Posts by Sarah
Ode to Burrito
Burrito was born at White Sands Research Center. Just before his first birthday, he was put on a hepatitis B vaccine safety study. Then he lived in a human home (as a “pet”) for a few months. Then, he was sent to Florida, leased to a man who “perfected the ultimate animal training feat: teaching a chimpanzee to…
Read MoreParty Pics
We couldn’t have provided this day for Mr. B without the many donations sent in by all of you. Thanks SO much for being a part of the family!! Annie gulping down some spaghetti: Burrito getting some reassurance from Keith: Foxie running bipedally with as many oranges as she can carry: Negra with a whole…
Read MoreBurrito’s big day #2
Here’s a video of the chimps coming out for Burrito’s party. You’ll see (and hear) Burrito being very excited! I’m not sure if we’d posted video before of the bipedal behavior you’ll see in this video. He grabs the outside of his thighs and side-steps around. This is not a natural chimpanzee behavior. It may be…
Read MoreBurrito’s big day post #1
It’s the big B’s big day!! He is such a happy guy. We had a lunchtime party consisting of presents (of course!), chestnuts, coconuts, frozen oranges and watermelon, cranberries, pomegranates, a birthday tree (since we didn’t have a holiday tree) and Burrito’s favorite meal: spaghetti! Here’s a quick video of his excitement at seeing the spaghetti!…
Read MoreShoe tickle
People often ask about how much physical contact we have with the chimps. Very little! We never go into an enclosure with the chimps. They have each other for hugs and kisses – they don’t need us. Plus, they are so powerful that even a gentle tap could injure us. We would never put them…
Read MoreJuice buckets
Once in a while we put juice, tea, and other drinks into buckets and pans outside the chimps’ enclosure. Then we give them long tubes to use as straws. It’s fun and gives them a project to work on for a little while. Here are some pics! Jody: Jamie and Missy (Jamie worked on the…
Read MoreWhat a year!
Thanks so much to everyone for making this a year to remember for the Cle Elum Seven! Here are some top moments of 2008. Be sure to share your lists in the comments! June 13, 2008: The day the chimps arrived at CSNW. I still remember the flutter I had in my belly when the…
Read MoreJamie in the doorway
Jamie doesn’t seem to like being out in the snow, but she does like to hang out in the doorway. Here she is in the doorway yesterday, using a scrub brush to scoop the snow into her cup. After I took this video I went inside to get her a better tool – I called…
Read MoreAnother snow video
Here’s another video for you to enjoy. I think you can see everyone, at least for a second. Missy is jumping up and down on a blanket. Foxie (and her troll!) are up on the platfom eating snow. Negra spent the most time outside out of all of them! PS. It’s not too late to…
Read MoreChimps and tea!
There was a lot of interest about the chimps drinking tea yesterday! Here’s another picture of Jamie. We like to give them hot tea to warm up their bellies. And – lucky for us – the good folks at Yogi Tea like to help! They provide the chimps with all the tea they can drink! So…
Read MoreMore fun in the snow
It was -2 degrees this morning when I woke up. Yikes! But since the sun was shining and the snow is beautiful, Keith and I let the chimps out for a quick romp this morning. We put blankets on the ground and cups of warm drinks in the snow. Missy was more interested in seeing how the snow on…
Read MoreA predator in our midst?
I am feeling a bit guilty about one particular piece of enrichment I put out today: a big scary plastic alligator. When the chimps first discovered this predator, it was in a bag hanging on one of the windows. Missy bravely climbed up and tossed it to the floor, where it has been sittting all…
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