The chimps are having their dinner outside tonight as I type – quinoa with lilacs and cauliflower. Here are two pics of Jody and Negra enjoying their meal.
Oprah sending a dangerous message
Oprah had a baby chimpanzee and baby orangutan on her show today. She does a lot of great things for animals (including this about our good friends at ALDF!), but unfortunately she and her producers were misguided about this issue. The orangutan and chimpanzee were provided by TIGERS, a facility known for purchasing and breeding “exotic” animals, as well as providing them for film and TV. Please give the Oprah folks some feedback: both that this choice was a mistake and that they should use their power to shine light on true chimpanzee sanctuaries. For talking points, visit our Primate Patrol site.
Check out Jamie on the AP wire
There’s a story running today on the AP wire about privately owned chimpanzees and problem of finding somewhere for them to go when they “outgrow” their private homes. Along with the print story there’s some video featuring Jamie. Check out the story and see the video below.
Loss of a legend – Carole Noon
The world lost a true legend and hero yesterday – Carole Noon. She was the founder and President of Save the Chimps. Hundreds of chimps, including Annie’s son and Foxie’s daughter, are free today because of her, and I can’t think of a better tribute.
I am happy to say that I worked with her a bunch over the last 8 years or so, and I learned so much from her. I remember walking into the halls of the former Coulston Foundation right after she took it over. Words can not even begin to describe how intense that place felt – it was paralyzing. Yet Carole took on the challenge with ease and transformed that dungeon into a joyful, wonderful sanctuary. Years later, she took in several chimps near and dear to my heart who desperately needed rescue.
Carole had a feisty spirit and let no one get in her way. I won’t lie – when she was my supervisor I sometimes feared her phone calls. She didn’t hesitate to tell me exactly what she thought and it wasn’t always pretty! But working with her and learning from her was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. She taught me to confidently carry forth in any chimp situation. I will always be grateful to her for that “chimp confidence.”
Today, I’m very sad about losing Carole. But that feisty independent spirit will always be with me. May she continue to inspire us to keep doing more for chimpanzees everywhere. She left a truly amazing legacy.
A portrait of Foxie
Love that eye contact!
A future so bright…
…Jamie’s gotta wear shades. Or at least use them to try to pick the locks. The day after I took this picture, I found these sunglasses sticking out of the keyhole of one of the window locks inside the playroom! Luckily our locks are hard to pick!
The (almost) perfect drooped lip face
Here’s a picture of Foxie in the sunshine this afternoon, sporting an almost perfect example of the “drooped lip” facial expression. Of course she added her own interpretation – her tongue is helping too! 
