Maybe like a lot of people who begin to study primatology, my initial interest was centered around humans and human evolution. I was fascinated with our closest living great ape relatives, partly because of the intriguing stories they helped to tell about our common ancestors.
And then I met some chimpanzees in person.
I became interested in their relationships with one another and how they functioned as a group.
When directly caring for chimpanzees and not just studying them, when facing them one-on-one and looking into their eyes, I then wanted to know who they were as individuals.
What did they care about? What made them happy?
How could I help them live the best possible life? Lives that were so far away and so different from the lives they should have experienced in the wild in equatorial Africa.
How could I share their incredible personalities and complexity with others, so that they too would see them as individuals worthy of concern?
Sometimes this blog seems like a small effort that reaches just a few dedicated readers. But then I learn of new people who follow the lives of the chimpanzees at the sanctuary. I know the blog, with all six of the caregivers at CSNW sharing our own stories and thoughts, reaches some incredible people who have fallen in love with the chimpanzees just as much as I have.
I’m thankful for every one of you who are part of this family.
Amy M says
Diana — I always think of the work you and other advocates do as throwing a pebble into a still pond — it makes ripples far beyond its small size. You may not always know the impact you have but you are a part of the larger movement to bring justice, dignity and improved lives to our non-human relatives. You ARE making a difference.
Jo Lathrop says
Lovely post!! Thank you for it! We all do our little or large bit to help them and we all make a difference. You who are there and skilled make a huge impact and gratitude flows to you!! Love and hugs to you all…
Cole says
I remember meeting Negra many years ago with Washoe and other chimps at CWU. Such an incredible experience.
CeeCee says
Thank you Diana,
I think this blog site, and all of you that work so hard at Chimp Sanctuary Northwest have changed lives, and not just for our 7, but for a LOT of people who read it religiously everyday.
I know I always talk about it, because it’s interesting, funny, and sweet, as well as educational.
It really helps us to get to know the Chimps as individuals, therefore, we care more deeply about them because of it.
Great Job !
Kathleen says
As Amy stated above, it is The Ripple Effect. Amazing all the chimps you have had the pleasure of learning from and working with (Washoe and her family and Fauna Foundation!). To be a part of starting a chimpanzee sanctuary is an astounding accomplish not to mention all the energy, time, caregiving, creativity, and compassion you have given to ensure the Cle Elum Seven have the best life possible in their sanctuary home. If you only touched those chimpanzees lives you would be able say you lived a generous and full life. But your touch reaches far beyond.
Your personal touch in marketing CSNW’s mission ripples out into all of our homes through your kind personal notes jotted on your thank you letters, the events and auctions, the website, the photos/postcards you send of the chimps, which we then place in our homes. And when our friends see photos of chimpanzees in our houses it ripples into conversations about the sanctuary and sometimes that ripples into connecting a new supporter, follower, friend of the sanctuary.
And then there’s the blog. The blog creates a Ripple Tsunami! Here the chimps come to life. You’ve educated us about the chimps relationships with one another and how they function as a group. I’ve studied their faces, gestures and sounds. I share your posts with my friends and clients and they share the posts too. And so on….And so on…..
So very thankful for every one of you! Ripple on.
Sandie Allaway says
And, I treasure every single blog that’s written and save every one to go back and read again. You take us into a world we’d never be able to experience without them. I treasure every one and treasure each and every chimp.
Without all of you and your dedication to making their lives as enriched as can be, I would never get the opportunity to meet them all and follow their days and who they are.
You all bring such joy into my life and I only wish I had found you years ago.
Thank you, and the chimps, for this education of love.
Heidi says
Thank you for everything you and your staff do, to give these beautiful chimps the life that they so richly deserve.
Arlene and Michael says
Diana as they say you do not need a cape and tights to make a difference (maybe boots though lol) All of you are my heroes for what you do each day and the awareness you share. Thank you all:)
Linda says
What a lovely post, Diana!
