Friends of Washoe

Welcome to Friends of Washoe, a non-profit organization that cares for Washoe's family.

Meet Washoe

Washoe was born in Africa and was estimated to be 42 years old when she passed away in 2007. Washoe was cross-fostered and acquired American Sign Language from her human companions. She was the first non-human in history to acquire a human language. Washoe touched many lives around the world. To read some of the comments received after her death, visit her Tribute Page

	Meet Washoe's Family
	Tatu is a 36-year-old female. Her favorite color is black and she seems to enjoy masks.
	Dar is 35, and a pretty mellow guy most of the time. His dad was one of the biggest chimpanzees in captivity.
	Loulis is the youngest, at 33. He is Washoe's adopted son and acquired sign language from her.
	Moja liked to dress up in clothes and use mirrors. She passed away in 2002, when she was 29.
	Their Home
	Washoe's family live in the CHCI Sanctuary at Central Washington University. You can visit them by attending a Chimposium. Call 509.963.2244 for information.

2012 Advanced chimposiums

have been scheduled! Join us for six hours of informative activities

fRIENDS OF WASHOE HAS RECENTLY BEEN GRANTED $30,000 - the first half of a two year grant from The DAVID BOHNETT FOUNDATION.

This generous grant will help fund The David Bohnett caregiver/cognitive enrichment position. This staff member is essential to the daily care and enrichment of the chimpanzees.We want to send out a big Pant Hoot to the Foundation for their continuing help ensuring the on-going care of Washoe's Family.

Holiday cleaning? don't throw it out - Remember the chimpanzees! click here to see enrichment items you can donate

we welcome you to join our docent team! check us out today!

CHECK OUT THE On-Line Store!

Friends of Washoe and CHCI are proud to offer our "Chimporium" - our on-line store. You can even become a Friend of Washoe or sponsor a party or an entire DAY! for the chimpanzees through the site. Try out the shopping sitetoday.

We are now on Twitter and Facebook!

Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute

Help us earn money everytime you search the internet!

simply click on the link below and you will be ready to search through Goodsearch! Every search will earn FOW 1 penny!

Sponsor a Party OR A DAY at CHCI!

You can become a valuable partner in our holidays and other celebrations and our day to day operations by sponsoring a party or a day at CHCI. You sponsorship contributes to the chimpanzees' lives by providing stimulating enrichment and much needed supplies and equipment Learn more about becoming a sponsor.

AMAZON WISH LIST

Here is an easy way to help out the family - just click on the link below and it will take you to an Amazon.com wishlist with many things that can help enrich the lives of the chimpanzees that live at CHCI. You can make a direct impact on the lives of Tatu, Loulis, and Dar. There's something for every budget!
CHCI's Amazon wish list.

What's New?

Find out what Tatu, Loulis and Dar are doing today by visiting the Chimpanzee Camera or read about day to day life at CHCI by visiting our blog, Pan bloglodytes.

The chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute - Loulis, Tatu, and Dar - have acquired extensive American Sign Language vocabularies and live together as a social group. They gesture and vocalize as free-living chimpanzees do and also use American Sign Language in their interactions with humans and with each other to answer questions, make requests, and describe activities and objects.

Washoe was the first non-human animal to acquire a human language and her adopted son Loulis is the first to acquire a human language from another chimpanzee.

Show the chimpanzees you care by becoming a Friends of Washoe member or renewing your membership. You can join online today!

Friends of Washoe
CHCI/CWU
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7573

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