Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

Eye Contact

by Keri

Eye contact can be a powerful and effective way of communicating between individuals. Sometimes all it takes to form a deep and everlasting connection with someone is to stare into each other’s eyes. No words need to be exchanged to solidify the connection or explain what the other is thinking. A long gaze into each other’s eyes can act as a recognition of kindred beings; an exchange that allows for acceptance of one another.

Sharing such an intimate act as eye gazing with each of the chimpanzees here at the sanctuary is something I truly cherish. It has helped create and solidify a bond of friendship, connection, acceptance and compassion over the years.

I understand that many of you may not have the chance to personally look into the eyes of a chimpanzee, so I wanted to share with you as best I can what it is like to look into the eyes of these seven magnetic beings.

Can you guess whose eyes are whose?

web_Missy_closeup_just_eyes_GH_kh_IMG_5999

web_Jamie_just_eyes_good_close_up_face_look_at_camera_raceway_YH_kh_IMG_4488

web_Annie_cropped_close_up_eyes_GH_kh_IMG_4760

web_Negra_cropped_good_closeup_look_at_camera_FR4_kh_IMG_5753

web_burrito cropped mid chew chow look at camera gh forage IMG_3755

web_Foxie_cropped_closeup_face_FR4_kh_IMG_5755

web_Jody_cropped_closeup_loot_toward_camera_face_GH_kh_IMG_2536

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Julie says

    Wow…..what compelling photographs! Thank you, Keri for posting this! Will you post the answers of who belongs to which eyes???

  5. Kathleen says

    This is like a test, are you going to tell us who is who?! : ) Beautiful (especially my Negra!).

  6. Helen says

    I got Jamie and Burrito right. Click on the pictures and you can double check your answers with the domain name 😉

  7. Stephanie says

    I know one day I will get to experience this. I have locked a gaze with an orangatang and it was very cool.

    I did get to feed the chimps at the L.A. zoo three years ago.

    I am going to Africa in 2015 to experience the gorillas.

  8. Wanda Trotta says

    No fair:)! We don’t even get a hint by seeing their ears. I think I’ve tagged them though. Let us know who’s who:)

  9. Keri says

    Thank you for all your comments. Yes, I will post the answers later today! Feel free to list whose eyes you think are whose.

  10. Margaret and Karen says

    By clicking on the photos I see I got Negra, Annie, and Burrito right! Almost half! YEAH