Negra’s nest
The other night, while doing chimp counts during closing rounds, I climbed a ladder to look in the loft and found Negra building this magnificent nest. There are a number of theories as to why...
View ArticleAnd the bravery award goes to…
September 20, 2011 was a big day for the chimpanzees at the sanctuary. On that day, a physical door opened for the first time, but the door was also a symbol. The physical door allowed the chimpanzees...
View ArticleA Special Anniversary Message
Arlene and Michael Okun, supporters of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest for the last several years, are celebrating their anniversary today and have chosen to include sponsoring a day of sanctuary as...
View ArticleKeep them guessing
Foxie loves playing chase with her caregivers. To start a game, she passes one of her dolls to us and then runs or spins away. As she waits for us to catch up, she takes a big gulp of water from the...
View ArticleClose Grooming Among… Friends?
Last week, I witnessed an intimate grooming session between an unlikely pair – Jamie and Burrito. We’ve written many times on this blog about the importance of social grooming among chimpanzees. Jamie...
View ArticleCurling up with a good book
Humans aren’t the only ones that like to curl up with a good book on a rainy morning. The chimps spent the early part of the day on Young’s Hill, but before long the rain had them retreating back...
View ArticlePine Cones with Peanut Butter
One of the challenges that we have at our particular sanctuary is that we have one individual who tends to claim highly-prized food items that are meant for everyone. Pine cones with peanut butter, one...
View ArticleDetails
Annie was kind enough to let me take some photos of her in the greenhouse this afternoon during lunch. In close, tight shots like these, my attention is often drawn towards some of the differences...
View ArticleFour Reasons to HOOT!
Here are four reasons to join us at HOOT! on May 13th at Sodo Park in Seattle. These photos were taken today as the chimpanzees explored and enjoyed their home. Take a moment on this Earth Day to...
View ArticleSelecting the right boot
Jamie loves to patrol her 2-acre enclosure in the company of her caregivers. But before the walk begins, she has to select the right boot for us to wear.
View ArticleWalks in the rain
There is a gorgeous book recently written by a mother and daughter in Hawaii called “Hānau ka Ua” in which they recorded over 200 hundred names for rain in the Hawaiian language. It is written that...
View ArticleWhere Foxie goes, so goes her doll.
The photos below were taken last week when Foxie’s doll of the day was Dora the Explorer’s blonde friend. If you don’t know the history of Foxie and her dolls, learn all about it here. Since her...
View ArticleHOOT! Sponsors: Merritt and John Atwood
This is the seventh in our series of blog posts celebrating sponsors of the HOOT! 2017 Spring Fling gala. Past posts celebrated Poppoff, Inc., Martha Faulkner Real Estate, Darwin’s Natural Pet...
View ArticleNew heights
Negra wasn’t the only one trying something new yesterday. As I stood near the top of Young’s Hill, I saw Burrito walking towards me with a sense of purpose. When he reached the top, he turned and went...
View ArticleSimple pleasures
The other night I watched Negra eat dandelions as the sun began to set over Young’s Hill. I wish it could be spring forever.
View ArticleThe Things We Carry
A few months ago, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest was invited to contribute to an exhibit in the Museum of Culture and Environment at Central Washington University. The exhibit, entitled “The Things We...
View Article
