Posts by Elizabeth
A Very Missy Birthday
We’ve had the utter delight of knowing Missy for ten years now, and we’ve learned that she wants two things in life: tomatoes and adventure. So for her 43rd birthday today, caregivers risked life and limb by scaling the various climbing structures on Young’s Hill to create a tomato-themed obstacle course for the birthday girl.
Read MorePeace on a Thursday Morning
Is there anything better than watching happy chimpanzees do nothing at all?
Read MorePlay wrestling on a summer afternoon
Our heat wave is over (for the moment), it’s warm and breezy, and it’s the kind of day when you just want to wrestle and laugh with your friends.
Read MoreFoxie in the Greenhouse on a Summer Day
Can you hear the birds chirping?
Read MoreChimp Proof
One of the chimpanzees’ front rooms was closed off for maintenance recently. For seven straight days, the chimps watched as Co-Directors J.B. and Diana stripped the walls and gave the room a facelift. Most of the chimps took it in stride, but boss Jamie is always very interested when maintenance is happening, and she did…
Read MoreChoice
Annie has been wearing a yellow elastic headband around her waist for the past week. This makes us happy because it’s her choice and it seems to make her happy. The headband is part of the daily enrichment we offer to the chimps, which also includes blankets, dolls, scarves, socks, hats, boots, wooden toys, plastic…
Read MoreFarmer Jo
Jody has earned the nickname “Farmer Jo” due to her endearing habit during forages of collecting as much food as she can possibly hold and then hobbling bipedally down to the greenhouse to enjoy her spoils. She was very happy with the carrots, beets, and corn that volunteer Patti brought for lunch today.
Read MoreNegra Makes Strides
Young’s Hill, the chimps’ two-acre outdoor habitat, was opened on September 20, 2011. Before stepping onto Young’s Hill for the first time, many of the chimpanzees at the sanctuary had probably never felt earth under their feet or seen the sky above without looking through bars. While each of the chimps took his or her…
Read MoreGive and Take
Today volunteer Amanda captured some interesting chimp behavior on her phone while watching volunteer Kailie serve lunch to the chimpanzees. Kailie had set a couple of pieces of yam within Jamie’s reach. As boss, Jamie has the unique privilege of being able to leave her food unattended and be reasonably sure that no one else…
Read MoreThe Lip
You can always tell when Negra is feeling extremely relaxed because she loses the motivation to control her lower lip. A Negra with a droopy lower lip is a very happy (and usually sleepy) Negra.
Read MoreWadging
Chimpanzees make the most of their food.
Read MoreNew Views
So many things have changed for the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees in the last ten years since they moved from a research lab to the sanctuary. One of the most striking is their new view.
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