Posts by Anthony
The Elusive Honey B
Honey B is anything but shy. This bright, enigmatic chimp seemed to arrive at the sanctuary with one setting: investigate. For example, Honey B constantly inspects human personnel for new cuts, scrapes, bruises, hangnails, freckles, accessories and even tattoos, which she then insists on eagerly grooming. Her first reaction to new volunteers is to spit…
Read MoreCelebrating Nutmeg’s 5th Birthday
This month, we celebrated the joyous anniversary of Nutmeg’s birth. Nutmeg completed his fifth trip around the sun on February 10. Nutmeg and his bovine companions arrived at the sanctuary in the fall of 2018 and have been inhabiting the spacious pasture ever since. Even though he weighs well over one-thousand pounds, this tawny giant…
Read MoreCuddle Puddles and Tricky Puzzles
There was a lot of activity in the Chimp House on this busy Sunday, but this post just focuses on the happenings in the newer part of the sanctuary’s main building. In that wing of enclosures, Honey B, Mave and Willy B have continued to settle in and seem to grow more comfortable with each…
Read MoreThe Best Volunteers
To say we lean on our volunteers (and interns) when times get tough is an understatement. There is so much to do and the days feel so short right now. To appreciate how critical the volunteers are, it may help you to understand how our team operates. Each day, one of our staff members has…
Read MoreMave in the Middle
Yesterday afternoon, the three “new” chimps (Honey B, Mave and Willy B) were so engrossed in a session of play wrestling that they almost forgot about dinner. It’s somewhat unusual for all three of them to play this intensely at the same time. In fact, it may have been the most vigorous bout of rough-housing…
Read MoreAn A-Mave-zing Teaser
I want to formally apologize for the tardiness of today’s blog. I’m trying to upload a video I made for you all but it is taking much longer than I initially hoped. I could blame it on the rural internet, which is indeed horrible, but I should also hold myself accountable because I made the…
Read MoreAnnie and Pretzels
No, this post is not about Annie eating pretzels. It’s partially about Annie Chimpanzee, as seen in these photos, but it’s also about all the enormous pretzels, vegan bratwurst, and craft beer that our staff are going to consume during tonight’s visit to a magical place: Leavenworth. For those of you who aren’t familiar with…
Read MoreBurrito in Monochrome
The chimpanzees’ world is full of color. In the spring, the landscape blooms with eye-catching wildflowers and green foliage that seem to radiate color and warmth. Summers are characterized by deep turquoise skies. Crisp autumn days turn the surrounding meadows a shiny gold and decorate the surrounding forest with speckles of red, orange and yellow.…
Read MoreWrite Your Own Blog Post!
That may have come out wrong. “Write Your Own Blog Post” is actually today’s theme. I wasn’t snapping. I promise. Think of today’s entry like you would a self-serve car wash or one of those places where you can put whatever topping you want on your fro-yo. I literally want you to view this collection…
Read MoreWinter Storm
Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be difficult to handle. The landscape becomes dark, cold, and icy for several months. It’s beautiful in many ways, but it’s also challenging. In order to subsist in these surroundings, our team must make the necessary preparations and maintain a positive attitude about whatever the skies throw down on…
Read MoreThe Tough Questions
The common phrase “sharing is caring” doesn’t always ring true. Those of us who work with wildlife in any capacity have to be cautious about the ways in which we publicize our work. In the modern age of consumerism and social media, organizations need to share compelling content to generate financial support and advocate for…
Read MoreWhat’s Your Favorite (Nonhuman) Animal?
Texas, of course, is a long way away from Washington state. Heck, West Texas is a long way away from East Texas. (In case you were wondering, Cuba, Guatemala, Idaho and Michigan are all closer to the nearest point in Texas than that location is from the farthest point in Texas. Let that simmer, folks.)…
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