Texas, of course, is a long way away from Washington state. Heck, West Texas is a long way away from East Texas. (In case you were wondering, Cuba, Guatemala, Idaho and Michigan are all closer to the nearest point in Texas than that location is from the farthest point in Texas. Let that simmer, folks.)
That piece of geographic knowledge is one of the reasons why we caregivers were both impressed and thrilled to receive holiday cards from some very thoughtful elementary students who live, of all places, on the plains of Odessa, Texas.
None of these amazing young people in Mrs. Bille’s fifth grade class at Travis Magnet Elementary have ever been to the sanctuary. I’m not sure if any of them have ever seen a chimpanzee. Still, they have enabled us to decorate our veterinary whiteboard with colorful cards filled with holiday cheer, encouragement, and kindness. Their messages really warm up the foyer. For example, students wished that Missy enjoys lots of tomatoes this year, that Honey B. stays brave about all the new things in her new home, and that Burrito has lots of fun playing tug-of-war with J.B. With their help, we will do our best to make these things happen.
In my opinion, Mrs. Bille deserves some sort of award for organizing such an exceptional gift to the sanctuary (and for being one of our biggest supporters and fans, year after year).
All of the messages are directed towards individual chimpanzees and demonstrate how each student is familiar with the personalities and backgrounds of their respective favorites. It’s comforting to see young people from far away expressing empathy for and interest in the chimps, and it amazes me how much individual students seem to identify with individual chimps. It seems that they are well on their way to becoming bright and responsible adults, and I’m sure they would all make amazing chimpanzee caregivers someday.
When I was their age, I used to pester my parents constantly because I was so interested in animals, nature and science. Luckily, my family was supportive. They bought me used zoology textbooks and atlases, took me to educational programs at the local zoo, purchased a subscription to National Geographic and even sponsored sanctuary animals for my annual Christmas gift. My parents still love to joke about the night almost three decades ago when I tiptoed into their bedroom, opened my father’s eyelids with my stubby toddler fingers, and barked “Dad, what’s your favorite jungle animal?!” When he responded that he liked lions and instructed me to go back to bed, I informed him that lions inhabit open savannas and aren’t adapted to live in jungles. I didn’t go back to my room until he changed his answer to tigers.
Perhaps this is why one holiday card in particular made me smile. The bright red, glittery card reads:
To: Betsy
From: Isabelle
Have a happy mooadays.Dear Betsy, I love your name. And I love cows. They’re my 6th favorite animal. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Well, Isabelle, you should know that Betsy had an outstanding Christmas. She and the other cattle got alfalfa and minerals, two of their favorite winter treats. She held still while I brushed her fuzzy winter coat, and then licked all of the salty minerals off of my sleeves. We’re excited for the new year because Betsy and the others will get a huge new pasture with lots of green grass after the snow melts. It’s because of people like you and your classmates that cows, chimpanzees, and all the other nonhuman animals out there have a chance at a good life after being wrongfully used by humans. Keep up the good work, Isabelle.
Also, Isabelle, I am shocked that cows are only your 6th favorite animal. Why are they so low on the list? Which animals are ranked 1-5? Feel free to send us another card with your faves.
Here are my zoological power rankings:
- Spider monkeys. They’re a lot like chimpanzees AND they have amazing tails.
- Cows, obviously. This includes all cattle because Nutmeg is a steer, not a cow.
- Chimpanzees. They would be higher on my list if I didn’t have to clean up their messy playroom every morning.
- Trash pandas (also known as raccoons).
- Goats.
- Quahogs (a type of clam). They live longer than any other animal and they remind me of the place where I grew up, by the ocean.
- Wolverines. Their scientific name means “the gluttonous glutton” and I identify with that. They’re also stocky, athletic and fierce, like Missy.
- Spotted hyenas. They got a bad reputation from the Lion King, but they’re very smart and have an interesting society. The female hyenas are in charge of the whole group.
- Red pandas. They’re super chill. If taking care of primates ever becomes too stressful, a friend and I plan to start Red Panda Sanctuary Northwest (RPSNW). Stay tuned.
- Leaf-cutter ants.
Thank you all for your support and for loving the chimps (and cows).
