An old friend shared a story with us recently that moved me so much I felt compelled to share it with you.
As some of you know, Diana and I worked at the Fauna Foundation in Quebec in the late ’90s and early 2000s. During that time we got to know a few of the people that had known the Fauna chimps when they were at the lab, and the stories they shared were so helpful in our efforts to truly understand the chimps in our care. As it happens, Willy B, Honey B, and Mave were originally from the same lab – the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery In Primates (LEMSIP) – and when we announced that we would be taking taking them in, our friend reached out with stories of their early years. She knew them well. In fact, she had helped raise them.
Now, if you’ve been keeping up with the blog you know that Mave is running the show right now. She is smart, brave, compassionate, and fair, and she has taken it upon herself to try to bridge these two families during a critical time. How she came to possess such wisdom and maturity will forever be a mystery, however, considering her early years:
LEMSIP tried to keep babies with their moms for one year before stealing them to live in the nursery (aka “wean”). It was such a devastating time for baby and mom. They tried to “wean” babies in pairs so that they would have each other and become cage mates. They would become inseparable – literally. Mave and Goliath were such a pair and had been together all their lives. She was a bit anxious and he was her rock. He died at the Waystation sometime last year. They think it was a heart attack […] that is why I am pleasantly surprised that Mave is doing well.The picture of me in the cage with them shows one side of two 32″ monkey cages that had to be tunneled together for pairs of chimps in the nursery due to cage size violations. LEMSIP had gotten a variance in the size requirement for years due to the founder utilizing the “dry system” – a stupid way to house primates – no hoses, no drains – just giant rolls of heavy plastic (like a giant roll of saran wrap) rolled out in layers under all the cages. We had to hand wipe every wall and door and mop every floor. He felt that avoiding aerosolization of fecal matter and reducing lingering dampness reduced illness like diarrhea.I would go into the cage and play with and love on them after Mave stopped coming out. We would have to walk or carry the chimps to and from playrooms (no tunnels or shifting). One day, I went to carry them to play and Mave would not let go of the cage. We tried everything (blanket, treat, etc.) and that had never happened. What typically happened was, sooner or later, older chimps would figure out that they could (and should) refuse to go back into a tiny cage after being out to play. When that happened it was always their last time out. It was always a sad, sad day. But for a chimp to refuse to come out – even with their partner – was strange. We even tried walking away with Goliath so that she could jump down and follow but she wouldn’t. Eventually, we took him to the playroom to play with some friends in hopes of her gaining the courage to come out to us. But instead she was very upset and screamed and cried. He was so bonded to her that he couldn’t enjoy playing (even though they only got out once per week by that age). He got upset and needed to go comfort her so we brought him back. After that, I would just have someone lock me in the cage to spend time with them […]
CeeCee says
Oh Mave, what heartbreak she has endured.
I hope that being in a new loving sanctuary helps her to recover and love again.
Anne E Lobaccaro says
That was so extremely sad! It’s a shame what has been done to these majestic beings.
Kathleen says
Moved beyond belief. Thank you J.B. for passing on Mave’s story and photos. How did she endure in that environment, even with her beloved companion Goliath at her side? How did the two of them maintain? Thank goodness for caregivers.
Mave must have grieved deeply upon loosing Goliath last year. Can’t help but wonder, does she still carry that loss? My heart goes out to the caregivers at Wildlife Waystation — first loosing Goliath and now having to let go of Mave, Willy B, and Honey B.
Perhaps the love of Mave’s mother, Goliath, and the various caregivers helped Mave survive this unnatural captive life. I know we will never know what Mave thinks or feels, but I do know this new phase of her life will bring her joy……I believe it already has.
Janet Geisel says
It breaks my heart knowing what Mave went through, but now seeing her so happy and making new friends. When I was following Fauna for a long time it was the first time I was aware of the sanctuary. There was a Male chimp can’t remember his name but he was so sad, but one day Jane Goodall was coming up the driveway in a car and he just knew it was her and his personality changed with Jane,I think they are so smart that they know jane is their friend and know how special Jane is and would never do anything to hurt them. I was just so amazed how this chimp just loved playing with each other. It’s funny when I followed fauna and then times later it was you there. What a small world. You remind me so much of Jane Goodall. You have to special spirit of Jane with the chimps.
Ve
Nancy says
The name oh that him at Fauna was Billy Jo, rest his soul. He chose to spend a lot of his time with the humans rather than the groups of chimps because he and Sue Ellen had been raised by humans and were in the entertainment industry for the first part of their life before being taken to the lab when their owners/trainers could no longer keep them. Understandably, he didn’t know how to handle social situations among chimpanzees well. But Fauna supported him in both human and chimp situations and always gave him the choice of being with either whenever he wanted.
M Brown says
Oh, what a traumatic life Mave has had. It’s a cliche, but maybe in Mave’s case it really is a case of what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and she must really appreciate being somewhere like CSNW. I wish Mave, and all the chimps and humans at CSNW, the very best going forward. I can hardly wait to see more videos. Thanks for your hard work, and thank you for give us the opportunity to get to know these ten wonderful beings complete with all their personalities and foibles.
Elaine Reininger says
Such an unbearably sad story and I know it is just ONE of hundreds more. I am so sorry so many animals have suffered for so long. I thank God for sending a few caring people to ease the pain. Picture of caretaker in cage I will never forget…an act of kindness so badly needed.
