Posts by Diana
Sleeping Arrangements
J.B. and I have been monitoring the chimps on the security cameras since the integration. We’re not watching them all the time, but we have a couple of iPads on after hours so we can take a look if we hear anything. It’s been interesting to see the changes in where the chimpanzees bed down…
Read MoreBeing Neighborly
I think this video answers a couple of FAQs – the two separate groups at the sanctuary do have visual access to each other (the video “Back in the Chute” is still one of my top five from 2022), and we plan to have the separate groups in their respective adjacent habitats at the same…
Read MoreA Sense of Awe
Earlier this week, I listened to an interview with author Dacher Kaltner about his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life. I haven’t read the book yet (it’s on my list now!), but I keep thinking about the premise, as I will try to clumsily paraphrase: the…
Read MoreLessons from Burrito
Since Burrito had a very significant birthday yesterday (how can he be 40!), I’ve been thinking a lot about him and the life lessons that he imparts just by being who he is. As Katelyn mentioned in this month’s birthday blog, “… Burrito reminds us it’s always possible (even when it might feel as though…
Read Morefor the Winter Warriors
If you follow the blog, you may have seen the brief mentions from Kelsi and then J.B. of the very eventful end of December that the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest staff and volunteers endured this year. For the first time in over a decade (as far as we can remember), J.B. and I had scheduled a short…
Read MoreOn the Fourth Day of Christmas
I was really excited to give out the buffalo hooded blanket from the Comfort & Joy auction today for the fourth day of Christmas! Though I definitely have visions of Negra becoming a buffalo, I’m not surprised that it was Burrito who got it first! Thank you to: Lisa S. for being the winning bidder…
Read Morefocusing on the peaceful moments
As the video says, it’s been drama city the last two afternoons. It’s not the most fun to be around when chimpanzees are unhappy with each other, and it’s almost always impossible to know exactly what’s going on. But, when we think about all of the hours in the day, the chimps spend most of…
Read MoreThe Ice Bandit
Apparently this chunk of ice has been in the tub since Wednesday. Maybe it had been forming from it’s original snow form into the perfect solid and was ready to enjoy today! In any case, it certainly brought more than one chimpanzee a good deal of joy today. Speaking of joy… don’t forget to bid…
Read MoreJamie & Burrito’s Day of Friendship
They really did play for a good amount of time while Anna and I cleaned their playroom. I was very glad to get the clips I did! As you can see from the video, the snow from yesterday was short-lived. I saw Annie walking up the stairs to the playroom loft with a big handful…
Read Moremore tree-climbing adventures!
What a day! The video above says it all, but below are a few still photos. Chad, on his day off, happened to see Missy’s climb as he was accompanying a former chimp house volunteer on a walk around the hill. He and J.B. took some videos with their phones as I walked up with…
Read MoreLucky Us
There are chimpanzees in captivity who are front-and-center as soon as you meet them and every day thereafter. Burrito and Jamie, for example. Then there are chimpanzees who allow others in their group to take the human-liaison role and more often hang out in the background. Sometimes, this is because they just aren’t that interested…
Read MoreBe Like Burrito
Ya’ll, let me tell you that taking care of chimpanzees in captivity is a job full of stress and worry. But Burrito here, even when you know he can be the instigator of drama, shows us why we do what we do. Enjoy the video and take Burrito’s outlook on life to heart.
Read More