One of the most profound experiences of my life was the death of a chimpanzee named Pablo. Pablo was a friend, and it was the first time that a chimpanzee that I had known personally had died, so it was quite difficult emotionally. But it wasn’t the loss that affected me most. Instead, it was the way the other chimpanzees in the group reacted that moved me so deeply. The day he died, I witnessed a chimpanzee funeral. And as far as I’m concerned, I saw the entire range of emotions that would be on display at any human funeral – confusion, grief, anger, denial, and, among the older laboratory veterans, even a wise and knowing acceptance.
The memory of Pablo’s death was evoked today when I read this tribute written by our friend Sheri Speede to a chimpanzee named Dorothy. The letter is touching, and it reflects the compassion that Sheri and the people at Sanaga-Yong bring to their work caring for orphaned and abused chimpanzees. But, similar to my experience with Pablo, what struck me most was the photo of Dorothy’s chimpanzee family watching her burial. I would challenge anyone to see this photo and not be moved.
Chimpanzees are like us in so many ways, as you can see from the photos and videos on this blog. But some of the similarities are so profound as to render the others insignificant. When I think of why chimpanzees deserve our compassion, I think of Pablo’s friends and family, and now, I will think of this photo.
dee says
oh my .. so unforgetable & moving .. .. I am so very sorry for everything she had been through. her choice & ability to trust humans again is beyond extraordinary .. oh my what a sweet caring loving beautiful soul. I am so glad that she had family & friends.
yeah JB what a powerful moment in time especially captured in that photo where Dorothy’s family gathers to see her .. the chimpanzee in the back row extending his/her left arm out to touch the friend he or she is standing next to .. oh my goodness .. just like us ..
my sincere condolences to all that knew and loved her.
thanks so much JB for sharing this important announcement and for sharing your personal thoughts about your friend Pablo.
dee says
so true JB when you said “the similarities are so profound as to render the others insignificant”
thank you for saying this. how can this happen .. how can people draw the line.. yeah it is undeniable that they are so much like us in so many different ways (more so than not)
… just can’t stand it when biomedical researchers, the entertainment industry & others with horrible selfserving agendas, turn a blind eye to this and continue to do harm and whatever they want to them.
this is disturbing & unacceptable
Amy says
We owe our fellow animals so much, starting with the acknowledgement that we have more in common than not.
Denice says
When I read this tribute to Dorothy and saw this picture of them all lined up on the fence for one more look at her it was like someone hit me in the stomach.
Ronda Biaggi says
This touches me deeply, tears are flowing…. God Bless Dorthy’s spirit, AMEN
Theresa says
This article and pictures was in my email inbox this morning. It brought tears to my eyes. Dorothy was beautiful! The chimps at the fence and the description of the reaction of the alpha male gave me chills. I dare anyone to look at that picture and say animals have no feelings or souls. Their emotions are right there to see.
I know the staff is grieving too. I adopted a chimp at a sanctuary in South Africa and he died suddently last month of heart failure too. I was heartbroken and grieved the loss of a wonderful chimp that I loved.
I will always be grateful to people that take chimps from these horrible situations and give them a better life. Dorothy had 8 years of happiness and love with Sherri, the staff, and her chimp family. I am comforted that she got to be with them instead of still at the end of a chain. Dorothy is truly free now and in a place that has no fences. May she rest in peace.
Shelly C/Santa Rosa, CA says
Yes, tears are flowing indeed, very very touching. ~~~ RIP sweet Dorothy~~ and God Speed to your family and friends!! This is the kind of Story I want to share with people that laugh at my caring and compassion for the chimpanzee family and any primate or other animal group and/or family. They feel pain, like we feel pain, they cry tears like we cry tears, people that do not have compassion fao animals, well, just SHAME on them!!! I wll send my condolences to
Sheri Speed and Sanage Yong. Thank you JB for sharing! I remember reading about Pablo, how while he was in Biomedical research . he would thrash about when they came to take blood, and that is why they had darted him so much, the fear he must have felt, but when he was ill at Fauna Foundation and they needed to draw blood, Pablo trusted them , he put his arms out without hesitaion, he knew he was sick, Pablo was too young to die, they abused that poor baby for too many years, tehy probably have never even lost a nights sleep for him, talking about the hitler scientist, I have lost more sleep for Pablo and I never even got to meet him, ~~~RIP sweet Pablo, I hope you are in Chompanzee heaven , with all of your friends and family!!!
Debbie says
JB,
Thank you for sharing this with us. Usually I am on this site several times a day, but tonight is the first time I have had the chance because I lost my Mother on monday, we buried her today. This story touches me so deeply right now. I feel so close to our chimpanzee friends, they go through the emotions as we do
The picture of Dorothys family made me cry for her family and mine. But I am comforted in the fact that my Mom and Dorothy went to heaven on the same day.
Thank you again.
