It’s been quite the busy weekend! Central Washington University held a Legacy in Every Gesture: Celebrating CWU’s Primate Program, which included a day of events. including the dedication of a memorial honoring Washoe, Tatu, Moja, Dar, and Loulis, the chimpanzees who lived on campus and began CWU’s primate program.
Many of the staff here began our careers in the primate program, and the weekend’s events were significant to us. We are grateful for CWU President Jim Wohlpart and First Lady Sasha Wohlpart for truly honoring Washoe and her family and for bringing together people who had connections to the program over a thirty year span together this weekend.
Roger and Debbie Fouts, the founders of the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute who advocated for chimpanzees well before others in their field did, attended the events and were honored throughout the day. It was wonderful to see them again. Crickette Sanz gave a moving speech that told her story of working for Washoe, starting as a CWU undergraduate student, and how that led her to establishing the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project in northern Republic of Congo, where, among other things, they use noninvasive technology to monitor the chimpanzees, resulting in new discoveries about their ecology and behavior and illustrating how important it is to support the protection of the dwindling populations of chimpanzees in the wild.
Ron Dotzauer, former trustee, told the story of how the innovative building for the chimpanzees came to fruition, thanks to some political savvy and people in high positions who cared about animals. The chimpanzees, of course, no longer live on campus. Tatu and Loulis are at the Fauna Foundation in Quebec, and the site where their home was is now dorms. Dorms that now have a memorial in front that remembers the chimpanzees who once lived there.
We were glad to be able to host some of the attendees, including friends we hadn’t seen in decades, for a visit to the sanctuary the next day. Then it was off to Dru Bru for a successful and fun pint night fundraiser that the Primate Awareness Network organized!
The chimpanzees were very interested in the visitors. Terry spent the most time outside quietly observing everyone, and Jamie demanded to see everyone’s footwear.
These photos are not from this weekend, but I feel they fit in with the uplifting feeling that the weekend’s events and connecting with old and new friends manifested.
Negra at the top of Young’s Hill:
Burrito on Carlene’s Tower under the trees:
Gordo enjoying some corn:
Terry observing:
Jamie exploring:
Some lucky souls!
(I also see Annie’s head peeking out from behind the log in the Negra photo).
I would gladly submit my footwear for a Jamie review! And my feet for Annie’s!
It sounds like a perfect weekend, Diana, and it’s good to hear that there’s still so much work being done for chimpanzees everywhere. There are so many kind souls who really care, thank goodness. I’m sure your visitors were so impressed with all that you do to give the chimos their best life……seeing them safe, secure and happy must have lifted many hearts. Did anyone have to go home without their shoes because of a donation to Jamie???
Thanks for the weekend update! It sounds as if everyone, including Jamie, had a fun weekend. It must have been gratifying for all of you to reflect upon all your experiences and friendships from past days at CWU up to your vital roles at the sanctuary today. Plus, what fun to gather with like minded friends to celebrate the chimpanzees and the humans who, even for those of us who admire from afar, made a giant impact by showing us the intelligence and emotional depth of our beloved next of kin.
Many thanks, Diana, for the gorgeous photos and for sharing your very special celebrations at CWU and of your visitors to CSNW. I can see that both those occasions were a rip roaring success.I so wish I could have taken another trip to Ellensburg and shared the unveiling of Washoe’s memorial at CWU.( Maybe a little biittersweet at the memory that the dorm was once home to CHCI?).Everyone must have so proud and what a fitting tribute to Washoe and her chimpanzee family.All in all an action packed time and one to be savoured.