Posts by Elizabeth
Chimp ID: Jamie
We’re continuing our series of blog posts on chimpanzee identification today with Jamie. (Did you miss the posts about Annie, Burrito, or Foxie? Click on their names.) Jamie is the boss of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, and she takes her job seriously. One of the first things you notice about Jamie is her strut. She walks…
Read MoreLooking back
I snapped these photos the other day of Jody nesting in the front rooms: and they reminded me of an early photo of Jody, taken in the same spot, in one of her first nests at the sanctuary shortly after the chimpanzees arrived here. I didn’t yet work at the sanctuary when the above photo…
Read MoreSome things never change
We often write about changes we’ve seen in the chimpanzees since their arrival from the research lab a little over five years ago. Physically and emotionally, they are different chimps. They are stronger, happier, and undoubtedly more alive. But in many ways, they have held onto some parts of their old selves. One of Negra’s…
Read MoreChimp ID: Foxie
This is Part 3 of our series of blog posts on chimpanzee identification. (See Annie’s and Burrito’s posts by clicking on their names.) Most people can identify Foxie right away because she’s very rarely without at least one of her favorite dolls: But there are other ways of identifying Foxie. She often walks with a…
Read MoreChimp ID: Burrito
This is Part 2 of our series of blog posts on chimpanzee identification. (For last week’s post on Annie’s distinguishing characteristics, click here.) Burrito is the only male in the Cle Elum Seven, and he is probably the easiest chimp to identify. For one thing, he’s a guy: People often comment that Burrito is “fluffier”…
Read MoreChimp ID: Annie
Those of you who have been following our blog for a while have probably gotten pretty good at telling the chimpanzees apart, but it can be tough when you’re first getting to know them. I thought it’d be fun to do a series of posts featuring each chimpanzee’s distinguishing physical characteristics. Annie is pretty distinct…
Read MorePlaying with Foxie
If you’re playing with Foxie, chances are there’s a doll involved. She often initiates play with a caregiver by passing us one or more of her dolls. We’re then expected to entertain her by acting as silly as possible. Caregivers Diana and Debbie filmed one such play session yesterday.
Read MoreChimpanzees are kind of amazing
If we’re being honest, we have to admit that chimpanzees are cooler than us in many ways. Some of the chimpanzee attributes I’m most envious of are their superior strength, their amazing feet, and their flexibility, as demonstrated below. Annie: Jody:
Read MoreThe artist at rest
Thanks so much to everyone who voted for Jamie’s art in the HSUS contest! She’s pretty wiped out from a busy week of campaigning.
Read MoreSimple pleasures
To Burrito, sanctuary means food. If he had his way, I believe he would eat 24 hours a day. In the five or so years since the chimps arrived at CSNW, they’ve had approximately 5,650 meals, and today’s meals are no less exciting to Burrito than those we served on Day 1. He particularly enjoyed…
Read MoreFoxie on her 37th birthday
10 am: Party in the greenhouse, featuring frozen banana in troll heads 10:45 am: Explore Young’s Hill 11:30 am: Build a nest in the playroom 12 pm: Lounge in the greenhouse with favorite dolls… …and pal Jamie 1 pm: Lunch: cucumbers, snap peas, celery, and lemons 2:30 pm: Afternoon quiet time Thanks again to Foxie’s…
Read MoreFeet
I love chimpanzee feet. These are Missy’s feet and they carried her through thirty years in lab cages. But that was then. Now Missy’s feet are for sprinting and leaping and tickling and sometimes holding surplus food at mealtime. I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Read More