Happy Mooadays to all of you and a Happy Moo Year to everyone! Feel free to comment with your favorite nonhuman animal species.
Linda C says
Lol, Anthony, I had no idea you were from this neck of the woods!
Dunno if I have a favorite….I’ve always loved felines kargecand small, horses, dogs monkeys and primates…..everything except sharks and venomous snakes/spiders.
Greetings from L’il Rhody….you want we should send you some Autocrat or Del’s? ๐
Linda C says
Ayayay…”large and small”…
Anthony says
I grew up in East Greenwich! I’d love a Del’s. Lemon, please.
Linda C says
Sure thing, if you don’t mind the powdered stuff (lol, they say it’s good mixed with vodka, but I cannot speak to that!) And some cookies from Dave’s?
I’m on the island
Kathy says
I love this post for too many reasons to list here but here are a few: (1.) Love the kids write in (2.) Love the kids are bright, engaging and encouraging (3.) We’re learning more about life at the sanctuary including the personality of the staff and daily life at the sanctuary (4.) A sense of community (5.) (related to #4) And to see how far reaching this beautiful place and these amazing beings (human and nonhuman) are touching so many lives. In a world where social media seems to
highlights a lot of craziness, I can read about Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. I look forward to the blogs
and the work carried out here (at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW) brings me joy and hope. Thank you.
Anthony says
Thanks, Kathy!
CeeCee says
1 Dogs/Cats, I can’t break this tie, they have consistently been my best friends all my life.
2 Crows, they are SO smart, and are always watching me, and I can relate to liking shiny objects.
3 Chimpanzees, OF COURSE ! no explanation needed….Or just see Jamie ๐
4 Dolphins, I wish I could swim as effortlessly as they can, as a swim team kid,
I used to try for hours on end.
5 Whales, all of their vocalizations amaze me, I feel we have so much to learn from
them.
6 Wolves, beautiful family role models !
7 Lions, I love a lions mane, and of course they have an amazing roar.
8 Cougars, because they are the biggest cat that still purrs, making them a very cute killing machine.
Thanks Anthony and Mrs Bille’s fifth grade class !
I love your letters, what a great idea,
You will be a future I look forward to.
Anthony says
Nice list, CeeCee!
Margaret says
Well done to Mrs Bille and the students, what lovely cards.
Please everyone add some Australian animals to your list. Our native animals are unique and wonderful to learn about but at the moment all over Australia they are being badly affected by bushfires.
Linda C says
Iv3 seen that Margaret, awful, as well as some of the heroic efforts made by the Aussies to save every individual they can: the woman who saved the burning koala, going into the burning bush without a shirt, the fireman sharing his water with another, etc. I’ve not seen anything for a couple of days now-are they any closer to getting them under control?
Margaret says
Sadly no. Two terrible days ahead with heat and wind there seems to be no chance of controlling the fires
Anthony says
Longer and dryer fire seasons are terrifying both in the Australian Outback and in the western USA. We’re thinking of you and all your imperiled marsupials, Margaret!
Kathleen says
I believe I remember Mrs. Billeโs fifth grade class sending wonderful Christmas greetings to the sanctuary in the past. I wish I had a teacher who would have turned me on to a place as incredible as CSNW when I was in fifth grade (or any grade for the matter). Art and animals were all I cared about growing up and both were lacking in our scholastic curriculum. Thank you Mrs. Bille for empowering your students with compassion.
Anthony, thanks for sharing your top 10 list. It made me think back on my childhood. My dog was my best friend and my most beloved companion, but after her I was fascinated by wild cats such as tigers, lions, cougars, you name it, then there’s koalas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, elephants (African and Asian), giant pandas, rhinos, whales, harbor seals, sea otters, and too many birds to name (from my backyard birds to California Condors, Pelicans, Bald Eagles, and Owls). And cows, absolutely cows! Especially now that I live in cow country. I can’t place these animals in a numerical order for fear of favoring one over the other…..but perhaps, just perhaps chimpanzees are now at the very top of my list with 10 chimps in particular being the most beloved of all : )
Anthony says
Thank you, Kathleen!
