Posts by Diana
Chimpanzees who collect
Personally, I’ve never been much of a collector. I am not very neat, but I do enjoy when my surroundings are clutter-free. There’s a particular joy I get out of getting rid of things and thereby decreasing rather than increasing my possessions. But I’m fascinated by collectors and those who clearly get a unique satisfaction…
Read MoreConnections: Honoring James Douglas
The truth about running a nonprofit animal sanctuary is that most of your time is spent interacting with humans. I get that this might not sound all that appealing to everyone who is interested in embarking on a career in the sanctuary or animal protection field. Let’s face it, a lot of “animal people” feel…
Read MoreMisfits Together
Jamie and Burrito are undeniably the most human-focused of the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. They seek the attention of humans frequently, as evidenced by the many videos of humans walking around the hill “with” Jamie or playing tug of war with Burrito. It’s probably no coincidence that both of them grew up in a…
Read MoreAn unusual day
Today we messed with the chimpanzees’ routine. There is a tall structure in the greenhouse that needed some repair, so the chimpanzees weren’t able to get outside until J.B. and volunteer Chad finished their fix-it job. All morning, Burrito alternated between his Tasmanian devil self and his adorable playful self. Lest you think the change…
Read MoreAnother New Start for Ellie/Buttons the Elk & Cautiously Adventurous Foxie
You may have read J.B.’s post last month about our neighborhood elk and her new chance to live a life in the wild. Well, to no one’s great surprise, she did not take to the wild life. Yesterday, Ellie the elk was moved to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle where, after a quarantine period, she…
Read MoreThe Intensity of Being a Chimpanzee
This afternoon, the chimp house was the epitome of peacefulness. If you had walked in the door at 3:00, you would have had to strain to hear the soft lip-smacking and gentle raspberry sounds that accompanied their grooming. If you had climbed the ladder to get a view of the chimpanzees in a fluid huddle…
Read MoreClean Up Crew + Enrichment for Nutmeg
Today, well after the other chimpanzees had moved on to other post-lunch activities (specifically nesting, napping, and grooming), I “caught” Annie going through the front rooms and collecting uneaten Brussels sprouts, then taking her found food to the playroom to enjoy. Just a few minutes later, I saw Foxie do the same thing, but this…
Read MoreNegra Time
Negra isn’t featured on the blog as much as some of the other chimpanzees because she’s often not part of “the action” at the chimp house (unless it’s spring and she’s outside eating grass – we can’t wait for those days!). Negra seems to prefer solo quiet time. She also spends a lot of her…
Read MoreAfter the Storm
The days after a snowstorm (or series of snowstorms) are so wonderful, aren’t they? It’s like reawakening to a changed world. J.B., with the help of volunteer Jonathan, made some pathways in the snow for the chimpanzees today. The chimps watched the work being done for them from the greenhouse. When everything was ready for…
Read MoreSnowpocalypse 2019
As the state of Washington braces for more snow, the chimpanzees spent the day thoroughly enjoying the first day of Snowpocalypse / Snowmageddon / Snowzilla WA 2019. We really just got a few inches here, which is pretty normal this time of year. Anna did do a pretty good job of hyping the drama of…
Read MoreHappy 6th Birthday, Robert!
Robin made a special sponsor-a-day donation today to celebrate young Robert’s 6th birthday and to also honor the birth of his cousin Luke! Thank you, Robin! We hope Robert and Luke have a terrific day that includes time to play and time to rest.
Read MoreToday is in Memory of Margaret Elizabeth Sharp
Sandra chose to sponsor today with this lovely message about her mother: My beloved mother passed away last August, and in honor of what would have been her birthday, I send love to both the sanctuary and its precious residents. My mom was shy, endlessly loving, kind beyond measure, non-judgemental, vulnerable . . . I…
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