Send an eCard

A great idea for birthdays and holidays is to send an ecard, like the lovely ones offered by Save the Chimps, instead of buying one. This is great for for apes and the environment in several ways:

1. It doesn't use paper, so can be viewed without using precious trees.

2. It may inspire the recipient to find out more about the cause and maybe spark an interest in helping.
By sending an ecard, you may be making someone aware of issues they hadn't thought of before.

3. Many card companies use images of young chimpanzee (and sometimes orangutan) 'actors' wearing clothes and posed in 'comical' positions, often displaying fear-grins, which are interpreted by the general public as cheeky, cheesy smile. By not purchasing these brands, such as Hallmark, you will not be supporting the inappropriate use of great apes in this way.

Check out Save the Chimps Inc.'s ape-friendly ecards: http://www.savethechimps.org/send-an-e-card

If you'd like to find out more about the use of chimpanzees in the media, please have a look at ChimpCare.org http://www.chimpcare.org/in_the_media

Galatea


Gombe


Unfortunately the great ape forum didn't really take off, but I recently started a Facebook group 'For Great Apes' which has so far been very successful with people from all over the world sharing their love of apes, as well as beautiful photos, videos and stories.

The beautiful Karta, a female Sumatran orangutan at Adelaide Zoo

Exciting Things on the Horizon

Hi, Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been quite busy.

I haven't been able to visit the chimpanzees at Monarto Zoo much as I've been conserving money where possible, I got a lovely new dog a few months ago and she takes up quite a bit of time and money- well worth it of course.

Here's a picture of Sandali and Gombe from my last zoo visit:



Just a couple of weeks ago I got a new job, which means I will be able to save up enough to go to Chimp Eden in South Africa next year! You may have heard about the sanctuary, run by Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, as they had a television series a couple of years back called 'Escape to Chimp Eden'.
 I will be staying there for two weeks doing a Chimpanzee Sanctuary training course, which is going to be so interesting, as I hope to work at a sanctuary one day. You can follow this link to find out more about Chimp Eden and the great work that they do: http://www.chimpeden.com/

Something else that I'm thinking about doing is an online charity auction to benefit Save the Chimps, they are in the process of raising funds for a facility to cater for their special needs chimpanzees, and I think a charity auction would be a fun way to help out. I'm hoping to do it on a great ape forum that I have created, but I don't want to get started until there's more members using the site, there's not much point having an auction if no one's around to have a look and bid! Here's the link to the forum:
http://greatapes.proboards.com/index.cgi
I believe you have to be over 13 to join, but you may have a parent or guardian sign up for you if you are under that age and would like to chat with other ape lovers and help get the auction happening.
 In my last post I talked about some artwork I was doing, I'm hoping to be able to sell some at the online auction if it works out all right. The cage sit didn't end up happening, life just got in the way! I'm thinking the charity auction will be a better way for me to raise money because it won't get in the way of work/uni/looking after my dog etc.
 Let me know if you have idea for things you'd like to donate for the auction, they don't have to be chimp related! You can send me a message on the forum (link above).

Here's a few more photos of the chimpanzees at Monarto Zoo:

Tsotsi


Galatea


Sandali and Boyd during a dispute


Zombi

Fundraiser for Save the Chimps

WIP , a photo by pangorillapongo on Flickr.

I'm preparing for my first cage-sit early next month to raise money for Save the Chimps. My goal is to eventually raise $1300- that's enough to feed one ex-lab chimp for a whole year! In the cage-sit, I will spend 24 hours in a space the size of the smallest legal laboratory chimpanzee cage. It's a great way of highlighting what these chimps go through.

Olivia Helman and Aubrey M. Curl have successfully held two cage-sits. Check out their blog to read all about it! http://www.change4chimps.blogspot.com/

I'm planning to sell artwork on the day of the cage-sit as well, that's what the half-completed chimp painting up the top is for. I will probably be selling it on ebay (with at least one other piece). I will keep you posted!

A gorilla-themed post...

... because I love gorillas!

Mahale, a young gorilla who lives at Taronga Zoo

I am planning a fundraiser for Ape Action Africa at the moment, I'm still not sure exactly what it will involve- hopefully it will be something fun and interesting! Ape Action Africa do such amazing work caring for orphaned primates in Cameroon who have suffered as a result of the illegal bushmeat trade.
 If you have fundraising ideas or suggestions, please comment!

