emotionally appealing to think that she carries the dolls on her back with her children in mind. But we can never know what she’s truly thinking and it may just be a natural and effective way of carrying her beloved dolls with her when she’s on the go. Whatever the reason, though bittersweet, it never fails to warm our hearts and I think it’s safe to say, hers as well. And that’s what matters most.

Foxie and troll, on the go:

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Identification

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Before we enter any chimpanzee enclosure, all staff and volunteers that are participating in cleaning must positively identify all seven chimpanzees and make sure the appropriate doors are closed and locked. This is part of our safety protocol so there is no chance that a chimpanzee shares the same enclosure as a human. When new trainees come in, they must learn to identify each chimpanzee by their physical characteristics. It is important that they not rely on circumstantial evidence (such as knowing that Foxie often holds a doll or Negra sleeps with a blanket over her head), because other chimpanzees have been known to behave in a similar fashion and this could lead to a mistaken identification.

Today while walking around the hill with Jamie, I heard rustling in the bamboo grove. I couldn’t immediately identify the chimpanzee, but I could tell they were getting a snack. It reminded me of how challenging it can sometimes be to identify the chimpanzees, especially for a new volunteer or a first time blog reader. I chose a couple photos from my walk that give hints to the identity of this bamboo forager.
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The first clue is a circumstantial hint (not a strict rule for identifying this chimpanzee). This chimpanzee is an avid runner and athlete. She (or he?) is often seen sprinting and climbing around Young’s hill. In the climbing photo you may catch a glimpse of a freckled chin…
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The second clue is a physical characteristic of this chimpanzee. She (or he?) has a “square” stature and we often say it looks like she (or he?) has “no neck” because of the way it looks like her head sits directly on her shoulders.
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And the identity is…..

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Missy!

A Chilly Fall Morning

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It is a beautiful, chilly fall day here at the sanctuary, and the chimpanzees spent some time on Young’s Hill enjoying the crisp air. We have a lot of help with cleaning this morning, which means Jamie has many walking companions to choose from!

Here is Jamie on her second walk of the morning:

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Jody also ventured out:

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Missy and Annie spent a lot of time climbing on the hill, and then settled in the greenhouse to groom. Missy:

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Annie (with Missy behind her):

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I wonder if this view may be part of the reason why Jamie goes on so many walks:

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Ah, fall!

Startling Adventures

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If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that Jamie loves her walks around Young’s Hill. She’s definitely not the only one, though.

The other night I was walking around the hill with Jamie (me on the outside of the electric fence, of course) for what was probably the fifth or sixth time after dinner, and I heard something rapidly approaching us from behind. I will admit to being a bit startled. The evenings are usually very quiet and serene around here, and I was sure all of the other chimpanzees had gone to bed.

My temporary flight or fight reaction quickly turned to pure happiness when I whipped around to see who or what was rushing at us from behind. Apparently, from her nest in the loft of the playroom, Missy noticed that Jamie was on another walk, and she must have jumped out of bed and ran at full speed to catch up to us.

 

Missy is behind Jamie in the following two photos:

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Missy behind Jamie on the hill

How fun to be able to jump out of bed to go on an adventure! I could genuinely feel Missy’s joy in surprising us.

Sometimes I forget the stark contrast between the lives the chimpanzees have now compared to where they came from. How many times would Missy have longed to get out of bed to run around when she was living in the few square feet of a laboratory cage?

Freedom is relative, and the chimps’ freedom at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest is definitely not absolute, but their existence is worlds apart from what it was the first few decades of their lives. You can read about Missy’s past here.

And we have you – those who support the sanctuary – to thank for that. So, on behalf of Missy and her sense of adventure –  Thank You!

 

Happy Birthday, Helton!

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Don and Karen Young in honor of their grandson, Helton Young’s, birthday! Don and Karen have played an integral role in helping to create a sanctuary where the chimpanzees can heal and thrive. They shared this message about today:

“Helton will be 10 years old. He is our only grandson. He loves all animals and misses Emma, our yellow lab. He is an amazing boy with lots of interests, love sports, is on the traveling soccer team, fences, plays baseball, swims, is a voracious reader and is interested in magic. He would love to see CSNW one day.”

Don and Karen, thank you so much for holding the chimpanzees in your heart and including them in your family celebrations. We are thrilled to be celebrating Helton’s special day with you all, he sounds like a special boy.

And Helton, all of us here at the sanctuary wish you the happiest of birthdays filled with adventure and magic! Thanks for sharing your day with the chimpanzees and for seeing how special the animals we share the world with are.

Foxie loves a good adventure:

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Running in the Rain

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It has been pouring rain at the sanctuary all day, and as wonderful as it is, Jamie doesn’t seem particularly thrilled. She insisted that we go for a walk several times early this afternoon, but was deterred by the rain. I could sense her growing frustration, especially as she began tossing trolls and pieces of paper down from the playroom loft. She emphatically gestured toward the cowboy boots again, so I put them on and went to meet her at the bottom of the hill. Again, she was nowhere to be found. I went to the green house to check on her, and as soon as she saw me her eyes opened wide in excitement and she ran out onto the hill! I hurried to catch up with her, and we went for a record speed walk (with intermittent running) around the hill. There’s something exhilarating about running in the rain!

Meanwhile, Annie and Negra kept each other entertained in the playroom: