Being in the field of primatology/conservation/education/advocacy/whatever else is included in that is always a hard one to explain. "Why would you ever build a non-profit? Commit yourself to never making copious amounts of money? Living in a tiny house while giving all you have to a species who can't even thank you for it? " Just some of the questions I've been asked. The honest truth is, I can't answer that. I can't put words to my love for non-human primates. The closest thing I can equate it to is your love for your children or family, which even then is a vast and almost inappropriate comparison. Working with non-human primates is my passion, and I can't even begin to imagine my life without them. I'm STOKED to live in a tiny house and give every penny back to chimps. There is honestly no other way I want to live my life. It's my calling. That thing that keeps me up at night, in the most beautiful way.
I'm not a religious person, by any means. I respect Christians, Lutherans, Atheists, you name it. Everyone has a right to believe whatever they want. I feel extremely lucky to have grown up in a non-religious household as I was able to look at all religions from the same standpoint. I didn't grow up with a bias towards Taoism or a strong connection with Jesus, I got to read and learn about all of them individually; which I think is how every child should grow up. With the ability to choose what he or she believes. At this point, I'm very fond of Buddhism and Animism. I think the Buddha had some amazing ideas about spirituality within oneself and I do firmly believe that all things (living and non) have a spirit, which is the essence of Animism.
*I wear a tiny golden Buddha necklace everyday, as I purchased it for myself a few weeks ago in hopes that during times of struggle I would look inward instead of outward for guidance. I guess that is my main struggle with some religions; that they ask you to pray to someone else for help. I've always inherently believed that we all have the power within ourselves to make things happen. Those who had to ask others for help annoyed me. (The stubborn-ness blob that is me still does think that a little.)*
I name my car, my mailbox, my innate objects. I talk to my dog and cat just as I talk to my friends. And when I'm working at the chimp house I am, yes, working with 7 chimpanzees, but mostly I'm spending time with 7 friends. 7 different personalities who are all old enough to be my mother and therefore get more respect than most people in my life. No they don't speak my language, the desk doesn't parlay with me in English. But beings understand other beings. Jamie chimpanzee can understand what I'm saying, and I can understand her body signals. We communicate on a daily basis. This idea that human beings are better than the rest of the animal kingdom because we can speak to each other is hogwash. Animals communicate just as much (if not better) than we do. In turn, part of the reason I love chimps so much is because in my eyes, they aren't' just chimps. They aren't just helpless animals (in fact, Jamie would probably slap my face if I called her helpless.) They long for social interaction, friendships just like humans do. Would you feel comfortable if your sister had to sit in a room with no outside light the size of a bathroom everyday for 20-30-40 years? With no friends? Probably not. Chimpanzees shouldn't have to be put in that situation either. Humans are responsible for the lives these chimps have, and I NEED to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
My favorite trait of the chimpanzee is their loyalty. Choosing a particular trait in anything is a little weird, like , "oh hey Liz I love your ability to problem solve its my favorite thing about you!" So maybe favorite is the wrong word, but it's truly a trait I envy. In the past few months I've learned more about loyalty than in the last 23 years of my life. Friendship and loyalty in humans is such a fragile weird thing. It takes forever to give and earn but is so quickly discarded at the drop of a hat. Humans talk about betrayal and how painful it is, but they turn around and do it to someone else without even realizing it. I take solace in the fact that my fiancee+babybrother+squirrelfriend (code names, you know how I do) have been so unbelievably amazing and define the trait of loyalty every day, but many other times I've not been so lucky. Working in the chimp house and seeing the bonds between the Cle Elum 7 is sincerely refreshing and beautiful. They are not biologically related, but they have created a familial tie, friendships that never break and the dynamic they have with each other is seriously something I long for. Its the family over everything else, whether they are protecting each other from other animals invading their space, the humans they feel have overstepped their boundaries or big B when he did (or didn't) do something wrong. They fight, just like brothers and sisters fight, but at the end of the day, the bonds they have outweigh everything. It's quite honestly one of the most beautiful interactions I have the pleasure of catching glimpses of, and I wish some more humans had this ability. So there. Just a glimpse of why I do what I do.
Now, being an official level 3 caregiver, I'm creating better relationships with the 7 beauts in Cle Elum. Neggie has almost stopped refusing food from me. I've got the order down of which foods she likes and in which order. Jamie and I are breaking records on times walked around the hill in one day. (Last monday it was 6, she did a total of 9 or 10 total.) Miss Jody gives me a nice butt bounce greeting in the morning. Annie even comes over and sits near me when other chimps are around. The friendships I'm creating here mean more to me than most of my human relationships and I'm not even a little ashamed to admit it.
here is Jamie (left) and Miss Negra (right)
The next two photos are of Jamie and I reading a magazine. The first one, I am holding it while she uses the tool to flip the pages. The bottom image is after I gave it to her to peruse on her own.
Here is a video of a walk with Jamie (and eventually Missy.)
The cracking sounds are Jamie eating peanuts as she waits for Missy to catch up.
Lars and I traveled to Texas for the NAPSA conference and it was the best few days of my life to date. Amazing people doing amazing things, and I sincerely didn't want to leave.
Sanctuary plans and wedding plans are moving along, slowly but surely. I'll be around here more often, pinky promise.
love to you and your non-human primate friends.
b