I know those ripples seem small, but I agree that they can spread…….I have shared my interest with my friends and a couple of family members (we may actually sponsor a day at some point!), the people in the post office at work who say, ¨is this for real!? You’re sending a box to someone called Jamie Chimpanzee?!”, to my great nephew, who’s already into primates, so-easy, to some of my students. And hopefully they share, and so on…(I’ll put another vote in here for getting one of your Tshirts made in something smaller than a size 8! It’s a cute idea for a child under 8! :)),
Foxie and her dolls on YouTube introduced me to the sanctuary, and YouTube brought me to the blog. I’m not big on social media, simply because I’m so busy with work (and the Midwesterner in me balks at the self-centered nature of some blogs/social media, anyway). I’m not on Facebook, never have been. This is the only blog I follow, and it brings me such joy to “have dinner” with the chimps most nights!
I’ve wondered why I don’t follow the other sanctuaries religiously when they come up in my phone/YouTube feed. And I think it’s due to the fact that the sanctuary is small and you all do such a wonderful job with social media. Because there are only 7 of them, and because your posts are so informative, I not only get to learn about primate behaviour, but also about the chimps as individual. You’re so wonderful at letting us know which of the demonstrated behaviours are species specific, and which are individual idiosyncrasies! I’ll never get to meet them (though it would be a thrill!), but you get us all pretty close to imagining what that experience would be like!
Carla René says
What a wonderfully-eloquent and sincere post. <3
Louise Manson says
I too have fallen in love with the chimp family there. I long to know all I can about their daily lives that you provide for them. I keep pictures of them by my computer so that I am always reminded of how special they are and to pray for their well being. Thank you so much for your heartfelt comments. They help us outsiders to feel a part of it all too. Blessings, Sr. Louise, SSJD, Toronto, ON
Carla René says
Hi, Diana,
If you’re talking about ripples, y’all washed over me and completely knocked me down with your ripples, but it was more like a pipeline.
I was first introduced to Mr. Burrito-Toes on YouTube when he was laughing. I’d never heard a chimp laugh before and didn’t know they could! I immediately fell head-over-heels in love with that goofball and will always love him.
That’s why when I wanted to help the sanctuary but knew I couldn’t because I was a po’ student, the next best thing I could do was offer my talent, so I took to painting Mr. Burrito-Man in coloured pencils, and I donated the original to the auction you were having that year (2016, was it?). As a result of the auction and the winner of his painting, I’m now friends with them and they regularly follow my art blog on Facebook. (I’m now working on a painting of Miss Thang Negra for this year’s auction, and am about 3/5 of the way through her painting. Y’all are welcome to follow it, too: http://www.facebook.com/glittercatstudios )
Then in 2017, because of following your insightful blog and you showing me so much kindness and patience with my myriad questions, I made the decision to add a Primatology minor to my pursuit of doctorates in Astrophysics and Applied Mathematics. Ever since you’ve continued to patiently answer questions, and I’m probably the only follower who actually reads the published papers you post. I’m still gathering comments to make on the paper in which you employed the use of Social Networking Analysis to analyse the group dynamic of the chimps here at the sanctuary.
See? I think that’s what everyone is saying in their own ways: there’s just something for everyone at every interest level here. I agree with whomever said you include the personal touch by giving us personal notes on your thank-you cards and your Christmas cards. You don’t have time to do that, but you MAKE time to do that, and that’s something I don’t think anyone else would do. Sure, maybe the size of the troop allows for that when no other would, but does that really matter? How easy would it be to simply grab an intern from a nearby University to do that job? NO effort at all.
You were even responsible for a precious gift from my friend in Israel. If I recall correctly, Diana, it was YOU that helped her be all sneakified with setting it up so I couldn’t know beforehand. She’s still one of the most precious people I’ve ever known (even though we’ve lost touch for a bit), and it’s still one of the most precious gifts I’ll ever have. I hope to one day see it in person!
