In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, we’ve decided to spend the next seven days giving thanks for all of the primates – human and nonhuman – that make this sanctuary what it is. To start, I’d like to recognize the folks that literally dedicate their lives to the well being of the Cle Elum Seven. No one has had more of a direct impact on the lives of these chimpanzees than the staff that care for them each and every day.
The other day I came across this photo of Jamie, taken just days after she had arrived at the sanctuary in 2008.
It’s amazing how much she has changed.
When I look at Jamie now, I see the effects of good food, exercise, and sunshine. But I also see a reflection of the people that care for her and the patience, dedication, and selflessness they bring to their work.
Caring for Jamie is not easy. She tests you nearly every day. While some people would consider getting to work with chimps a dream job, their dream version of the job probably doesn’t involve dodging mouthfuls of spit and handfuls of feces on a daily basis. But that is the reality. Jamie is a smart, strong-willed person with a need for control, and for 30 years she was robbed of her autonomy and with it, her dignity. Now she calls the shots. For the first time in her life she is surrounded by people who are willing to put her first.
That, to me, is the essence of a caregiver’s role. And I’m amazed each and every day by how much of themselves the staff are willing to put into the care of these chimpanzees. Whether it’s cleaning, preparing meals, or taking one last walk around Young’s Hill after a long day, the sanctuary staff are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the chimps happy.
There is a light in Jamie’s eye that wasn’t there when we first met her in that laboratory basement.
To the people who work so hard to keep that light shining, we give our thanks.
Elizabeth:
Debbie:
Katelyn:
Keri:
“Like” isn’t even remotely strong enough for a what you just wrote, JB!!!
Thanks to the caregivers for all they do!
Beautiful! Thank you to all the caregivers for all you do for the chimps. You will be blessed many times over for your kindness!
You are all amazing – hard to believe she’s the same girl in those pictures. You should all be so proud!
Loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. I am looking forward to the next 6 days. God bless you all and of course, the Cle Elum 7.
Happy Thanksgiving.
it is painful to look at the PIC from 2008…. poor Jamie….
I am thankful to all the staff that takes care of these Wonderful Creatures!!
My dream is that one day,people will realize that they are wild and they need to LIVE FREE!! and not in cages
or in Sancturarys!!!
Love this post! Thank you ladies for sharing your life with these beautiful cousins of ours. I salute you.
Excellent post as always, J.B. Thank you Elizabeth, Debbie, Katelyn and Keri for all you do each and every day to create a real place of sanctuary for the Cle Elum Seven. I’d also like to thanks, Debbie, J.B. And all of the amazing volunteers as well. You are all great people with amazing hearts, and we are so glad to have the opportunity to support you in your work.
You can almost hear Jamie thinking “Let’s get back to checking that parimeter” in that last picture.
How can that first photo be Jamie?! She is unrecognizable — sigh. Thank you Ladies for transforming these chimpanzees into the people they were meant to be (at least in captivity). And thank you all for sharing your experiences with us, answering our questions, and making us all feel a personal connection to each and every chimp. I give thanks because of you!
Thanks to all of you for all that you do to bestow dignity on these seven lucky “former” research chimps. The respect for them can be seen in each and every one of them. And kudos to Diana and JB for living on the property and for being part of the creation and on-going development of the sanctuary. They are a wonderful team. They have run it like true professionals with a big dash of compassion, love, generosity, creativie ideas all to benefit the chimps, organizational skills and JB’s ability to build whatever is needed for the chimps, for the 24/7 jobs they have chosen to do, a great big thanks. Where would the sanctuary be with out them?
Thank you, Karen and Don! What would we have done without you!? When we talk next, we’ll have to tell you about J.B.’s latest building project – this time some enrichment for himself! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Bless you for all the work you do. But it sounds like a dream job.
By the way how do the Chimps react when a caregiver takes a few days off.
Thank you, Diane. You never really know what kind of welcome you are going to get when you return from a few days off. Sometimes, particularly if you’ve been gone for a long time (which is rare), the chimps will rush down to see you, or even pant-hoot upon your arrival. But other times, you come in expecting a welcoming committee and you are met with reaction at all. It’s not uncommon to get the cold shoulder for a day or two. They are used to us being gone for up to a week at a time.