Negra, the Queen of the Cle Elum Seven, passed peacefully yesterday afternoon. She was estimated to be between 53 and 58 years old.
Over the last several months, Negra had become progressively weaker, eventually losing the use of her legs. As her condition worsened in recent days, she became prone to prolonged bouts of discomfort and exhaustion. With little hope for relief or improvement, we made the decision to limit her suffering through euthanasia. She was surrounded by her human friends and her chimp family.
I won’t write her obituary today. I don’t have the time or the wherewithal at the moment to do justice to her story. More importantly, it is a story that is best told by everyone that knew and loved her. We all reveal different parts of ourselves to different people, and each of us knew Negra in a different way. I am looking forward to learning more about what she revealed to my fellow caregivers over the coming weeks.
For now, I simply want to say this:
Negra, you did it.
I didn’t think you could. I’m ashamed to admit that when we first met you in that windowless laboratory basement, our expectations for you were low. You had survived nearly four decades of being stolen, sold, confined, bred, experimented on, discarded, and forgotten about. You had survived, but you had suffered all that you could. At that time, death would have brought welcome relief.
But you persevered. You moved forward slowly—glacially, but always forward. You eventually found reasons to get out of bed. You found joy in playing with your friends. You learned to trust your caregivers, even though our species lost any and all rights to ask for your trust decades ago. You found the courage to explore. You found comfort in warm blankets and sunshine. And most importantly, you found peace.
I will mourn your absence. I’ll miss your outstretched arm greeting me each morning. I’ll miss your gentle kisses on my wrist, and the feeling of your breath on the back of my hand. I will miss celebrating your little victories.
But I, too, am at peace. Because your passing yesterday is less a tragedy than a fulfillment of a wish we had all those years ago—that you would not just survive, but, at last, find joy in being alive. And you did, for over 18 years. We are so fortunate to have lived those years with you.
We have so much more to say, but until then—
We love you, we miss you, and we’re grateful to have known you.
what a lovely tribute! im glad she had such a wonderful life at the santuary. I started following you all when you rescued George from Oregon. Sending hugs to all of the caretakers and chimp and animal friends!
Negra was a shining light and you all gave her 18 years of sanctuary. May her memory always be a blessing. Rest in peace, sweet Negra.
very Sorry for your loss. She was a queen and one brave soul. we will all miss you. Rip sweetheart.
We are all holding Queen Negra, her chimp family and you, her human family, in our hearts. As they say, living well is the best revenge. May Negra’s memory, and her example of triumphing over hardship, be a blessing to us all.
This is so very heart breaking. Negra truly was a queen… so strong, so brave. I’m glad her passing was a peaceful one. She will be missed more than words could ever say. Sleep peacefully, Queen Negra.
My thoughts and prayers are with the staff, chimps, public, and volunteers who knew and loved Neggie. Pan Hibernitus will always be such a kindred spirit who made every day better. She was blessed to know love, compassion, foregiveness, friendship, naps, peace and lots and lots of cozy blankets. I can’t help but see her and Jody hugging and pant-hooting in heaven. Forever in our hearts :two_hearts:
Oh, sweet Neggie… rest in paradise, sweet girl. My thoughts are with all of you during this time. Sending hugs! <3 <3 <3
Guys, Im so sorry.
:sleepy::sleepy:
Oh, sweet Neggie… rest in paradise, sweet girl. My thoughts are with all of you during this time. Sending hugs! <3 <3 <3
The Queen is dead. May her memory last an eternity, for those who knew her and for those who will yet learn of her extraordinary life.
so sorry to hear the sad news .I loved Negra so much.So happy I purchased her tee.Iam sure st.francis welcomed here home with open arms.Tears are coming so all I can say rest in peace .
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Maybe later I can be gracious, but I’m gutted right now and I can’t stop sobbing. And she deserves every tear. She always delighted me with her spunk and with everything she was. She got herself around recently with such apparent ease, reminding me of Yoda and the Buddha.
Beautiful, loving, appreciative words from you, J.B. Thank you. And condolences to all of you.
Oh dear Negra rest in peace. Our deepest sympathy to all who knew her and loved her. We feel for her Chimp family as well. We hoped for the best even though she had so many struggles lately. You gave her a beautiful, safe and loving home and made special accommodations where needed so she could thrive. Thanks to all of you for making that possible for her. We miss her so much already. What a beautiful soul. She and Jody are together again.
