Working at a chimpanzee sanctuary, I never anticipated the number of (human) people I would get to know. I like to say, because I believe it is verifiably true, that the chimpanzees have brought the most amazing people into my life.
No one has ever called me a social butterfly, but even an introvert like me has managed to develop unexpected relationships over the years with those who hold the chimpanzees in the hearts. I can’t help but respect people who love the chimpanzees. Even if I don’t know donors very well, I think about them often.
Because of our sponsor-a-day and personalized/memorial stone fundraising programs, we learn about the people (human and non) in the lives of donors who they love and, often, who they have lost. It’s an intimate view that we wouldn’t otherwise have. It’s something that is special way beyond the dollars that are generated to help care for the chimpanzees.
When donors themselves pass, sometimes we find out because relatives make donations in their honor and sometimes, because we’ve had a personal connection to them at some point, we find out like any friend or acquaintance would – through the heartbreaking announcements that those left behind make in order to inform everyone that someone irreplaceable is gone.
This year we have received far too many of those announcements. I don’t feel it’s the sanctuary’s place to pass along this information outside of the circle of people who are directly connected, but I’m so glad that we have ways to honor them in non-public ways.
To anyone who has lost someone this year, my heart goes out to you. To all of the donors who have passed this year, thank you for being the generous being you were and for spreading your light.
Today was a gorgeous day at the sanctuary. Before the humans arrived, I saw on the remote camera that Willy B and Burrito were sitting in front of a window grooming up on the catwalk of the playroom, silhouetted by the gentle morning light. These guys have been somewhat reserved with each other the last few days. There haven’t been any raucous games of chase or wrestling, like on Wednesday when they first got together, but today they had at least three quiet grooming sessions.
Mave, Honey B, and Negra spent some of the morning relaxing in the greenhouse before I shifted everyone to allow the “Girl Gang” to have some time on Young’s Hill.
J.B. snapped these winning photos.
If you are familiar with our now rather-complicated building, you might wonder how Jamie, Jody, Foxie, Missy, and Annie got onto the hill without disrupting Willy B and Burrito. And the answer is, they did disrupt them. We decided it was time for a little disruption. The girl gang went out through the chute, right past the playroom where Willy B and Burrito were together.
They guys spied on them through the windows and did some (separate) displaying, but overall there wasn’t as much drama as I was anticipating, given that they haven’t seen each other in a while.
It was a good day.
A good day, Diana. A quiet day….no major developments, but no setbacks. And you’re “closing”, so it’s someone else’s turn to get dinner, right?! 😛
Did Jamie not have anyone to run the downhill with her?
Beautiful words Diana. It’s nice to know you think about us. I think about all of you even the humans daily;). Love that the boys are sharing positive time together and the girls are as well. Reminds me of middle school where forming our same sex connections were so important to our feelings of fitting in. Love to you all.
Yeah!!! I bet the boys were excited to see the Girls. All the steps are leading up to one big happy, messy, complicated, loud family. Hey, that sounds like everything will be normal. Of course, we want to make sure all are safe and are not physically hurt! BUT emotions! UGH. Those are the tough choices. You all as a team show true unconditional love for our group of 10. Keep up the good work no matter the pace! Keep the Faith!
Good post, Diana. We, all of us primates, have to learn cope with complex social situations. In the process we learn about ourselves. I love that B and WB are spending quiet time together in what seems like mutual respect, if not quite full trust yet.
Besides the chimpanzees (and the bovines, and Ellie too) and your amazing staff, one of things I enjoy about CSNW is your supporters. I am often touched by how open and honest everyone is in their message for your Sponsor-A Day posts. Reading these messages and remembrances makes one realize that seven (and now ten) chimpanzee individuals can bring us all together, make us laugh and cry, give us inspiration and hope, and fill us with joy each day. The lives of these chimpanzee matter, deeply, to all of us and we all benefit greatly by following them. I don’t know how else to describe it…. it’s magic.
Here’s to countless more “good days” ahead!
Kathleen…You’re a very observant wise woman, & I so enjoy reading your comments…especially today’s…It’s very heartwarming…
I just discovered your wonderful sanctuary a couple months ago, and now my husband and I look forward to your daily posts. I wish I could have followed you from the beginning. Every time there is post about a sponsor who has passed, it brings a tear to my eye, and I love how family members sponsor a day in their honor. Thank you for your countless hours of hard work and dedication to these wonderful creatures, who need people like yourselves in their lives! You are appreciated for all you do!
Thank you for your post today it made me stop and think about how wonderful and kind all of you are! I’m so impressed by all the posts each day and I love the CleElum Ten!
I have found that people who are kind and caring to animals are the kind of people I am drawn to and usually windup being friends with. Many years ago I had a weekly column in my towns newspaper. It was called YOUR NEIGHBOR AND MINE and it was about people in town.. One day I decided to write it about all the dogs in town I met on my daily walk with my three dogs. I am ashamed to say that I knew every dogs name but not the name of one of their owners. Shame on me, right????
Elaine, no shame in that because every single dog owner is the same way!
Ohhh, thank you for this heartwarming message. It means a great deal to me — I know, to all of us.
Thank Diana, heartfelt and beautiful. My office is covered in pictures of the magnificent 7 (+3 soon). To be able have special insight to the chimps and their wonderful humans is priceless. I can close my office door and surrounded by chimps, I find the boost I need to decompress and meet adversity with chimp gusto!
Hi! Another Sherry-come-lately here! 😀 I watched every CSNW video I could find on YouTube before following the link to this website/blog a couple of months ago … and then I went back to the beginning of the blog and read all the entries over 10+ years. Luckily, I’m retired. And thankfully, this is one story that continues in real time – a “sequel” every day!
Diana, your blog entry above clearly speaks from a full heart. I’ve been thinking about it a lot since you posted. I wish I could give you a hug, one introvert to another. Let me tell you what I have found here: Sanctuary that enriches the Chimps, Caregivers, and Donors/followers in equal measure. And this blog, with lots of wonderful pictures and frequent videos, makes all of us participants in Keith’s original endeavor to provide a home for research chimps at Cle Elum. They and you are now part of my family. The dedication you, J.B. and all the Caregivers (past and present) share is inspiring; and everyone’s contributions to this blog include me in the joy (and, often, the education) of providing for the amazing Chimpanzees of Cle Elum. I am happy and grateful for the enrichment! 🙂
I love hearing that Willy B and Burrito are spending a lot of time grooming each other. Knowing the very important role of grooming in a chimpanzee community, it appears that they are carefully (and earnestly) building their relationship in a quiet measured way, establishing the equal or subordinate/superior roles they will have in the Cle Elum troop. I think it’s just wonderful news!!
A very touching post Diana… The thread that binds us all – connection, love, and caring are fostered so well by the way CSNW ties and binds together the people who care about the chimps and the people who are changing their lives to the many “onlookers” across the globe. The magical opportunity for all of us to participate truly changes all our lives in a myriad of ways. Thank you all .. as always!
Thank you for your beautiful sentiments. This sanctuary is filled with loving people. I was wondering why burrito isn’t with the girls any longer. It seems as though he would be so lonely being separated from his original group. I know it’s important for the chimps to get to know the others but my heart breaks for burrito being without his buds.
Hi Debbie! We are hoping to get Burrito back with the group he knows, but it’s not necessarily a quick process to join the groups together. It’s proven to be a little complicated and we had that setback with the large fight when we had all ten chimps together.