Many thanks to Lynn Wilson for sponsoring a day of sanctuary in honor of Anher Flores, the Senior Manager at Wildlife Waystation, and for sharing this wonderful message about her gift:
“Last night we watched ‘A Checkered Past’. I felt so bad for Anher losing the chimps he has worked with for so many years. He also did so much for many of the other 77,000 animals saved by the Wildlife Waystation. My husband and I were fortunate enough to get to know him when we were volunteers at the Waystation. Anher deserves an honor mention and a donated chimp day for all he has given for the many years he has been with the Waystation. Thank you Anher.”
For Mave, Honey B and Willy B, and most recently, Cy, Rayne, Lucky, Dora, Gordo and Terry, Wildlife Waystation, was the only home they’d known for the majority of their lives before arriving here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. And Anher, along with so many other caregivers, are the wonderful humans who cared for them for all those years. The chimps’ human friends and family. We can well imagine how difficult it is for everyone, humans and chimpanzees, having their whole world change overnight.
We’re so happy to have the opportunity to honor Anher and his colleagues today for all they’ve done (and continue to do for the remaining 26 chimpanzees who are still at Wildlife Waystation awaiting their new sanctuary homes) to provide care and love to these amazing individuals and for all they’ve done to help make their transition as easeful as possible. We think of them every day, with so much gratitude.
Gordo, in one of his new greenhouses here at CSNW:
As many of you may be aware, “A Checkered Past”, a short film by Shaun Monson and narrated by Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, was just released on World Chimpanzee Day, July 14th, to highlight the emergency rescue campaign led by the North American Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) and fiscally sponsored by 7th Generation Advisors. The film tells the story of the original 42 chimpanzees who remained at Wildlife Waystation when the facility unexpectedly closed. Twenty six chimpanzees still remain there who urgently need our help.
We are profoundly grateful to each of you who, in a myriad of ways, made it possible for us to welcome home the nine incredible chimpanzees who have joined our family. And if you’ve followed us for awhile, you are well aware of the enormous undertaking it is to be able to offer safe, appropriate and enriching living space to chimpanzees. While accredited and experienced sanctuaries have been identified to take the remaining chimps, they are still in need of daily care and help getting to their new homes. If you are interested in learning more about the remaining Chimpanzees in Need, would like to see the film, or share the chimpanzees’ story (far and wide, please!), you may do so here.
Lucky:
Rayne:
Terry:
Dora:
Willy B:
Honey B:
Mave:
The photos are whimsical and lovely. The sweetness of these gentle souls shines through. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
So very thoughtful Lynn and thank you for sponsoring these pictures. I too watched the video (twice now) and yes, it must be “sweet and sour” for Anher. The chimps he’s cared for so long leaving in spurts, but conversely, he must be overjoyed to see where at 10 of them have ended up.
Thanks for link to “Checkered Past” – was excellent and good to see where our lucky 6 came from. Looks to me like they have way better digs now!
Hope that short video helps promote awareness & funds for the remaining 26. Thanks for saving our 6 new pals.
I just watched A Checkered Past video last night!
Anher, your chimps are so beautiful and so healthy. And we love them! Thank you so very much for loving them. And please know these nine are also in loving, kind, knowledgeable and very capable hands.
And Thank You Lynn for honoring the oh so honorable Anher.
Hand over Heart
Thank you Lynne for doing this for Anher. It is a very deserving tribute. I always admired Anher very much…. Still do.
Deanna, didn’t 2 of them go to Lincoln Park in Chicago?
Wow, that short film is wonderful. I hope that the talents of Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara help bring awareness and money for such a noble cause.
And does this mean that the CSNW staff can now say they starred in a movie with an academy award winner?……. I think so! 🙂
I also watched a Checkered Past and was so taken by it. I felt for the chimps caretaker, you could tell he will miss them. I kept seeing your facility popping up and I was hollaring that’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW and I was the only one around.
What a brilliant idea and perfect way to honor Anher and his years of devotion, friendship and hard work in caring for the chimpanzees at Wildlife Waystation. When I watched ‘A Checkered Past’ I was moved when Anher spoke and all I could think about was his loss, …his friends for decades are moving on. Like a parent sending off your grown children, Anher and the existing caregivers must feel very proud but I know saying goodbye is bittersweet.
Thank you Lynn Wilson for sponsoring this day in Anher’s honor so we can all join in. Thank you Anher, how fortunate the chimpanzees had you looking after them (especially when they first arrived, so young and needing you most). Thank you for being there.
Thank you, Anher, for having loved them. And for loving them still.
I will watch A Checkered Past tonight. Just knowing how hard it has been over my years to lose beloved pets, I can’t imagine how difficult it is to lose whole families of chimps after years of being their family. My heart and gratitude go out to all of the caretakers for all of the animals in captivity. Caregivers are truly special people.
I can most definitely say we (I vicariously feel like a part of CSNW) have gained the most beautiful and handsome of the bunch from Wildlife Waystation. I keep flip-flopping on who is the most handsome fella! I’m loving getting to know the Lucky Six.
I have shared with my niece, whose best friend did grad work in anthropology and worked with chimps in Africa. Hopefully, she can share it with a wide network