Have I ever told you the story of the day I met Spanky's rabbit, John Lilly's influence, or about the American Sign Language night-class that Sabrina the black leopard helped me study for? Long stories, another time...
Today I just wanted to mention The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary. yes, omgosh, we have one now! The United States has a National Chimpanzee Sanctuary! Tell everybody :)
you can visit it online at
chimphaven.org
Right now, by law (law!!) 300 chimps are being retired to sanctuary and moved from their metal, tiny cages where they lived in enslavement for biomedical research to a home with grass and trees and enrichment and yummy food. Can you imagine being an adult chimp who gets to climb a tree for the first time ever. And you and me, we are all helping to pay for it now! Thank you.
"I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it."
~Abraham Lincoln
When I left the UofR and moved to California, I spent my lunch hours at the Law Library writing letters to the people who could get this to happen. It was a beginning movement. And now it is reality. Never think that your voice doesn't matter; activism takes a long time, but it can really work. The government is paying 75% of the bill for this santuary. The funding has to be reauthorized in 2012. If it is not reapproved in 2012, it really will mean the end of the world. Can you keep up on this topic and keep on your senators and reps so that this stays a reality?
I read a story today about one of the chimps that made it to the sanctuary finally. His name is Pan. He got there knowing some sign language. He was talking to a caregiver there, saying something in sign. She had to find out what it was because she did not know ASL. Turns out that cute little devil was complimenting her on her appearance! Such a sweetheart, what an awesome gift to give him. A nice cozy home. And Chimp Haven is making sure they keep chimps that lived together in the labs in the same groups because chimps, like you and me, and thinking, feeling, loving, family-oriented people.
And, the law says that the chimps, once retired, can never go back to research! This all makes me so happy. It's been such a long road to freedom. My professor Dr. Fouts once called them "chimpanzee beings" (like "human beings") to make a point. One that I thought was worth repeating right there.
Wanna learn more? The Humane Society has a
great timeline of the national chimpanzee sanctuary system.
Take care, happy holidays!
sandra