Cle Elum Chimpanzee's "Real World" House

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Story Published: Feb 13, 2009 at 5:42 PM PST

By Steve Wellman

We got a rare inside look at a world where the residents are sometimes peaceful and affectionate, greeting a staff member who's been away.

Keith LaChappelle, Founder of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest rubs fingers with a chimp. "I’ve been away for a couple of weeks,‘ he says. 'So they missed you?’ "I think so."

At other times it’s almost like an ape version of “The Real World” house…you know, “where people stop being polite?” One chimp drags a nest across the room and runs into a table.

Steve Wellman, Action News asks "What's with Negra over there by herself?”

“Negra?” responds J.B. Mulcahy, Director of Operations. “She's kind of a loner."

And even once in awhile a big fight breaks out: when it's time to show who's in charge.

Mulcahy says "I think Burrito pushed it a little too far once and the girls wanted to teach him a lesson and they did it was six on one."

But mostly the "Cle Elum Seven", once lab animals in constant suffering, have now relaxed and are enjoying the good life.

Diana Goodrich, Director of Outreach, holds a bucket of “monkey pellets”: "This was their primary diet in the lab for decades,” she says. “So what we're doing is switching them to more fresh produce."

Now the apes have time to play with their favorite toys. In fact, so many have been donated they need a special shed to house them.

Steve Wellman stands near the chimps’ outdoor enclosure. "This is Foxie. She's the one who just loves Troll dolls and as you can see she has one in each hand and another in her foot."

They'll even share. Foxie tossed Steve one of her dolls and he tossed it back.

So, tucked away on a peaceful mountainside, these refugees from science are getting back to basics: living without fear or pain and just being happy.

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