the wild, wild west of Young’s Hill

Jody walking in a determined fashion

Young’s Hill, the chimpanzees’ 2-acre enclosure, is treated a bit differently than the chimp house and greenhouse, which we thoroughly scrub and clean everyday. Sometimes toys get left out for a couple of days on the hill, which is fun because the chimps can discover them later. A few days ago, during a forage, Jody…

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Photographing the elusive Foxie

Foxie behind bamboo

One super cool and unique auction item we have for Hoot! is the opportunity to photograph the chimpanzees with a lesson from professional photographers Karen Ducey and Dean Rutz, using long telephoto lenses and other professional-grade equipment! This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities! Maybe the winner will be able to catch some photos like…

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you are amazing

burrito play

There are a lot of non-profit organizations doing incredible work who have wonderful supporters, but, let’s just collectively acknowledge that Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters are the best. Without volunteers, donors, and people telling their friends about the sanctuary, we wouldn’t be able to provide a home for chimpanzees. YOU make the chimpanzees happy everyday. I’m…

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Interspecies Awkwardness

Ellie by fence top of Young's Hill

Last October we were paid a visit by an elk, who we’ve since been calling Ellie. Learn more about that visit in this blog post. When the chimpanzees saw Ellie last fall, their immediate reaction was to defend their territory. Ellie has been hanging out at the neighbors’ ranch for a while now, though she’s…

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Icecapades

Jody stand and get ice

During the lunch forage on Young’s Hill today, Jody and Missy found their own treats. As volunteer Connie pointed out, this could be the last of the tire ice for the season!   Jody:     Missy:    

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The Importance of Foraging

Missy eating sweet potato

With all apologies to our east coast friends, the weather here is gorgeous! Perfect for a lunch forage on the hill today. Volunteer Lynn decided to fancy things up by making sweet potato stuffed bell peppers, which she, Patti, and Amanda spread on the hill, along with beets and chow for the chimpanzees to find.…

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Making Sanctuary Possible

Jody climbing

Here is a great photo of Jody that J.B. took: This is the Jody who spent decades in research laboratories and was used as a breeding machine, having at least eleven pregnancies beginning when she was eight years old. This is the Jody who lived in cramped quarters in a dirty basement in Pennsylvania, waiting…

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Two of a Kind

Jody wine label

Below are a couple of photos – one of Annie and one of Missy that I took a month or so apart a while back.  How does that saying go – birds of a feather, flock together? I just love that they are in such similar poses, but on opposite sides of the ladder. Before…

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More Love

Negra kiss Jamie

TODAY is the last day to Share the Chimp Love! Thanks to you, we’ve raised $11,546 in February (and I’m $152 ahead of J.B.). The donation deadline is midnight tonight. It would be so nice to end things with an even $12,000. What do you think? Here are some more photos of love for inspiration:…

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Competition for Love

Share the love screenshot

The February Share the Chimp Love campaign is almost over – we’re counting down in hours rather than days now! As of this minute, you have helped raise $11,246 for the chimpanzees! That’s a lot of chimp love! You may not know that there is a bit of a competition going on between the Interim…

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Aging in reverse

2008 Jamie

We’ve said it before, but here’s some more evidence of the “aging in reverse” process that has happened for the chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest: Jamie in 2008:   Jamie in 2011:   Jamie this morning:  

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Foxie’s new love

snowfall

It’s a winter wonderland at the sanctuary today:   But Foxie is keeping Dora warm inside: Foxie has not left her new Dora the Explorer doll alone since she got it yesterday as part of the Valentine’s Day celebration. I found her gazing lovingly at it several times today. Meanwhile, I have been gazing lovingly…

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