The Fauna Foundation sanctuary in Canada lost a dear friend last week. J.B. and I knew Tom well from our time at Fauna and our hearts go out to everyone at the sanctuary. We know how big of a loss this is for the humans and the other chimpanzees. It is the most difficult part of the work that we do.
Tom began his life in Africa. He was taken from his home and separated from his family to be shipped to the United States for use in biomedical research. He spent 30 years in laboratories, including some time at Buckshire. He underwent over 50 liver biopsies. He was injected with HIV. He was considered uncooperative in the laboratory, having to be anesthesized even to be shifted from one small cage to another. When the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) was closing, the chimpanzees were slated to move to the notorious Coulston Foundation, a private laboratory in New Mexico. The head veterinarian at LEMSIP decided to place as many chimpanzees in sanctuary as he could, and individuals were scattered across North America to every sanctuary that had space. The Fauna Foundation scrambled to complete a building and fifteen LEMSIP chimpanzees arrived in 1997. Neither the humans nor the chimpanzees truly knew what was in store for them and how their lives would transform over the next decade.
Tom experienced a lot of new things at Fauna: hot tea (it had to be a certain brand for Tommy to drink it), painting (he created some amazing pieces of art), oatmeal (a favorite dinner), an obsessive love of green peppers (he liked them best when accompanied by crackers), the ability to identify a perfectly ripe mango (he would reject those that were too under or overripe, but LOVED mangoes in their perfect state); and, most of all, a human best friend: Pat Ring. Pat was the cattle rancher who had sold his farm to Fauna. He was an unlikely person to be smitten by a chimpanzee, but Tom looked at Pat with a level of admiration and affection that dissolved any species barrier between the two. Tom’s death was sudden, probably a heart attack, and his best friend Pat was by his side at the end.
Since learning of Tom’s death, I have been remembering Tom playing with Pablo. Tom had difficulty socializing with other chimpanzees. He had lived in isolation for so long that he hadn’t developed the social skills necessary to live harmoniously in a group. But he loved the other male chimpanzees at Fauna, and Gloria would frequently group Tom with Pablo and Yoko for short periods of time. Pablo was not fond of most humans and had a tough-guy demeanor, but when he played with Tommy, he was a different person. These two large chimpanzee guys would follow each other in slow games of chase, grabbing each other’s feet and laughing that breathy chimpanzee laugh. Yoko, a small and much more energetic chimpanzee, would follow behind, practically tripping over himself, trying to increase the pace. Watching this train of happy, playful old chimpanzees traipsing through the sanctuary really brought home to me what a sanctuary is all about. Pablo was the first chimpanzee who died at Fauna. His death was described in Joseph D’Agnese’s Discover magazine article that caused Keith to begin Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Pablo’s time in sanctuary was far too brief, but I will now forever remember Pablo and Tom laughing and playing together.
Tom was immortalized through Alison Argo’s documentary “An Unnatural History” and became the ambassador for Project R&R, a program of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society aimed at ending the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research. The documentary ends with Tom climbing a tall tree on a newly created island at Fauna. There are no words more fitting to remember Tom than those Alison spoke during that scene:
…We can’t undo the past – but we can reconsider the future and the cost to the chimpanzee. Thousands like Tom have sacrificed everything so that we might live a little longer or laugh a little louder…
Far from the forests of equatorial Africa, this old chimp can finally survey the strange landscape that has become his home. At last his trials have come to an end – but his story will live on: a reminder of the thousands like him, who are still waiting for a second chance.
Theresa says
God bless him. May he rest in peace. What a handsome guy!
Amy M. says
Diana — what a gorgeous tribute. I have Fauna’s 2009 calendar, which is devoted to Tom, up in my cubicle at work. I wish I had known him.
Rachelle says
Thank you for this touching tribute to Tom – Diana and John (JB) helped me learn so much about the chimpanzees..
leslie says
tom was (is) one of my true loves … i am so happy he got to experience a freer life in his last years. it is a tribute to all of you folks (onsite here and other sanctuaries) and all who provide financial and other support … that tom was allowed a piece of life that was, if not what it should have been for him, without stress and where he was cared for physically and emotionally. tom is now truly free.
Jennifer Douglas says
thanks for posting this tribute to Tom, the Alison Argo documentary had a huge effect on me and it made me determined to do something in my own small way to contribute and then CSNW came along and offered me that opportunity. That final scene where Tom climbs the tree is so moving.
Gayle says
A beautiful tribute. I’m grateful that at least he was able to enjoy some peace and happiness at Fauna .