My heart is broken for her human caregivers and her family she lived with. My heart is also happy knowing she is resting peacefully :heartbeat:
I had the honor of meeting Negra in 2010. It fills me with joy to know that she lived so many years in comfort, surrounded by her loving friends. In her honor, I’ll light a candle and place it in my window tonight.
I have no words to express the passing of dear Negra. She was the epitomy of courage, hope and love. Thank you to everyone at CSNW for providing the best years of her life, and showing her what love and kindness looks and feels like. Farewell beautiful Queen.
Devastated. For the first few years of following CSNW any story or blog to do with Negra made sad. I dont know what it was about her as opposed to the others of the CleElum 7 that upset me so much but she did.
I hope you all take pride in the life you were able to give her.
I am so sorry for your loss. Condolences
Thats so sad its unfortunate nothing more could have been done before she passed
You thougtfully, heartfully warned us this day may not be far away, Yet it is still hearbreaking. My heart goes out to the Caregivers, who made the extremely difficult decision to end her discomfort and suffering. It was the hardest, final gift you could give her. Long live the Queen in our hearts.
well said |Pat, I agree and am heartbroken.
my heart is broken – for the grief we all feel – Negra the Queen… Rest in Peace. and to the entire CSNW tribe… sending much love and comfort… :broken_heart:?
Thats so sad, its unfortunate nothing could have been done before she passed
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I can’t be gracious at the moment. I’m gutted, sobbing uncontrollably. I’ve long enjoyed everything Neggie is- feisty, loving, spunky. Admired her for getting through the days and even climbing in her disability. She was like Yoda and the Buddha in that.
Lovely, loving, respectful words, J.B. She deserved all of it. And thank you all for her years of freedom, of peace, of safety, of love and trust. My condolences to her chimp and human friends. We’ll all miss her.
Oh dear Negra rest in peace. Our deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved her. Our thoughts go out to her Chimp family as well. Thank you for giving her home, love, and sanctuary for all these years and making special accommodations for her lately. We had hoped for the best even with her recent struggles. Oh that beautiful face:) She is already missed so much. She and Jody are together again. We love you dearest Negra.
Rest in peace Negra.
I am so sorry for your loss. what you all gave Negra and all of her family is something so amazing. you gave her love, freedom, freedom to choose, to do what she wanted to do when she wanted. Negra was given the best 28 years she has ever known. She loved all of you and her chimp family. Her legacy will live on because of all of you. Negra has instilled alot of her traits to her chimp family. She loved all of her care givers because you treated her with love, kindness and respect. You gave her a life after such terrible things were done to her. She seemed to age backwards in front if our eyes. Thank you everyone at Chimpanzee Sanctuary North West for giving Queen Negra a wonderful 18 years of life, love and choice and for sharing her with us. To you and her Chimpanzee family know we send you are love, prayers and heartfelt thank you for giving Negra a wonderful life.
RIP, Neggie in a mountain of soft blankets and all the chimp chow you can eat. You were loved and will be sorely missed. Say hello to Jody from all of us and your chimp friends. ?
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!!!!!!! And the beautiful words from J.B.
Oh J.B. This is beautiful. Sigh. It perfectly captures the wonder that is Negra.
Unfortunately there is nothing healing that I can say to you and Diana and each and every person who loved and cared for Negra. She will forever be your Queen. My heart goes out to all of you…….especially Jamie, Burrito, Foxie, Missy, and Annie.
Somehow I believe the world stopped spinning, or maybe it was knocked slightly off its axis when Negra departed. She may be unknown to many, but to those who had the privilege of knowing her, even if only through this blog, know Negra is hope. She’s a survivor and survive she did, on her own terms, within her family, surrounded by the best tap dancers who loved her dearly.
Even knowing this day could come at any time, my heart aches and my body is heavy with sadness.
Our loving matriarch is now at peace. I want to celebrate that, I really do. But knowing that I won’t see that face poking out of the blankets, see those gentle kisses, or wonder at her fortitude brings tears to my eyes.
Although I never had the honour of being in her presence, she taught me so much. It has been a true gift to see her finally living a life she deserves after so much trauma. To me she is hope, perseverance and kindness.
My deepest condolences to everyone at CSNW, during this time of change and mouring. Thankyou, for giving her 18 years of true living, with lots of blankets, food and choices.