Marissa says
J. B., I’ve sent Mave many mental hugs since her arrival, but today I share my very real tears over her life story. I want to thank her caregiver for her compassion, and for most likely going against protocol by having herself locked in with Mave and Goliath to comfort them. She is a hero, too.
What an amazing person Mave is! I’m in awe of her social adeptness despite her damaged upbringing. I’ve been reading recent studies that demonstrate how great apes possess a “theory of mind” like humans, the ability to interpret the motivations and perspectives of a being other than one’s self. I think back to the situation you described earlier this week, of Mave reading the escalating play between Annie and Honey B from across the room and calmly making a pre-emptive move to defuse the situation. It may have been her “theory of mind” that helped her assess the situation, but it wasn’t that alone. How does a chimp raised as she was have her degree of social intelligence as well as the confidence to implement it? She is a survivor, and she has made herself more than the sum of her traumatic experiences, like all the CSNW chimps.
Thank you for sharing this story with us. Best of luck with the rest of the introductions, and a big mental hug to Her Fuzziness, Mave!
Katya Moritz says
It is truly heartbreaking what we humans do to our kin. The compassion we see exhibited by other species as well as our own is like medicine for me. It is healing although we are usually the ones to inflict the wound as well. Thank you for making a home for Mave and everyone else.
Francoise says
I spent time a few years ago reading about the labs, how they operated and the chimpanzees in their “care”. In general, a horror story, EXCEPT for some of the direct care staff who were in contact with the chimps every day. There was one piece written by a staff member at one of the labs — I can neither remember which right now or her name — after she had quit. It was about a chimp Jethro, I think it was, who more than the usual nightmare, became ill and went through utterly botched “care” by the researchers (and sometimes the care staff who were forced to do things for the sake of their job) that killed him. The writer was one of these and quit immediately after this incident. Her piece is as compelling a recollection as I’ve ever read and a frightening telling of lab reality. And this is not a time of waystations. This is from the dark, pungent horrors of the old labs. I don’t know where I found it or if I could find it again but to know that Mave came out of this to what she is today is miraculous. But Mave’s ghosts may yet appear. It may be like someone I recognize, me, who while having never experienced what she did, can take care of others much better than I can take care of myself. I’ve come to think of the post-lab lives of the chimpanzees as surviving Auschwitz. It never goes away, like the tattoos, but survivors have gone on to live full productive and largely happy lives, with occasional nightmares. These are the CSNW Ten.
J.B. says
You may be thinking of Rachel Weiss’ tribute to Jerom, who was experimentally infected with HIV at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. For decades, Rachel composed a tribute to Jerom and plea to end the suffering of chimpanzees like him on the anniversary of his death.
Francoise says
Yes! J.B. you’re right. Clearly mixed up the J. Utterly heartbreaking she did a very important service to write it all down. If that isn’t an argument against labs I don’t know what is.
Tobin says
Francoise, I think that the reference to Auschwitz in your posting is appropriate. In both situations (the death camps, the death camp-like labs), the same principle was/is in effect: to purportedly enhance the “quality of life” of a supposedly “master race”. Thus, some primates suffered for the supposed benefit of other primates. Humans are the most dangerous animals on Earth.
Kathleen says
Hi Francoise,
In reference to J.B.’s comment on the life of the chimp you mention, here is the link to Jerome’s story/tribute by Rachel Weiss :
https://www.faunafoundation.org/2014/02/rachel-weiss-tribute-to-jerom-and-tom-2014/
Francoise says
Kathleen, thanks. So weird! That must be where I first saw it as I knew about Fauna before you folks. Thanks. I want to be able to keep it somewhere. Sad to want to keep something so awful but it is about witnessing; someone must bear witness. Always.
Francoise says
I double-checked the name of the chimpanzee I mentioned in my comment and it wasn’t Jethro. Jethro is at Fauna, at least I think he still is. They have sadly suffered several deaths recently and I can’t recall who.
Jo Lathrop says
Just like any of us who have been through trauma, you can see the wisdom in her eyes! Thank you so much for her story ~ such a special being!! Love and hugs to you all…
Maureen O'Malley says
Such a tragic story. It will stay with me forever. Mave is a miracle. I hope she can find love and peace at CSN.
Tobin says
If only Goliath could have joined Mave at CSNW. If only Mave and Goliath had not been stolen from their mothers. If only their mothers had not been stolen from their mothers, and stolen from their natural habitats. If only…human animals could understand, honor and respect the biosphere of this planet.
I am so happy that Mave, Willy B and Honey B are now living at and enriching the life of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
Sherry P says
Perhaps Mave understands that she is one of the ‘lucky’ ones who was given sanctuary at a (comparatively) young age in 1996. The Waystation must have been a very caring environment … I imagine that her positive experience there contributes to her calmness and compassion for the 7 who were not so fortunate.
Judy says
Incredibly touching … thank you J.B. What a great share by a heroic caregiver.. as are all of the staff at CSNW. beyond moved… and will be all day.
sharyn rose says
This story made me cry with joy and respect and awe for Mave, dear wonderful Mave who gives me the courage to face the traumas in my own life. Her beautiful soul and spirit opens my heart and shows me that whatever hardship I face certainly if Mave could become her beautiful self I can become mine. Thank you for sharing about her and this wonderful process. I just donated in support of this beautiful heartfelt work you are doing.