Wanda Perry says
Thank you for sharing this. I am sending this to my Senator, how can they make decisions about their future when they know so little about them…..
When I saw Dorothy’s family at the fence, they looked so reverent and respectful.
I am really thankful for this blog, to be able to share with people that feel and care for these chimpanzees the same as I do. Sometimes I guess it’s easier for some to look the other way, what you don’t know can’t hurt you.
I am also sad for the person that lost their Mom……
Shelly C/Santa Rosa, CA says
So sorry Debbie for the loss of your mother, my deepest sympathy!
[IMG]http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd13/brendagoodmum/sympathy/sym1-1.gif[/IMG]
Shelly C/Santa Rosa, CA says
sorry it did not work!
Debra Durham says
A moving and personal story. Thank you so much for sharing and thanks to everyone here who has opened his or her heart to animals.
~deb
Cindy says
Hi Debbie,
I lost my mother awhile ago and I know what you’re going thru now and am here for you, if only in computer land. Last year a chimp friend of mine, Washoe, died and the profound grief I felt at her loss brought back so much of the sadness of losing my mother. The chimpanzee and human faces grieving for Dorothy are there for all of us.
~Cindy
Ronda Biaggi says
I was devastated when I heard the news of Washoe’s passing! I didn’t even know her then. Something changed in me that day and forever! I grieved for months for a chimp I only knew about through pictures and reading. I watch Tatu, Dar, and Loulis on the webcam daily. They are so human, full of expression, and emotions! I hope soon to go to a Chimposium they conduct for the public. My co-workers bought me tickets as a gift! Their nice gesture made me cry. Thank you for sharing this story about Dorthy and her family. It has touched me deeply. Once again I grieve for a chimp I just met!
dee says
I am so very sorry Debbie to hear about your Mom.. my sincere sympathy to you & your family.
Audrey says
What a wonderful, moving blog post. It brings tears to my eyes. I had to e-mail it out to all of my friends. If only the people in the U.S. had as much respect for chimpanzees (and all animals) as the villagers in this tribute have for Dorothy. It makes me think, also, about the future when we will eventually have to deal with the same experience at CSNW….its very difficult to think about. Love to the Cle Elum Seven & to all the staff at CSNW.
Shelly Knapp says
JB, thank you so much for sharing this. This is one of the most moving stories and photo’s I’ve seen. Being able to share this, either electronically or in hardcopy form, I believe, could really make an impact in helping people form an instant emotional connection with chimpanzees. I know there are many wonderful photographs and videos out there – but this one is very unique. I wish the whole world could see it.
Claudine Erlandson says
I knew Dorothy well. I lived with her and the Chimps family (there were ONLY 12 then and NOW 66!) for 6 months as a volunteer in 2001.
Indeed, Dorothy was the sweetest Chimp person, so gentle, so caring for the others. She’d finish her food quickly and hoped Nama would leave some of her own breakfast for her…
I am going back for a visit this November (for my 70th birthday) but I won’t see chere Dorothy… It will break my heart to visit her grave plus the others too who are also Chimps Angels now, Pepe, Becky and Njode.
It’s always so difficult to say adieu.
Shelly Knapp says
Hi Claudine!! So nice to see you on this blog! You and I met at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project fundraiser at Iain Moffat’s home on Queen Anne on August 22nd. How wonderful of you to share your experiences with us, thank you. Oh my gosh, when you go, please take with you our spirit of love and compassion for Dorothy and all the chimpanzees there. When you’re physically there, I hope you can feel our presence and that it helps bring peace and comfort. Claudine, what is the name of the chimpanzee that you’ll be reunited with – the little one who had a broken limb? Also, if you haven’t already seen it, on this web site, you can also “talk” with many of us who blog all the time (we call ourselves the CCC’s – Cle Elum Chimp Chatters) on https://www.chimpsnw.org/forum. There are a whole variety of animal welfare topics that we discuss. Peace and blessings to you!! Shelly
Diana says
I just posted a new topic on the forum: https://chimpsnw.org/forum under the Fundraising / Enrichment page about a CSNW memorial. We have just begun to create a memorial site at the sanctuary.
We will be raising funds at some point to add to this memorial spot – we have some ideas of what we would like it to include. It will be a place where we can go to think about all of those we have personally lost or we have learned of who are no longer here, like Dorothy.
There are many chimpanzees to remember.
It is important for us to have a place to remember and learn about all of them, to have a place to think about other human and non-human friends who are no longer here, and to prepare for when we lose one of our new Cle Elum Seven friends.
My condolences to Debbie for the lost of your mother and to Claudine for the loss of your friend Dorothy.
Shelly Knapp says
Debbie and Cindy ~ I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope that you both have the love of friends and family to comfort you.
Marilynn Truex says
Just saw the video of Dorothy. It has amazed and saddened me unlike anything else I have seen about animals. You bet they have souls and many give them so little credit for their intelligence.
My love to all who care for these chimps and all other Sanctuary animals.