You do all sorts of personal things that way, because you DO appreciate and love us, and we see those little things and never let them go unnnoticed. Social media and email has a way of making the situation seem more personal and intimate than it really is, but I don’t think so in this case. You’ve shown time and time again at how appreciative you are that we’re here.
I wish there were a way you could get each and every one of us into the Sanctuary so we could be face-to-face with these incredible beings. Hells, I’ve never even seen one in a zoo yet. But, knowing this, we all know the next best way to experience their lives is through this medium right here, being riveted to your daily narrative that I’m impressed by. I’m even impressed that about 98% of the postings here are even without grammatical mistakes. Social media has made us simply not care about the needed apostrophe, or that our spelling isn’t correct, or that it doesn’t matter if we use then for than, but call me old-fashioned, but for me, owning my own art bidness, those things ARE important, because it sends the message to the public that you care so much for what you do that details are important to you. It sends the message that we can TRUST you and anything we allow ourselves to get involved with concerning you or the sanctuary. Those things are STILL important. Just read any NYT or Huff Post article. People want to know that you care about everything, from an apostrophe, to enough vaccine for your guests. And that spells TRUST.
I’ve rambled enough, but I’m just wanting to cover everything that says to you *I* care and am very appreciative for you and Jeeb and everyone on your staff. Many of your blog followers would trade places with you no question.
We’ll do what we can to support you when we can in whatever way we can. Y’all are simply awesome, and we love those goofy Chimpanzee Peoples!
Cheers.
Linda says
Wonderful! I hope you’ll remind those of us who aren’t on FB to link again, when it’s finished! I was so surprised to see in the link to the hierarchy study done that Neggie was guilty of that behaviour……but then when I saw the one chimpanzee person it was directed toward, a lot of the morning behaviors and bonds that I see in the videos and posts started to make sense. I wouldn’t have thought it possible of her, but I guess her patience runs shorter these days!
Carla René says
Hi, Linda,
Thankfully, the Facebook business/personality/organisation pages are set up so that you don’t need an account to merely read them. You do if you’d like to comment or interact with a post, such as liking, but for just looking at the photos and reading posts, naw, you don’t need to register.
So go to the link and just bookmark it. The sanctuary folks here are pretty good about letting me announce when I’ve made progress on a painting, but even if I forget, at least that way you can follow it without my remembering to remind y’all. 🙂
And thanks to the one new follower from today!
Linda says
Okay!…is it categorized under “photos”?
Carla René says
I think it’s in the album called “Coloured Pencil Artwork” or something like that. You’ll also see Burrito’s portrait there, too. ????
Linda says
Ok, in spite of all the “login” and pop-up banners that you get when you’re not on FB, I was able to see Burrito and Jengo, but no Neggie! You’re amazing with their eyes! I can’t believe you never took classses!
Judy says
CSNW and the entire staff and mission touches so many.. as said by others here… and will transcend generations as it ripples on past those reading in this time and becomes a part of the soul of generations to come through those who follow now… We are all a part of this consciousness that has been enriched by every blog post that we devour with gusto and devotion. Thank you all.. as always!
Jordan Bower says
Diana,
Thank you for the post and the incredibly beautiful photos (I enjoyed the black and white especially). I am only able to follow the CSNW via social media, having been fortunate on only 2 very special occasions to be near the chimps in person. I have been taken aback many times by the love I feel for the 7 people you take care of, since they are unable to be where they were meant to be to live out their lives.
Thank you – not only for all that you and the staff and volunteers do, but for your continuous efforts to involve us, in your lives as the 7”s caregivers. Only through your diligence have I been afforded the opportunity to fall in love with Foxie, Burrito, Annie, Negra, Jody, Jamie and Missy.
They have my heart and so do you.
Janet Geisel says
Diana you had me in tears. Your heart for these precious species is so unbelievable. You care so much for them, their welfare and of course their future. Your name will be so known one day as the next Jane Goodall. Whst you do for these 7 is beyond amazing.