Happy Birthday to all of our amazing October celebrating friends out there! And you know what else that means! It’s only 31 days until Jamieween!!
October is one of the most celebrated months here at the sanctuary, and more specifically, “Jamieween”, our celebration of the Boss Lady Herself on her honorary birthday, Halloween, is one of the biggest parties of the year. Jamie was born in captivity in 1977 and on October 31st she’ll be turning 44! (I mean, what better day suits this amazing chimpanzee woman of mystery and trickery with a side of terror?!).
If you’ve followed us for the last few years, I think you may agree that at this point, Jamieween wouldn’t be Jamieween without the Great Pumpkin Thief! Every year we wait with bated breath to see if she will appear.
What will this year hold?!
Two additional celebrations we’ll be holding in our hearts this month are those of two of Annie and Negra’s now adult children, both of whom have a wonderful home with family groups of their own at one of our fellow North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) sanctuaries, Save the Chimps, in Florida. Honestly, one look at these two beautiful faces and I doubt you’d even need us to say whose children they are, they look so much like their mamas (photos: Save the Chimps).
Annie’s daughter, Mariah, who will be turning 30 on October 4th!
And Negra’s son, Noah, who will be turning 32 on October 19th!
As our chimpanzee family at CSNW has been growing by leaps and bounds lately, we’ve found ourselves thinking even more about the chimps’ family histories and connections. And last month I chose to include for celebration the September birthdays of Negra’s daughter, Angel, and Jody’s daughter, Andrea (the 2nd), who also thankfully reside at Save the Chimps.
As it’s often asked when the chimpanzees’ children are mentioned, no, the chimps and their children will not be reunited. Most, if not all, chimpanzee mamas in biomedical research had their children taken from them shortly after birth and did not have the opportunity to raise them, let alone get to know them (like Missy and Honey B). And in the case of Annie, Negra, Jody, Foxie and Missy, their living sons and daughters now have quality homes where they’ve lived for many years with other chimpanzees who have become their family members and friends.
While we all wish the chimpanzees’ histories had been different, we’re so grateful to see them now, safe, loved, cared for, and celebrated in their own lives. None of which would be possible for any of them without true sanctuaries and incredible humans like you to support them. And that is to be celebrated!
Annie taking in the autumnal view from Young’s Hill:
While everyone typically ends up with a piece of the famed annual Jamieween Jack O’ Lantern, it’s also safe to say a lot of it ends up with Negra:
Whether you have an October birthday to celebrate or not, may this season be full of the beauty, enchantment and spookiness that only October brings. Happy Birthday and Happy Jamieween, friends! We’re so grateful for you!
Your first picture made me LAUGH OUT LOUD. The last picture was too adorable for words. You get an A-Plus for todays posts, Katelyn.
I love that last photo too and it begs me to ask who made those little Troll witch hats?! Is it the same creative wizard who carves the annual Jamieween pumpkin? I love it all!
Kathleen, a supporter sent those dear little witch hats, aren’t they perfect?! And the Jamieween pumpkin was carved for many years by former volunteer, Steph, but Chad has taken over that task. The Jamieween creativity abounds. 🙂
What a beautiful and loving post!
oh my goodness that first picture! Very halloween-ie! Mariah and Noah do look very much like their Moms. This was a fun post!!
October belongs to Jamie!
I can not get over how similar Mariah is to Annie and Noah is to Negra. Wow! At least this is true in these two photos. I even went to Annie’s bio page, and in the image saved for her video Annie is positioned exactly like Mariah with her head slightly down and her eyes looking upwards. And Noah has Neggie’s lower lip and chin and eyes. It is beautiful to see these inherited traits passed along proving that you can threat hem like objects and separate them at birth but you can never take away who their mama is or who they are. And while they may never meet in person, there is an invisible thread that still connects them.
Mariah is even prettier than “Annie pretty”!
That first photo of Jamie in the toebox is just the best photo ever made!!!
Lovely blog Katelyn.
a birthday fund raiser, please?
This is the first time I’m seeing Jamie in the grass with that ginormous pumpkin. Her expression is just priceless! oh it melts my heart to see her so obviously happy and excited.
If I met Mariah or Noah on the street, I would definitely know who their moms are. I mean…WOW!
What a sweet and wonderful blog today Kaitlyn. Thank you.
Actually, the thief and/or forager happily holding up her pumpkin is Farmer Jody. As I understand it, the Birthday Girl is rather “meh” about the pumpkins that appear at her Jamieween birthday, prefering grapes and pears (neither of which are easily carved into jack’o’lanterns).
oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! to all Octoberites!
The text of this post is bittersweet. Mariah and Noah have both been given sanctuary in a tropical environ perhaps similar to their ancestral homeland. Still…didn’t the “Scientists” at the Buckshire Prison (Lab) understand that chimpanzee infants are dependent on their mothers for up to a decade after their birth? Oh well, nothing must stand in the way of Almighty Progress — and Profit.
And, yet, the inherent beauty and dignity of Jamie, Jody, Negra and her children abides. What a wonderous gift they are to those of us who know of them.
Halloween is also Juliette Gordon Lows birthday. The founder of Girl Scouts was a strong woman who sought to train girls to be strong women themselves. Heres to Jaime and Juliette!
Save the Chimps Also highlighted October birthdays, with pictures including Mariah and Noah.
Thank you so much Katelyn for awesome pictures and a beautiful post. Happy October to all!
I feel honored to be sharing an October birthday with so many chimps. Don’t think I’d have the strength or energy to lug that pumpkin that Jamie has. Great pictures!!