Candy (Tyler, TX) says
I agree with you Jennifer, about the documentary, I was also very affected by its content. It’s a documentary that’s a must-see.
I copied the following story from the releasechimps.org, it’s a great story about Tom:
Ch-411*: Painting Himself “Normal”
Unlike most chimpanzees whose feet are dark or black, Tom had a pink, scarred foot as a result of an injury. Tom was always fully aware of this difference between him and other chimpanzees.
One afternoon, Tom, who enjoyed opportunities to paint, refused his usual choices of colorful paints, brushes and canvas and instead insisted on having a jar of black paint. Tom dipped his fingers into the jar and methodically applied the black paint to his pink foot, working slowly and carefully to cover every trace of pink. He stopped, only when he had successfully returned his foot to a “normal” chimpanzee color.
His caregiver at Fauna Foundation described her emotions at witnessing this:
I couldn’t help but feel the tears well up in my eyes. As they rolled down my cheeks, I thought how this man in front of me must feel incredibly self-conscious about his pink foot and how difficult it must be for him to look so different from the others. I was also crying at the thought that this too is something we share with chimpanzees: an acute awareness of what it means …to look different….
For months after this, Tom periodically painted his pink foot with black paint.
GOODBYE, TOM
Roslyn in Montreal says
Au revoir, Tommy. We are so very lucky to have had the opportunity to know you and love you – and we already miss you so much.
P.S. For those who might want to see, Tommy’s photo gallery page at the Fauna website has a picture of him sitting way up high in his tree on the island (I think that the picture was taken on the same day that they filmed the Allison Argo PBS documentary) along with several other really beautiful photos of Tom:
http://faunafoundation.org/chimpanzee_gallery.php?id=23
leslie says
i had forgotten about tom painting himself normal, thank you for reminding me.
Margaret and Karen says
Thank you for this beautiful tribute.
Sara Lissabet says
I am happy to have known of Tom through this wonderful tribute. That he completed his life in a much happier state is a monumental achievement and I’m sure one that Tom appreciated tremendously without words. His legacy will not be forgotten.
Debbie says
What amazing people at Fauna that took the time to know Tom and what he liked and didn’t like. To have people care about him so much that they even knew what kind of tea he like is touching and speaks volumes about the dedication of those who are providing sanctuary to chimpanzees abused in research. I too saw the documentary and I have been pestering my congressman to co sponsor the great ape proctection act to no avail (so far). My next plan is to purchase the documentary and deliver it to his office with some popcorn and articles from NEAVS on chimpanzees and research in a gift basket.
Theresa says
Tom painting his foot to look like the others brought a lump to my throat. What a poignant story. Another example of how intelligent and emotional chimps are.
Denice says
I am saddened for those who new Tom.
I am saddened for those of us who didn’t know Tom.
However, I am thrilled that in the end he had people who loved him, who cared for him, who accepted him and who played with him. I’m glad he was not alone when one door closed and another one opened for Tom Chimpanzee.
Jeani Goodrich says
Thank you Diana. What a powerful tribute to a wonderful chimp person.
And Candy, thank you for sharing your story. I, too, had a lump in my throat as I read about Tom. Thank you to all the good people who have helped return some respect, fun, and smiles to the chimpanzees. May Tom live in all of our hearts as a reminder to not forget those who still need our help. Tom, enjoy your much deserved, hard won freedom.
Krista says
Rest in Peace, Tom. I love this tribute to him.
Elan Berko says
30 years! Let me say it again, 30 years! Is that not the most disgusting thing to do to a beautiful creature like Tom by robbing him of most of his life by torture and keeping him in a box. Thanks to Fauna for letting him have a few good years, thank you! It is a very sad day for me, rest in peace, buddy. I know he is in a better place.
Roslyn in Montreal says
Thought that you all might want to read this, which was written by Gloria Grow of the Fauna Foundation and posted today on the Fauna blog. In the Fauna blog post, Gloria mentions having read the beautiful tribute to Tom which was written and posted here at the CSNW blog.
“Tommy’s Last Day at Fauna”
http://faunafoundation.blogspot.com/2009/12/tommys-last-day-at-fauna.html
Candy (Tyler, TX) says
Thanks Roslyn for letting us know, I read it and had tears streaming down my face.
auntie Nel to the Chimps says
Thank you for the tribute to Tom It was so very fitting I had the pleasure of meeting Tom at Fauna and met Gloria as well When i was reading her blog on Fauna tears were streaming down my face I know he was so loved and was glad I had helped make his life a little better He loved the scrunchies I made and loved to dress up with them. We miss you Tom Rest in peace sweet boy.( I was blesssed to be called auntie by the chimps at Fauna)