Posts by Elizabeth
The Thief
Boss Jamie is not generally light-hearted. She runs a tight ship and she takes her job seriously. It’s rare to catch her playing with anyone, but when we do, it’s almost always with Foxie, and it’s almost always the same game. Jamie knows that a surefire way to get Foxie’s attention is to swipe one…
Read MoreLove a Chimpanzee Day 2019
Today is our 9th annual Love a Chimpanzee Day! This holiday was born in the imagination of one of the chimps’ longtime friends, but that doesn’t make it any less real to us. This year we decided to celebrate by offering each of the chimpanzees something they love.
Read MoreTaking It To Go
For Jody, sanctuary means having the freedom to eat lunch in bed whenever you choose.
Read MorePossibility
The Cle Elum Seven seem to value Young’s Hill, their two-acre outdoor habitat, as much for the potential it offers as they do for the space it offers. They certainly make use of the space in a variety of ways: But they also seem to enjoy pausing in the doorway leading out and considering the…
Read MoreTable Manners
There is something very satisfying about seeing chimpanzees’ total abandon when they eat. They smack their lips and chew with their mouths open, and feel no shame about it.
Read MoreEvery Last Bit
Jody’s order of operations for orange eating: fruit first, then pith, then peel.
Read MoreThe Right Tool for the Job
Grooming is a daily occurrence at the sanctuary. The chimpanzees groom each other, which facilitates social bonding, but they also groom themselves. Most of the chimps will use their fingers or lips for grooming, but Missy has a preferred tool: a splinter of wood that she “harvests” from one of the greenhouse climbing structures especially…
Read MoreA Game with Burrito
Maybe it’s spring, or maybe it’s just Burrito, but he is a playful, joyful whirlwind today. This morning he found a game of tug of war and checking himself out in the phone camera to be especially hilarious.
Read MoreBurrito on a spring afternoon
There may still be snow on the ground, but the sun is shining, the temperatures are rising, and it finally feels like spring.
Read MoreSpring Dreaming
Winter has hit us pretty hard over the past month or so, and while the chimpanzees aren’t complaining (snow is a delicacy!), the humans are ready to move on. Spring is one of everyone’s favorite times of year at the sanctuary – the air is warm, the grass is soft and sweet, and life is…
Read MoreSnow!
Mother Nature just keeps on giving.
Read MoreAdult Chimpanzees Don’t Play
I once learned in a primate behavior class that adult chimps don’t tend to play much unless they’re playing with juveniles. Clearly, nobody gave the Cle Elum Seven the news. These are a few of my favorite play videos:
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