If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know that we just wrapped up our “Month of Love” Valentine’s posts in which we highlighted each of the extraordinary chimpanzees and cows who call the sanctuary home, along with how you can become their sponsor through our Chimpanzee Pal and Bovine Buddy programs. We’re thrilled to say that between them all they received 93 new Pals and Buddies! You all are amazing and that’s definitely a record!
Our heartfelt thanks to each of you who were able to sponsor one of our 21 sanctuary residents, to include Jody and Nutmeg in memoriam. And to those of you who are new George Pals, many thanks for welcoming him as your pal. As the brand new guy, he of course went from having zero pals to having 21! And we’d like to send a special thank you to our three supporters who, incredibly, each sponsored the whole family of chimps and the whole herd of bovines!
Sponsorships, as all of your donations, in-kind gifts, volunteer work, follows/shares/likes, and presence, have contributed to creating a true sanctuary for the chimpanzees and cows. Every day forward and further from the ones they left behind, is because of you and the community you’ve help build here and we could never thank you enough.
Looking ahead to March, our birthday celebration belongs entirely to Cy! Cy is turning 36 on March 12th. Cy being Cy, it seems only appropriate he should have the entire month to be (extra) celebrated.
We’ve said it countless times before and most certainly will countless times to come, but Cy is a really extraordinary individual. In regards to being the alpha of his group, though I think he’d prefer a non-management position, we couldn’t have asked for a more incredible leader. Given Cy’s background of being taken from his mother at birth and raised in a lab without the ability to learn chimpanzee social and communication skills from his family, his innate leadership, and just all around best guy heart are even more remarkable.
Not long ago, J.B. wrote about the deep admiration and awe held for our “Person of the Year“, which speaks so beautifully to just how special Cy is. You can also read (or re-read) Kelsi’s wonderful “Love for Cy” post for further swooning opportunities. 🙂
If I had to guess, “reading, relaxing, and retired in peace” would be Cy’s “other job” choice:
And as far as March goes for the the humans, I would say most of us are probably pretty excited to be welcoming a return to daylight savings time on March 8th (our schedules change with daylight savings in order to give the chimpanzees the most daylight opportunities to enjoy their outdoor habitats), not to mention the official arrival of spring on March 20th!
As someone who grew up with the redwoods and wild, northerly ocean, I’ve always been of the mindset that the darker, the foggier, the colder, the better. And even though it’s been uncharacteristically mild, I have been waiting for spring since the first day of winter. (Sorry, winter, maybe another time). I think I most love what the more easeful and light-filled days of spring bring for the chimpanzees, cows, barn cats, and all who call the sanctuary home. Including those who will be welcomed to the world any day now – fawns! baby birds! coyote pups! flowers! butterflies! bees!….
I bet Negra can already taste all that spring grass! Same, Neggie, same. 😉 :
