One of the most common, if not impossible, questions I get about the chimpanzees is, “Who is your favorite?” Impossible! They each are, for their individual uniqueness. To me it’s a privilege just to be in their presence let alone be able to call them my friends. We all have different relationships with each of the chimpanzees, built in their own time and way. Some of the chimpanzees choose to engage with their human caregivers frequently, whereas some of them prefer the company of their chimpanzee friends. And just as with human friends, you find that for whatever reasons you seem to just “click” or bond with certain individuals in a certain way. You’re especially happy to see each other when you’ve been apart, you enjoy just spending time in each others company, you learn from each other, respect each other for who you are, and you laugh together often. Maybe one of you even does pirouettes and back flips when you see each other! For reasons you cannot often articulate, you consider them one of your dearest friends. And so it is for me with Foxie. Sometimes I feel my heart will burst with all the love I have for this chimpanzee woman.
While we all hope that we are making each of the chimpanzees lives better given their life circumstances, we certainly wish they had been able to live the lives they were meant to. When acknowledging that their lives would have been better off not knowing humans at all, it can sometimes be difficult to also acknowledge that this includes me. And while I wish Foxie’s life could have been different, I am so honored to call her my friend.
Denice says
Foxie is a special gal no doubt. For me it is Negra. She is not one to seek out human interaction on a regular basis but when I enter the human area of the chimp house and Negra is in her favorite place in the loft and I say “good morning Negra” and she turns to look at me and gives me a head nod I just melt. With that simple head nod all the troubles I thought I had to start the day with just go away, to be honored with such a response from Negra is all that I could ever wish for. Then Mr. B comes to the corner of the room and puts his head down and stomps his back foot, this is an invitation to play chase and off we go up and down in front of the front rooms. B stomping and looking back to make sure I am still engaged, still engaged how in the world could you not be engaged with the 7 in each of their special ways to make each of us feel humble in their presence.
Cody Marie Phoenix says
Well done Katelyn and Denice! I can see the chimps in my minds eye as you describe your interactions with them… and it makes me jealous! 😉 Thank you for being their friends and taking such great care of them!
Ivy M. Yardley says
I love Foxie. She has stolen my heart. Love this photo of dear Foxie…she is smiling, and looks to happy.