Being a caregiver for captive chimpanzees in a sanctuary is not always easy. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Burn out and compassion fatigue are not unusual. As someone who has worked at varying levels within sanctuaries, I know the difficulties as well as the many perks. I’m so grateful for those who choose this field.
We have a truly incredible team of caregivers. They are dedicated beyond what their positions require and strive to give the chimpanzees good days, every day. They are talented, witty, and kind. I admire each of them as individual people and as coworkers. I learn from them all of the time, and I love reading their blog posts for their unique perspective and insights.
For a sanctuary, the staff are the most important, and often the largest, expense in the budget. No one is getting rich as a caregiver, but they do need to be paid fairly so they can continue their good work. Some sanctuaries attempt to rely on volunteer labor, but this more often than not is unsuccessful in the long term. We miss all of the CSNW volunteers greatly, and are beyond thankful to those who have been able to meet our strict guidelines and worked so hard alongside us this year.
The pandemic was a big reminder of just how crucial paid staff are in providing for the care of the chimpanzees and cattle and the running of the sanctuary.
Donors to sanctuaries get this. You get this! You all are so wonderful, and every single staff member here is grateful every day for your support. Thank you for your donations and your nice words as 2020 came to a close. We are buoyed by your generosity and the love of the chimpanzees and bovines that you have.
With the start of the new year, I thought I’d nominate my favorite 2020 blog posts from the non-director staff (that would be everyone except me and J.B.). It was very challenging to narrow this down!
I’ll start with Chad.
Chad is our newest caregiver, though now that we’ve all been through a pandemic year together, and with all his time as an intern before he was on the staff, it seems like he’s been here forever, in a really good way. His post A Morning Stroll and Confession of a (New) Caregiver from the end of September makes me cry and smile every time I read it. One reason I smile is thinking about how many times he’s gone on walks/runs around the hill with Burrito since he wrote that. J.B. and I have a good view of the hill from our house and the office, and it’s not unusual for me to look out the window on my weekend and see Chad in his red shirt running on the other side of the fence as playful Burrito leads the charge.
Anthony started his job at CSNW about two months before Honey B, Mave, and Willy B arrived at the sanctuary. I think they call that baptism by fire. He wasn’t an unfamiliar face, however. Like Chad, he had interned and volunteered at the sanctuary while working on his master’s degree in the Primate Behavior and Ecology program at Central Washington University. I can’t imagine 2020, much less the later half of 2019 without him as part of the team.
I’m going back pretty far in the year for this one, but I really appreciated the blog post Anthony wrote that he entitled The Tough Questions about public perception and the potential for videos and images of captive primates (and all wildlife) to perpetuate misconceptions and even contribute to their continued harm. It provides much fodder for contemplation.
Anna has had quite a year in her personal life – she has a one year old now! My favorite blog post of Anna’s in 2020 is What Did I Miss?, mostly because of the glimpse of her daughter Luna meeting the chimpanzees for the first time, but also because I am reminded of the happiness I had that she was back from maternity leave and ready to whip the chimp house into shape.
I’m pretty lucky because I get to work with Kelsi on Saturdays. As I put this blog together, Kelsi is doing the approximately one hundred chimp house chores in her usual efficient and upbeat fashion in between entertaining Honey B and Willy B and giving snow snacks to Missy. My favorite blog post of Kelsi’s, one that I go to whenever needed, is Breathe in Mave. It’s perfect, and really everyone should bookmark it.
Katelyn’s work life during 2020 has changed quite a bit. Like thousands of other people, instead of coming in on her office days, she works from home. Office cat LouLou really misses crowding her out of her chair and licking her lunch, and I miss chatting with her about how amazing our supporters are. When Katelyn is in the chimp house, she makes the most of her time with the chimpanzees, posting to the blog on Mondays. My favorite blog post of Katelyn’s is Being Honey B because she beautifully captured the essence of Honey B and why just about anyone who has ever met her has loved her.
I could have chosen any number of other blog posts these great caregivers have written. Maybe you too have some favorites?
Hi Diana, I have many favorite blogs but I must say that your blog has risen to the top of the list. Every day I read the blogs while not really knowing more of the human side. I have often wondered how you all do this every day. It does seem at times to be monumental. I completely admire and am truly impressed with the loving care and dedication to making sure that the chimps of CSNW have left the past behind and are living their best life now. Thank you and Blessings to all, chimps and caretakers.
Judy
Thank you, Judy! I did laugh a little when searching for photos and mostly only found photos of the staff from behind. It’s appropriate that the focus is on the chimpanzees, but I’m glad I got to say a few words about their human friends 🙂
a very nice reminiscence of a year of difficulties and success…..
