Diana and I recently had the pleasure of reading Phoenix Zones, a new book by a good friend of the sanctuary, Dr. Hope Ferdowsian. In it, Hope shares the lessons she’s learned about building strength and resilience throughout the course of her incredible career as a human rights physician and animal advocate. The book is filled with stories demonstrating how humans and other animals can recover from trauma and heal – a process known as the “Phoenix Effect” – if we attend to certain key principles such as love, dignity, justice, and respect for liberty. Phoenix Zones, by extension, are the places where these principles are put into practice, and where those suffering from trauma can rise from the proverbial ashes to find peace and hope.
One example of a Phoenix Zone that Hope discusses in her book is Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Her story focuses on Negra, who was stolen from her family and endured 35 years of unimaginable suffering but now exemplifies the power of Phoenix Zones promote healing and resilience in even the most traumatized individuals.
It’s easy to forget just how far Negra has come. This morning, we found her enjoying sweet spring grass near the top of the hill, a place that she had feared not so long ago.
A key message of the book is that physical and emotional recovery are only possible when we are free to make our own choices, when we are able to live with dignity, and, perhaps most importantly, when we have a sense of hope. Negra’s story should inspire hope in all of us.
Diana and I will be joining Hope for a discussion of her book at the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle on April 30th. If you live nearby, we hope to see you there!
I’m envious of you humans up there in Cle Elum! You get to watch all the fun. 🙂
Beautiful and thank you so much Kelsi!! U R all AWESOME!!!! Love and hugs to you all….
I love the beautiful faces!
I so enjoyed this post. This is just one of many reasons I enjoy following the chimps lives and watching their new lives unfold. All these little moments that mean so much, thank you all for sharing them.
Sounds like another busy sanctuary day! I enjoyed each photo, especially the close up of freckle face Missy and the second image of Jamie, but they are all delightful.
I concur with all of the previous comments. Over the past 12-15 months since I first came aware of the CSNW and this website, I have to admit that a good deal of my interest in the health and well-being of Negra and her simian friends is due in part to my repulsion towards to the behavior of my own species. Globally, we cause such suffering to the biosphere and those with whom we share our existence. Nationally, we stand on the precipice of a dictatorship. Culturally, we are so awash in bloodshed and depravity. Thus, when I pay my daily visit to this website, I am provided with an alternative to the the destrto the death-dealing ways of the surrounding anthroposphere. That the seven inhabitants of this sanctuary are provided with hope, love, home, and sanctuary
I concur with all of the previous comments. Over the past 12-15 months since I first came aware of the CSNW and this website, I have to admit that a good deal of my interest in the health and well-being of Negra and her simian friends is due in part to my repulsion towards to the behavior of my own species. Globally, we cause such suffering to the biosphere and those with whom we share our existence. Nationally, we stand on the precipice of a dictatorship. Culturally, we are so awash in bloodshed and depravity. Thus, when I pay my daily visit to this website, I am provided with an alternative to the the destrto the death-dealing ways of the surrounding anthroposphere. That the seven inhabitants of this refuge are provided with hope, love, home, and sanctuary is a sign of hope in a tragic world, and a sign of defiance and resistance to the perversity of human destructiveness.