• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

  • Our Family
    • The Chimpanzees
    • The Cattle
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Visiting the Sanctuary
    • Philosophy
      • FAQs
      • Mission, Vision & Goals
      • Privacy Policy
    • The Humans
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Founder
    • Annual Reports
    • The Future of CSNW
    • CSNW In The News
  • You can help
    • Donate
      • Become a Chimpanzee Pal
      • Sponsor A Day
      • Transfer Stock
      • Be A Produce Patron
      • Be a Bovine Buddy
      • Give from your IRA
      • Personalized Stones
      • Bring Them Home Campaign
    • Leave A Legacy
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • See Our Wish List
    • Events
  • Resources
    • About Chimpanzees
    • Enrichment Database
    • Advocacy
      • Apes in Entertainment
        • Trainers
        • Role of the AHA
        • Greeting Cards
      • Chimpanzees as Pets
      • Roadside Zoos
      • Chimpanzees in Biomedical Research
      • Conservation
        • African Apes
        • Orangutans
  • Shop
    • Merchandise Store
  • Contact
  • DONATE NOW

Archives for October 14, 2013

Community

October 14, 2013 by Lisa

Chimpanzees are not primarily, by nature, solitary but rather highly social creatures. Free-living chimpanzees in Africa are part of communities, groups that can range from few individuals to many and are subject to a hierarchical social structure. Captive chimpanzees do not always exhibit behaviors identical to those of their free-living relatives, however, the characteristics of group living are shared if modified by their unique experience. The benefits of group living vary, of course, depending on the individual, the position they might occupy within the social structure of a given group, and the particular circumstances of each group but, overall, the value of community cannot be overstated.

Community provides security and safety (as Debbie pointed out recently) by giving you backup in uncertain situations:
web_jody_jamie_annie_foxie_burrito_walk_troop_YH_jb_IMG_5436

Community provides a structure that helps maintain equilibrium by setting limits on socially acceptable behavior:
web_Missy_fear_face_fight_conflict_jody_annie_gh_dg_IMG_9336

Community provides family and friendship, a safe and supportive environment in which to live and grow: web_Annie_groom_Missy_close_up_eyes_closed_GH_ek_IMG_4117

In a culture that values individuality so highly there is, I think, much we can learn from chimpanzee culture. By embracing community we become invested and it is possible to accomplish so much more within a strongly motivated group than alone. Community can be large or small, inclusive or exclusive but I choose to value it for the positive potential it lends. Thank you for being a part of the community that provides care to these chimpanzees, we cannot provide sanctuary alone.

I leave you today with these words of wisdom from Dr. Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Filed Under: Annie, Chimpanzee Behavior, Free-living chimps, Grooming, Jamie, Missy, Sanctuary

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe To the Blog and Get Notified of New Posts First!

Archives

Calendar of Blog Posts

October 2013
S M T W T F S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep   Nov »

Categories

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Footer

PO Box 952
Cle Elum, WA 98922
[email protected]
509-699-0728
501c3 registered charity
EIN: 68-0552915

Official DDAF Grantee

Menu

  • The Chimpanzees
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • You can help
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Donate

Proud Member of

Connect With Us

Search

Copyright © 2024 Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. All Rights Reserved. Site by Vegan Web Design