This year seemed to be the year of Burrito for me. Well, maybe I could say that about 2019 also. Perhaps with both years causing more clinic time than one guy deserves in a lifetime, my favorite post of 2020 is Chad’s account of the day Burrito was bitten by the rattler. I get the feeling Chad might be more of private person (clearly not a gush-a-holic like me), so his openness in this post touched me. Chad’s expression of his love for his dear friend will always bring a tear to my eye when I read it. It’s why I had to feature it on your advent calendar this year, because I believe all of us at some point had a similar thought, I know I did. These are the words that said it all : “Oh Bubby, You will be fine. You will pull out of this. I know you will because what would I do without you? I honestly can’t imagine a life without Burrito.” And then Burrito, like only Burrito could do, recovers to be sillier, more playful, funnier, and full of even more joy. And my heart melts, because I honestly can’t imagine a life without Burrito either. And I can’t imagine what it would be like to actually have that special bond of friendship that Chad has with Burrito. What a gift.
My next favorite post is “Jamie and J.B. Share A Moment”. This needs no explanation.
And then Kelsi taking her selfie with Jamie (shown at the top of this page) in the post “Happy”. For the same reasons I appreciated Chad’s honesty, I appreciated Kelsi sharing her selfie after her confession regarding selfies. It’s the laughter in Kelsi’s only visible eye that speaks volumes, even with the mask on you can see and feel her happiness in being with Jamie. Honest and true.
Every post is memorable. I envy your close friendships to these incredible chimp people. Thank you for your time, perspectives, photo taking, video production, and most of all thanks for sharing your friends with us.
Thank you, Kathleen. We so enjoyed the advent calendar this year! You outdid yourself. It’s such a special tradition, and one that we treasure.
Like Kathleen, I find every post memorable. Some are funny, some happy, some very sad, others educational and thought provoking, but you all do a remarkable job in including us in your world. It’s a very hard job as you say to keep going…..Jamie wanting her sunset walk when you’re exhausted from the daily grind, Burrito, bless his cheeky face, wanting two tours of Youngs Hill (has Chad recovered yet?) and endless games etc etc. But how could you not love them all to bits? Two things stand out for me especially. Firstly the photo of J.B with a still very poorly Burrito who was lying down but wanting to play poke and tickle with his friend in spite of the fact that J.B was probably the one who had to dart him. And the priceless comment from you, Diana, boots up on the Gator, racing Jamie and saying “ This is the weirdest job!”
You’re all so wonderful and you’ve kept many thousands of us sane especially in this past mad year. THANK YOU.
I like both of those, too, Carol!
Those are really good ones! So many memories from this year. I have that thought about my job often 🙂 How lucky are we all that we get to share these moments with all of you?!
I don’t know how you people can come up with new ideas every single day. This blog was a WINNER. I watched all the videos and re-read all the posts. Chad’s words made me cry. What beautiful thoughts during Burrito’s snake bite scare. And the one with Anna showing Luna to the chimps, put a lump in my throat that is still there. What a unigue group of human beings work at CSNW…such warm, kind, big-hearted, dedicated people. Overworked, underpaid but so dedicated to all the animals. I applaud you all and pray you all get through this pandemic safely.
Thank you so much, Elaine!
It’s so hard to choose, Diana! I also love Jamie’s racing the gator, for the exact same reason. I got the sense that maybe you could never have imagined yourselves here, doing this, but it happened, and now it feels weird but right that your Friday or Saturday night fun involves racing a chimpanzee around a hill on a garden tractor (and always letting her win).
I remember the beauty of the photos when Lisa spent time picking raspberries for the chimps, because they wanted them NOW!
Willie B becoming more comfortable outside, enough to nap, but not enough to abandon his “tub boat”.
Bubba’s miraculous recovery and growing up. Seems like not only when he stepped up to protect the others and was bitten, but with all of the times he’s shadowed Jamie on patrols since then, everybody’s annoying little brother has grown into a (still goofy) young man.
And Jamie’s moment with JB was just heartwarming.
I think each and every one of you are incredible humans and I am a proud supporter of your work caring for these amazing animals. Your tireless efforts are enabling these beautiful beings to have a better life after suffering unimaginable tortures in the name of research. We, each of us humans, owe them our lives and I will continue to give and support you as long as I am able. God bless, stay strong, and stay well.
Happy New Year,
With respect and gratitude,
Caroline
Thank you, Caroline! We are so proud to have your support.
Off topic, Diana, but a possible topic for future blogs (depending on your answer). Do (any of) the chimps snore?
It’s pretty rare! Every once in a while we hear someone faintly snoring, but it doesn’t seem to be the norm.
Thanks! I kind of thought so, but it was worth asking!