Some fun ways to help gorillas:

1.Adopt an orphaned gorilla in Cameroon. Four of AAA's gorillas are available for 'adoption'. It is very rewarding to learn about your 'adopted' gorilla and know that you are helping him/her and others like them. Personally, I've 'adopted' a beautiful little girl named Nona and have her photo proudly on my wall! :)
 Find out more: http://www.apeactionafrica.org/adopt-an-ape

2. Recycle your mobile phone. Coltan mining in the Congo is causing encroachment onto gorilla habitat, by recycling your unused mobile phones you are helping to decrease the damand for coltan.


Fataki (Taronga Zoo)


Frala (Taronga Zoo)

On a non-gorilla matter, I have paid the money from my donation box onto my fundraising page for Save the Chimps and the total currently stands at $245!!! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, it is hugely appreciated!!! :D
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/amy-atherton-1/freedomforlabchimps

Finally another blog entry!

 Mr Sandali!

Hello!
I've been a bit quiet recently, unfortunately I haven't been able to visit the chimpanzees at Monarto Zoo since March as I've been saving money for something very important to me. I might be going sometime next month though, I really hope so!
 This photo is from my most recent visit to Monarto Zoo. Most of the chimps stayed hidden for almost all of the two hours I was there, but Zwala and Sandali were busy splashing about and foraging in the clam shell pool. It was lovely to watch them.


 I'm very excited to see how much Adelaide Zoo's orang boy, Kluet has grown. His cheeks are really coming in and he's looking MASSIVE!

Kluet

 Fundraising for Save the Chimps has been a bit slow recently as well, but I have quite a bit in the donation box at the moment which I'll be donating online soon. Please keep the donations coming!

New Years Day- Chimp Style

Zwala

On the 1st of January I went with my mum to Monarto Zoo and as usual I spent most of the time watching the chimpanzees. A feeding toy had been put out in the enclosure and it was very popular with the chimps, especially the boys and little Zwala. When it started to rain, most of the chimps ran indoors but Zwala stuck it out and continued going trying to get food out.


Zwala and the boys

I also brought a bag of New Years presents for all the chimps. I gave them some blankets, a large sheet, magazines with peanut butter and seeds hidden inside and a few other things.


I'm still raising money to sponsor Roady's migration to sanctuary in Florida. Please donate, it would make a huge difference for a chimpanzee who has suffered so much for our benefit. Any donation, however small or large, will be greatly appreciated. http://www.firstgiving.com/freedomforlabchimps


Zombi

My new adopted chimps

As a Christmas present, my mum adopted two more of Monkey World's chimpanzees for me, Seamus and Kyko who are both in the bachelor group.

I've adopted Seamus previously as he is my absolute favourite chimpanzee. He's Cherri's son though she didn't care for him properly and he had to be hand raised. Seamus born in 1999 and is well known for his naughty personality. Seamus also has a very sweet side, and is a very lovable guy.

Photos of Seamus:







I've never adopted Kyko before, but he's been one of my favourite chimps for a while. He had a terrible start to life being smuggled from the wild for use as a photographer's prop Spain. As part of his act was forced to wear roller skates which crippled his feet. Luckily he can walk just fine now and is a very lovable chimp. He is thought to have been born in 1987. Kyko is such a sweetheart xx

Photos of Kyko:





If you have a look at MW's website, they've used this photo I took of Kyko-
http://www.monkeyworld.org/meet-our-primates/butchs-chimpanzees.htm

Help Migrate a Laboratory Chimpanzee to Sanctuary in Florida!!

'Please help my fellow chimps in America!' Galatea

I have just set up a fundraising page for Save the Chimps: http://www.firstgiving.com/freedomforlabchimps

This will be an ongoing fundraiser to help cover the costs of transporting one of the chimps to Florida. There are still many chimps living in the New Mexico that have yet to make the journey to permanent sanctuary on islands in Florida. The cost to sponsor one chimp's migration is $2500 which is the target I hope to achieve. These chimpanzees have suffered so much for our benefit and they are so deserving of a wonderful future at the sanctuary. Please donate to help these beautiful apes xx

 For more information about the 'Great Chimpanzee Migration' please visit https://www.savethechimps.org/the-great-chimp-migration

I have also set up an account of RedBubble and will be selling artwork of Monarto Zoo's chimpanzees to raise funds. The zoo has kindly allowed me to give most of the money raised to Save the Chimps Inc, the rest will be donated to Monarto Zoo's primate section.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/pangorillapongo


Clin, an ex-lab chimp, now living at Monkey World

Merry Christmas!

