Welcome to new blog readers! We are so excited about the ABC coverage that brought you here! To get you up to speed, I hope that you have perused the blog and learned about the wonderful Cle Elum Seven and their growing human family of supporters.
We have periodically been posting some “then” and “now” photos of the chimpanzees to show how quickly they are changing, and I thought it would be appropriate to post another one of these today as so many new folks view the blog. I think that Jody’s physical improvements have been the most dramatic. What do you think?
Yikes, Jody looked terrible when she got here. What an improvement, so glad you are capturing this on camera.
Jody has such a sweet face .. no doubt what a huge difference .. hope she has grown enough hair to cover that awful tattoo .. what satisfaction and feelings you & the team must have actually seeing them improve right before your very eyes .. bravo again & again to all you guys for coming to their rescue, providing them with love, support, variety of good food, enrichment and helping them restore their magnificence and dignity.. what a feeling that must be to do that for them..
I really shouldn’t look at these photos at work, because just as I did when I viewed the prior Before and Afters, I started crying at my desk. Tears of joy of course, but still a little awkward in the workplace. Thank you so much for everything you do. I hope people take to heart how responsive animals, like humans, can be to a little kindness and extra effort.
The before picture tore me up. I seem to have some strong feelings for Jody, I don’t know why since I don’t feel I know her well, the feelings are just there. Seeing the before and after seems to support these feelings. Her change is so dramatic in such a short time. This is so important to document for so many reasons. It is so wonderful to watch them come into themselves and leave their old lives behind. Welcome to everyone just joining us!
Wow. I’ve been following your blog since day one, but these photos are still shocking. They make my heart sink and soar all at the same time. Thank you for all you are doing to improve the lives of these beautiful beings.
I was also very pained by Jody’s “before” picture and deeply touched by her sweet, sweet “now” face.
Thanks to all of you and all you do for these wondrous creatures. I thank God for each of you, every night.
The biggest difference I see in Jody (well, besides the obvious hair issue) is the look on her face. In the first pic. she looks a little timid and unsure (who wouldn’t based on her life before coming to the sanctuary), but in the “now” picture she looks like she’s about to start laughing and I love that! I think this might be one of my favorite pictures of the chimps I’ve seen so far. She looks like she is so amused with some little secret she has. My friends always tell me I seem to have an “I’m up to something” look on my face so maybe that’s why I love this picture so much. I’m not usually up to anything, I’m usually just amused by some thought I just had. Perhaps Jody is the same.
WOW!!! What an amazing dramatic change in only 4 months!! If you needed proof that you’ve done the right thing by building this sanctuary & bringing these chimps from Pennsylvania, here it is!! AMAZING!! Jody looks so beautiful & stress free & relaxed now!! She, like the others, really deserves to live out her life in the safety & comfort of CSNW! Thank you!! My dream & hope is that the 1200 chimpanzees still in research labs will someday have the same opportunity to experience the comfort and security of a sanctuary.
In the before picture Jody looks like — and I don’t use this metaphor lightly — she has just been liberated from a concentration camp. Her tentativeness in that photo is heart-wrenching. In the second photo she looks inquisitive, expectant, alert. She looks like the kind of person I’d ask for advice about my dilemmas, and she’d probably have pretty good advice.
This before and after match-up is unbelieveable. Jody looks near to death in the first photo. Thank goodness she did not have to stay in the lab a day longer than she did. The poor dear darling. Her recovery in just four months is amazing. What joy! How wonderful to be able to help her get better physically as well as emotionally and socially. Yes, Amy, if we could get the 1200 out and then NEVER AGAIN. When they are all out of labs and entertainment, we all must then make sure that the world never forgets. Linking what chimpanzees have/are going though in labs and entertainment is very accurate. It is indeed a holocaust. It MUST be stopped and never happen again.
Sniff. That’s all I can say. And bless you.
I’m (almost) speechless. When I saw the first photos 4 months ago, I was filled with so much joy at their arrival…that each picture shared was beautiful to me. They all captured my heart immediately.
Tonight…the before photo is haunting.
As I look at the today’s pic of Jody…I again find it nothing but beautiful. I wonder how I’ll feel 4 months from now…when we most likely will see her spirit restored even more.
Thank you for documenting their journey…day by day….back to health.
Guess it is true… a picture is worth a thousand words.
This brought tears to my eyes – and makes me so grateful and honored to know all of you… Diana, JB, Keith and Sarah.
What a wonderful thing you are doing each and every day – thank you again from all of us.
Oh my goodness! That before photo of Jody looks like the ones about the starving children! Kim said it. We were all overjoyed with their pictures in June, not knowing how they would blossom! It is truly amazing at how resilient these darlings are. And how blessed each of us are in knowing them and their journeys they have endured. Makes my life seem like a piece of cake!
Thank you for sharing these amazing journeys with us and God bless you.
The difference in Jamie is incredible!! She looks so healthy now. I think the biggest difference though is her eyes. That hopeless and depressed look has changed dramatically to a bright, content one. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and it’s never been more clear than the pictures here.
I cry for how she was treated before and cry that she is now happy as she deserves. Seeing these changes show us that it’s never to late for a second chance.
What a gorgeous girl – she looks soooo much better now.
OMG what a difference of living conditions can make…but here’s proof that a good home, lots of care and love can make you just blossom with health….thank you so much for the great care and love that has been given to these 7 beautiful animals…thank you for saving their lives..to the great people at CSNW….Paula
you truly fit the song…what a wonderful world…
Oh my God ~ this just took my breath away – I literally gasped when I saw it. Yes ~ I agree with what everyone else has already written – the unspeakable heartbreak – and the deep gratitude for where she is now. Most importantly – the remaining 1200-1500 still rotting in the concentration camps…….let’s get more active, more vocal – I’m looking forward to getting home so I can get back on the forum talking with Diana, the staff and CCC’s about how we can all help!!
Whenever you guys are having a hard day, just look at these photos and remember that you are truly doing the work of the angels. Your work has touched me in a deep and profound way and I thank-you for that.
It is so true that looking at the photos of the chimpanzees and their improvements over the last few months can alleviate the stress of a rough day.
We’re all going to continue to have rough days – we are primates, after all. But now we have so much to live for and to work towards – there are many more chimpanzees out there who need us.
Hopefully, everyone reading the blog can get the same ease of day-to-day stress by seeing the improvements in the chimpanzees. The Cle Elum Seven supporters are as much a part of their recovery as those of us who work directly with them. We couldn’t do this without you.