Thankyou, also for sharing her and her family with us, not just through the good times, but through the tough ones too.
I am saddened to learn of Negra’s passing. We all have our favorite Negra stories. I was tickled by the way she loved the night bags, her nesting abilities, and her courage to get out onto the grass when given the chance. I will miss her.
I am so very sorry to read this news about Negra. I have loved reading about her life and exploits over the past few years and my heart aches for all of you, Chimps and caretakers, at CSNW. Queen Negra!
Sad news. You all gave her a great life and you should be proud of that.
What she endured!
What a triumph her years with you were.
Love to you all. You have given her the best possible last years. And she, of course, has offered beautiful memories, forever memories.
Oh Neggie… My heart is breaking… I know the pain of myself and the other blog readers is miniscule compared to ehat Negra’s caregivers and family are feeling right now.
Negra! You were brave! You were sassy! You were strong! You were a survivor! I know you are now fred from the limitations of your aging physical body and the trauma of your past. Say hi to Jody up there. We all love you, Negra. Rest easy you beautiful soul.
Words are difficult, I knew this was coming, but what a shock nonetheless. I remember when you first introduced us to Neggie, she was white as a ghost and you thought maybe she had no strength left, but because of your love, and the love of her chimp family, she lived a very happy 18 years. That is a credit to your team and the love and dedication you give to these beautiful souls, most of all, you know that Negra knew this and felt this too. She will be missed, but forever there in all the hearts who loved her. Thank you for sharing her journey with all of us. My heart goes out to all ofvher human and chimpanzee family at CSNW.
love,
Caroline
Beautiful words JB for a beautiful and brave survivor. I’m absolutely heartbroken, even though we knew this day was coming but I can’t imagine how you are all feeling. It was the final act of kindness and I can only thank all of you for giving Neggie such a wonderful 18 years. My condolences to you all including her chimpy friends who will miss her too. RIP sweet Negra.
I will always love Negra, as I will always love Jody.
May her memory be a blessing.
My heart hurts so much for all you caregivers and Negra’s chimp family. I’m so so so sorry. And as for so many, I cannot possibly thank you enough for helping her find peace love and comfort in her final years. God Bless CSNW!?
Beautiful Queen Negra,
I will miss you forever.
Thank you for taking such amazing care of her, especially as she needed more help lately, I’ve been so impressed by you, and how you really thought about what she needed, physically, and mentally to not just survive, but to be happy.
Wherever she is now, I know she loved all of her family, and that includes her caregivers.
I’m crying, thinking about her outstreched hand to you J.B.:revolving_hearts:
I am so very saddened by the news if Negra’s passing and although we all knew it was coming it still shocks us. Thankyou all for loving the Queen and giving her the good life which had been denied her for so long. Against all odds Negra survived and thrived in the safe and loving sanctuary she called home and though her passing is in one sense an ending it is an ending filled with love and light.:heart::heart::heart::heart:
What lovely words JB and what heartbreaking news, we all knew it was coming but that does not help. I am hearkbroken and my thoughts are with her friends and caregivers who enriched her life everyday.
The queen will be so missed, her piles of blnkets, her loving kisses, her playtime with friends especially Buritto. I hope they all had a chance to say goodbye in their special way.
So, so sad but happy that she spent her last years with you and had as much comfort and freedom as was possible.. I am sure she was happy after her awful former life! :sob::sob::sob: she will be missed.
“Weeping comes in the night, but joy comes in the morning”…my heart mourns to read of Negra’s passing, keeping everyone in my prayers. But my heart is glad and thankful for the honor of following the well-lived, free, loved life of the Queen. She taught many lessons to her subjects about living gracefully and making the most of each day. She was an elegant, beautiful lady!:crown::sparkling_heart:
Oh no. Sweet, gentle Negra. I am so very sorry for your lose. This must be so hard on you and the chimps, her family. She was a beautiful soul. Negra had 18 free wonderful years at your sanctuary where she was so well cared for and loved. I know there was nothing else that could be done for her. it was best, but I and so many other will miss her. She is at peace and pain free now which is all we can ask for her. She will always be the “Queen” wherever she is. All my love, Negra. Take care.
I was so honored to known sweet Negra. We all learned a lot from her. We miss you greatly. Rest in peace sweet girl. :broken_heart: