Posts by Keri
Missy Chimpanzee
Age: 41ish. Her birthday is unknown, but it’s estimated she was born in 1975. We celebrate her birthday on September 23 each year. Nicknames: Miss, Miss-Miss, Little Bigfoot (we often joke that she resembles Bigfoot when she stands bipedally on Young’s Hill) Best friend: Annie Favorite foods: Tomatoes! Distinguishing physical characteristics: distinctive white patch above…
Read MoreNegra Chimpanzee
Age: 42ish…Her exact birthday is unknown since she was captured in the wild, presumably in 1973, although she could be older than that. We celebrate her birthday on June 13 each year, which is the anniversary of her and the other chimpanzees’ arrival to the sanctuary. Nicknames: Neggie, Queen Negra Favorite foods: Peanuts, lettuce, fresh…
Read MoreAnnie Chimpanzee
Age: 41ish. Her exact birthday is unknown since she was captured in the wild, but her records indicate that she was born sometime in 1974 (we celebrate her birthday on September 10th each year). Best friend: Missy chimpanzee Nicknames: Annie-bo-bannie, Miss Annie Best known for: Putting her feet up and making bird noises Personality: Sweet,…
Read MoreThe ordinary is extraordinary
Throughout the course of any given day here at CSNW, the chimpanzees are either eating, resting, playing, displaying, grooming, exploring, climbing, running, foraging, napping, inspecting enrichment, interacting with one another and/or human caregivers and a host of other activities. So, it’s always great when we are able to capture clear photos and video clips of…
Read MoreJamie’s tea party
What could a spoon possibly be used for at a tea party? Well, if you’re Jamie chimpanzee, everything is a potential tool. And tools can be used for just about any activity; you just have to use your imagination.
Read MoreExpect the unexpected
I’ve come to expect certain behaviors from each of the chimpanzees as I’ve gotten to know them throughout the years. For instance, if I see a chimp running, I would expect it to be Missy. She’s the one most likely to be seen running at full speed for no other reason than to run. And…
Read MoreWhat happened today?
This morning while we were cleaning the Playroom I noticed that the chimps were pretty quiet in the Front Rooms so I went to check on what they were up to. Annie and Missy were on the ledge in room 2 grooming one another, while Burrito sat quietly nearby. Unfortunately, none of the photos I…
Read MoreA look of contentment in their eyes
Often times I catch myself gazing at these chimpanzees, wondering what they are thinking. It’s easy for me (and maybe for most people) to attribute my own human feelings of awe and wonder as I watch them explore Young’s Hill (their 2 acre outdoor enclosure) or sit quietly looking out the windows from the catwalk…
Read MoreMore winter treats
Winter is in full swing here at the sanctuary. And by full swing, I mean there is easily over a foot of snow on the ground, icicles are hanging from the roof and the snow continues to fall as I sit here writing this blog post. Luckily, winter brings about treats that these chimps sure…
Read MoreLots of enrichment to choose from
Here at the sanctuary, mother nature seems to be making up for the lack of snow the past few years with an abundance over the past few days. This seasonal abundance provides great enrichment for the chimpanzees, who often venture out onto Young’s Hill (the chimps’ outdoor enclosure) to search for the snowy treats. But…
Read MoreMissy’s mission
Often times Missy will join Jamie on her perimeter walks around Young’s Hill (the chimps’ 2 acre outdoor enclosure), although I suspect her mission is a bit different than that of Jamie’s. Jamie is all business as she walks, checking to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary and that her home is safe…
Read MoreJody in the spotlight
In the spotlight today is Jody. She’s not often one for having her photo taken, so when the opportunity arose, I took it. During breakfast this morning, she took her banana and grapefruit from the Greenhouse area of their enclosure to sit on the bench in Front Room 4. We often refer to this room…
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