Betsy says
When I was much younger I was a bridge officer on a ship. Other than our usual watchstanding and and navigational duties, we had some scientific duties, and one of those was logging marine mammal sightings. I was thrilled that whale watching was something I was not only allowed to do, but ordered to do! One day we were sailing along through the Gulf of Alaska, and through my binoculars I saw a fin sticking up in the water. It was an unusual shape, not a humpback whale, not a killer whale. I grabbed my whale identification book, and figured out that it was most certainly a fin whale (or finback whale) the second largest creature on earth, after the blue whale. I could see the fin, and part of it’s back as it just basked on the surface of the water. We sailed past, well clear of it, and it never moved, perhaps oblivious to our passing, perhaps not. All these years later I’m still in awe that I was able to glimpse this rare and endangered creature. I felt like a privileged visitor on this planet.
Betsy says
Sorry, I didn’t answer the question! The Finback Whale is my favorite creature, and after that I really like cats, because they’re just unapologetically weird ๐
Linda C says
Betsy, whale watching is something I never tire of doing when friends and family visit, though honestly, the showboating humpbacks are my tops!
Betsy says
I so agree with that Linda!
Anthony says
That’s an amazing connection, Betsy!
Elaine Reininger says
Dogs are my most favorite animal, but I love baby orangutans, elephants, horses, chimps not necessarily in that order except for dogs, always near my heart and always NUMBER ONE. I love donkeys and giraffes, cows too. Thanks for showing the picture of the clever crafts / notes sent by Miss Billies class. We need more teachers to show children that hunger, pain and a need for shelter and love all animals require just like we do, then maybe there will be less pain and suffering for all species of animals.
Francoise says
Anthony I so enjoy your posts. You are such a talented writer!
As for favorite animals? That’s a tall order, and I happen to most adore three tall, or sort of tall animals: elephants, whales and giraffes. All are fiercely loyal to family and matriarchal and that scores high on my list. But other species include dogs (for their devotion and cheerful love of life), birds (for the males who have to work as hard as the female caring for the young), penguins (ditto), lynxes for their eusiveness and avoidance of humans (smart cats!), wolverines (ditto) and both of these two because I remember writing about them in school when the other kids were doing cats and dogs. In the end though, it’s all non-human animals and organisms. I am in a near-constant state of panic and anger from what is going on in in the world not for fear of my existence but for that of animals. They have had no say, didn’t cause the problems, and suffer the most. And for that, any and all non-human animals are the highest on my list. The human species, generally speaking, doesn’t make the cut although many individuals too, such as all the truly human humans at CSNW.
Anthony says
Thanks, Francoise! I always appreciate your comments. ๐
Shelly Bille says
Anthony!!! Your story is so sweet and generous and you may have made me cry just a bit. Thank you for featuring my kids! You are right that all but one (zoo visit) of my students have NEVER laid eyes on a chimpanzee in person. I work at an at-risk school and most of my students have never even left the city of Odessa, much less been near any wild, exotic animals When they return from the holiday break I will pull CSNW up on the Smartboard and wait for the delighted squeals of happiness when they realize your blog entry was about them.
Isabelle is a very unique child and her list of favorite animals 1-5 is sure ree to be as unique as she is. Thank you for taking time to acknowledge that they chose to shine their “lights” (such a bad pun) on the “Cle Elum 7… Oh! plus 3” as we often refer to them. Negra might have hit the jackpot with cards this year. Severl extra cards came pouring in when I mentioned that Negra only had one card. They really do have such amazingly bog hearts.
I have WAY too many favorite animals for a list but……
1. Chimpanzees of course!
2. Dogs
3. Bats (puppies with wings)
4. Octopus
5. Parrots
6. Drop Bears AKA koalas (there you go Margaret!)
7. Gorillas
8. Rats (best classroom pets EVER!!)
9. Elephants
10. Sea lions
Seriously though Anthony – thank you. You have no idea what this will ean to my kids.
Shelly Bille
Linda C says
That’s a sure sign of a teacher, Shelly….often, when I refer to “my kids”, people look puzzled, as I’ve none. Then I have to explain that teachers are like Jerry Lewis-we all have tons of “kids”!