Today is International Women’s Day, so it seems only appropriate to recognize and celebrate some of the influential women in our field, and in our lives. If you missed Tuesday’s post by Amanda focused on women in primatology, go check it out!
I think it is safe to say that Dr. Jane Goodall is an inspiration to all of us who love and care for chimpanzees. For most of us, our love of the species and individuals is shown in the daily care we provide to them, our friendships built with them, and heard about extensively by our families and friends. But Dr. Goodall has shared her love and passion far beyond the boundaries of her inner circle. She has made a tremendous impact by inspiring both current and future advocates, caregivers, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians of chimpanzees through sharing their stories and the importance of preserving their place on our planet. Beyond that, she is a symbol of success in science for young girls and women everywhere to look up to and aspire to. Her passion for chimpanzees and conservation work has spanned decades, and she continues to travel and advocate for chimpanzees and the importance of conservation to this day (she will be speaking in Seattle later this month!). I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Goodall briefly when she visited Chimp Haven several years ago. We had the opportunity to listen to stories she shared about meeting chimpanzees living in laboratories and seeing the conditions they had experienced, and then getting to witness the lives they had in sanctuary after many years of work to get them there. It was a wonderful day getting to introduce our chimpanzee friends to Dr. Goodall, if only we could explain to them how cool of a person they were getting to see! All that to say, we admire and celebrate you, Dr. Goodall, and are so thankful for everything you have done and continue to do for chimpanzees and our planet.
Caregiver Ellen talking with Dr. Jane Goodall during a visit to Chimp Haven. My colorful shoes were painted by chimp friends!
Here at CSNW, we have many wonderful women to celebrate today…both chimpanzee and human! If you missed our Be Mine series in February, visit the links for each of our female chimp friends here: Mave, Dora, Rayne, Lucky, Honey B, Jamie, Foxie, Missy, Annie, and Negra, as well as our friend we have lost but whose memory we will always celebrate and remember, Jody.
Male chimps, at least in my experience, are usually easier to get to know and more willing to let you in. Take Terry, Cy, and Burrito for example. These lovely gentleman so readily accept you into their circle, and welcome you. My very first day getting to interact with the chimps, Chad took me to learn about appropriate interactions with Terry and he was so gentle and patient with someone who was (mostly) a stranger to him. He gently groomed the back of my hand, and let me rub him with my knuckle. The ladies, however, are often much more difficult to build friendships with. They have to test you first, making sure you are worthy of their time and friendship. This makes it all the more rewarding when they let you in though. One of the best moments I had recently was with Negra, who J.B. recently (and very accurately and lovingly) described as “a grumpy old lady.” I got to the sanctuary and was turning on lights and making my morning rounds of greeting the chimps. Neggie peeked up from her nest to look at me, and when I told her “Good morning, Neggie!” she quickly got up and made her way over to greet me. She offered me a kiss, and we sat and panted at each other for several seconds as she gave me a kiss on the back of my hand. Next she reached towards me, as if she wanted to groom the back of my hand. In my past experiences with Negra, this usually was not a well-intended gesture, so I was unsure if I should allow her to touch the back of my hand. I showed her my knuckle, politely asking if I could knuckle rub her arm, and she turned to press her arm against the mesh and sat with me for a few moments, letting me gently touch her arm with my knuckle while looking into my eyes. This moment was pure magic for me. Does this mean Negra will always be sweet to me from here on out? No. But it means she let me in, even if just for a few moments, and felt comfortable to allow me to spend that time with her. There’s just something special about those female friendships.
A kiss from Negra
Negra
Happy International Women’s Day to women everywhere! I’m including a shout out to my mom here, because I would not be the person I am today without her example of following her passions and the love, respect, and belief she has had in me at every step of my life. May you all be surrounded with such strong and influential women in your lives, and continue to change the world in ways big and small every single day! Together we can create a brighter future for generations of women to come, both human and chimpanzee.
Tobin says
And, may I add, a nod if gratitude to a couple of women and the calf they raised: Honey, Bersy, and Meredith.
I so hope that Dr. Goodall’s itinerary will permit her to pay a visit to CSNW. I hope that an effort can be made when during her Seattle visit.
Diana says
We did invite Dr. Goodall to visit the sanctuary. As in the past, we were assured that she would love to visit, but her very tight schedule does not permit a several-hour side trip to Cle Elum. We hope she can visit in person some day and will always appreciate her relenteless work on behalf of chimpanzees, including this video she made for us a few years ago! https://chimpsnw.org/2020/09/a-very-special-message/
Susan Kathleen Feeley says
What a wonderful post and a fitting tribute to women everywhere! And for all those amazing women who never give up the fight for a better world for primates. We can also learn a lesson or two from our chimpanzee and bovine ladies at the sanctuary and for those chimps who never had the chance of raising their offspring.I love you all.
Rosalie Allen says
Negra is the most regal, elegant lady-she deserves to observe her kingdom and she is an example for all the other chimpanzee ladies. Love them all!
Adrienne says
Happy Women’s Day to everyone! We’re lucky we can live in an era when women can really make a difference – and this is why I’d like to extend my tribute to those women whose names we don’t know, but are in the frontline of wildlife conservation, challenging other people’s scepticism, prejudices and stereotypes, dedicating their love and energy to caring for orphaned and endangered wild primates and other species and often risking their own lives to protect animals.
Kathleen says
Here’s to all the women out there. All species!
Oh Ellen, I can honestly feel the positive energy of Jane Goodall (and I’m guessing your mother as well!) oozing through this post. Clearly you are one of Dr. Goodall’s Seeds Of Hope.
There are very few people I feel gobstruct over. Jane Goodall is one of those people. I heard her speak back in 2015 and at the event, she signed a book for me. In her presence I became a bumbling idiot babbling my respect for her, trying to express how she has long been my inspiration for everything. I also spoke of CSNW as I had visited the sanctuary just weeks before meeting her. I can’t begin to imagine having that kind of patience and generosity to sit there as Dr. Goodall did, signing hundreds of books and listening to all of us say our little something. She was gracious listening to me but I did notice a better connection when I spoke of the Cle Elum Seven. Jane looked me right in the eye, nodded and said a little something that I can’t recall because I was so overwhelmed in the moment—The Jane Effect!
So seeing this photo of you and Jane, with you looking so cool and collected (and stylish in your custom painted boots no less!) seems like a dream come true. What a day that must have been. Since Dr. Goodall will be in Seattle, I hope CSNW invites her to visit so she can see the expansion.
What a fulfilling life you live, Ellen. You not only spent time with Jane Goodall, you receive kisses from the other woman I get all gobstruck over, Queen Negra (…you can add Jamie to this list too, and all the females at the sanctuary for that matter!). Never shy away from continuing to be a powerful woman in your own right.