Foxie is an endearing soul. She is small in stature, but never in spirit. With each passing season we have watched her grow stronger, braver and more curious about her sanctuary surroundings and all on offer to her. When the chimps first arrived Foxie was exceptionally leery of enrichment, the structures, things touching her, new things in general – all understandable. Though she still tends to be cautious, she is now often the first to lead her family out to explore every inch of new structures, investigate any perceived threats, and expel intruders with a swipe or whack of her Dora or troll doll du jour as she protects her home and her family.
Foxie is a joyful soul. She often spins, pirouettes, chases, climbs, leaps, and back-flips her way through the day and brings so much happiness to all our lives. She tends to be the peacemaker of the group and prefers for everyone to get along and when arguments inevitably erupt as they do in any family, especially a chimp family, she is often the person offering reassurance and encouraging reconciliation. That said, she has no problem voicing her opinion when she is upset with someone. I’ve watched her go after her good friend, Burrito, in a fury when he’s done something to make her angry. And I’ve also watched her hold out her small arms to him as he jumps into them for reassurance, bowling this tiny woman over. But she rights herself and holds tight to her dear blustery friend until he’s calmed.
Foxie is an intelligent, loving, forgiving, and sassy soul. She has ten tiny, fantastic toes that she likes to hold outside the caging and wiggle at her caregivers or tickle the backs of our hands with. She loves to get mouthfuls of water and playfully spit on us. One of her favorite summertime games is “inside – outside chase” in which she runs from one end of the chimp house to the other as we meet her at either side from the outside. She seems to think this is hilarious. She blows raspberries with gusto to let us know when she wants something, like more breakfast smoothie or a doll outside the caging or sometimes just our company. She sometimes calls me over as we’re closing the chimp house for the night and just reaches out and holds her finger to my hand and gazes into my eyes with a quick head nod before making her way to bed for the evening. She’s removed splinters from my hand, reassured me when I’ve been hurt, and has even held boss lady, Jamie’s, arm to stop her when she has thrown poop at me.
Foxie is a mother to two sons, David and Steve – a rare set of twins – and two daughters, Angie and Kelsey. She is an important member of a family who greatly loves her. She is an inspiring and larger than life example of not only what it means to overcome and heal, but to thrive. And she is one of my best friends. I think sometimes your heart holds so much love for someone it feels as though it can’t possibly fit into one small, beating space, let alone into words. But if it fit into a picture, it would look like this woman.
Katelyn, what a wonderful tribute to Foxie. So heartfelt and beautiful. Thank you for this…
That was just lovely …
Are her two sets of twins still some place, where she can meet up with them again some day…….
Hi Beverly,
Sadly, Foxie’s twins, David and Steve, have passed away. They were residing at Alamogordo Primate Facility (APF), a facility supported by the National Institute of Health which houses chimpanzees who were available for research (all are now eligible for retirement to a sanctuary). Her daughter, Kelsey, still resides at APF so we are hopeful she will make it to a sanctuary soon. And Angie resides at Save the Chimps in Florida and while it isn’t feasible for her and Foxie to meet, we are so very thankful that Angie made it to a wonderful sanctuary and is doing very well. She is the spitting image of her mama – they look like twins and I understand they share several of the sames characteristics. 🙂
that is a tribute that anyone one (chimp or non-chimp) would be proud to have said about them. fantastic job Katelyn
So very moving. We should all be so lucky to have such friends??
This touched my heart, thank you
Katelyn, you are a poet with a mighty pen, absolutely lovely. But you forgot one thing 🙂 Foxie is beautiful, very beautiful.
Thank you, Francoise. Aww, of course! Foxie is a beauty inside and out. 🙂
This is such a personal and touching portrayal of lovely little Foxie. Simply beautiful. And yes, you brought me to tears once again Katelyn. Oh Foxie. To be so joyful after coming out of such darkness is unimaginable to me. Forgiving in a way that I find hard to grasp but witnessing such forgiveness has changed me. Foxie’s special “good Night” to you at the end of your day, her finger touching you and Foxie looking into your eyes, how precious! But your very last line : “I think sometimes your heart holds so much love for someone it feels as though it can’t possibly fit into one small, beating space, let alone into words.” It is so true, a feeling I experience with my rescue dogs and clearly my own dogs. In her book “Kindred Beings”, Sheri Speede shared a similar expression of deep love for one of her chimpanzees. The chimp was dear Dorothy and Sheri wrote the following passage : “Watching from the corridor of the cage, I felt like my love for Dorothy was too much for my heart to hold. Somehow it was painful, and I cried.” Deep love and respect for these amazing beings is so beautiful, your heart throbs, your throat chokes and tears pool, all from sheer love and joy and at times it is “painful” in a beautiful way.
Foxie is so fortunate to have a friend in you.
Thank you, Kathleen. You always seem to sum up so exquisitely exactly what I intended to express. 🙂 Sheri Speede is so wonderful and I really enjoyed her book. I’m now feeling inspired to read it again!
I am the one who is fortunate to have a friend in Foxie. I know all of us love the opportunity to share what special and unique individuals each of the chimps are with everyone.
Wow…what a tribute. I loved the part where you said she would stop Jamie from thowing poop at you. From all you wrote, it appears as if Foxie is as much in love with YOU as you are with her. Do any of the chimps have a favorite caretaker? I remember a while back one of them was in awe of MEN. I am partial to Foxie too because it was an article about her that I read on the computer that introduced me to your site. I can’t imagine a day without my CHIMP-fix; I look forward to your photos, videos and words.
Hi Elaine,
Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything anyone could do to deter Jamie once she takes a mind to do something! And honestly, even when it comes to poop throwing we’d never want to stop her from expressing herself as she needs to. But if she is upset with us and has thrown or spit something, it’s interesting to see Foxie seemingly attempt to curb or lighten Jamie’s mood at times. Foxie is the one person who can get Jamie to really cut loose and play and she is very good at playing the politics of her role as a less dominant chimp in the hierarchy while staying in the boss’ good graces. All a part of normal chimp society. One is never certain what the chimps are thinking, but just like humans some of them will connect and be interested in spending time with certain people for whatever reason. Jamie, Burrito and Foxie are the most human oriented, but given Jamie and Burrito’s history of being in human homes and entertainment, that makes sense. And some of the chimps are more “a chimp’s chimp” meaning while they enjoy the humans occasionally, they prefer to spend their time with their chimp friends, as it should be, and we always defer to their relationships with one another which are most important. It’s certainly an honor any time they choose to spend time with us though. Elizabeth recently wrote a blog post about Jamie being interested in men, and Jody and Annie are also particularly enamored with the fellas. Thank you so much for following the chimps, we appreciate having you here with us!
This is one the most beautiful things I’ve read in a long time. There really is something about her and your words make it come to life. I love this.
Thank you so much, Lisa! I so love being able to help others connect with the amazing individuals the chimps are. But it’s not hard when they are the loves of your life. 🙂