Gombe

Happy Christmas everyone! Please think of all the apes and other animals who can benefit from your generosity during the festive season. I hope the new lady chimps at Monarto Zoo enjoy the warm weather in their first Australian Christmas. xx

 I think a great idea for a Christmas present is an ape 'adoption', which are offered by many sanctuaries. I made an adoption donation for Christmas to Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre. This is my beautiful new adoptee, Cherri-


Cherri

She's had a bit of a rough life. Cherri was born in the wild and probably saw her mother killed. She was then shipped to Spain where she was used as a photographer's prop. She arrived at Monkey World at less than two years old and had already suffered a broken jaw from the terrible treatment she recieved. Nowadays, Cherri is a respected dominant female in a large community. She's had two infants who she sadly didn't know how to look after properly, Pip, who sadly passed away at the age of only 7, and Seamus.

Visit http://www.monkeyworld.org/ if you are interested in adopting one of their chimps!

Thank You!!

I would like to say a big thank you to those who sponsored me and donated to Ape Action Africa. I surpassed my goal, and your donations will have been a big help to the sanctuary at Mefou National Park. I intend to start a long term fundraising page in the near future.

Anguka, during her brief stay at Adelaide Zoo, she now lives in Portugal


Also, thank you so much to those who voted for the Center for Great Apes to receive a 50,000 grant. Unfortunatley, they didn't get it in November, but you can still vote to secure them the huge donation for December.
Here is the link: http://www.refresheverything.com/centerforgreatapes
Please vote every day in December and encourage your friends to do the same!!! If we all work together we can make a big difference to the lives of great apes!!


Galatea reading a magazine

Visit to See the Chimpanzees

I went to Monarto Zoo yesterday with my mother and true to form, spent the whole time at the chimpanzee enclosure.


Galatea
When we got there, all the chimps were in the playroom. Boyd was using the feeding puzzle, Tsotsi was grooming Soona, Sandali and Gombe were relaxing on one side of the room, Zwala and Zombi were on the other side, and Galatea was snoozing on one of the platforms in the middle. Sandali had many nasty wounds as a result of all the changes that had been happening in the group. As the lowest ranking male, he'd clearly been copping it. Tsotsi was walking strangely on one hand, and it turned out that he had a small wound on one of his knuckles. Soona had some injuries, but I think they were mostly the same ones she had two weeks ago. When I finally saw Zombi properly, I noticed that unlike when I last saw her, both her eyes were fully open.
Zombi and Zwala spent most of the time I was there grooming each other behind a large branch so I didn't really see them very much.

Boyd and Tsotsi groomed each other a lot as usual, but they were sometimes joined by Soona or Sandali or both of them. At one point Sandali was watching the two of them grooming and kept standing up as if he was deciding whether or not to join them. He looked quite nervous but eventually joined them and enthusiastically groomed Tsotsi.


Soona, Tsotsi and Boyd in the grooming group, Sandali is part of the group too, lying behind them (you can just see his arm)
Sandali looked very sorry for himself, and was limping from a large cut on his foot. Twice Galatea came over to him to groom his sore foor, which was really nice. Later, Soona spent quite a while grooming Sandali as well.



Galatea grooming Sandali's wound on his foot


Soona grooming Sandali
When the chimps (except for Soona) went outside for their treats during the keeper talk Gombe was in 'look-how-tough-I-am' mode. Almost whole time he was outside he had his hair bristled and he swaggered and strutted around. He got hold of a ball that someone had taken out from the playroom and after a bit of swaying in two legs and hooting he threw it at the school children who were listening to the keeper talk. Gombe then started intimidating Sandali, displaying at him at at one point jumping on him and giving him a smack. Sandali screamed and ran to Tsotsi and Boyd who were getting all excited by the whole thing. Not surprisingly, very soon it was just the males outside as the ladies had gone back in presumably for some peace! Gombe displayed at Sandali a couple more times, but not really getting violent, before finding another ball to throw at the people watching. he then went inside where he lay on his back, feet in the air, looking very pleased with himself!


Sandali acts submissively to Gombe
Later, something happening in the keeper area caught the chimps' attention and all the boys and Soona bristled up their hair and charged over. I found it interesting that Soona was the only female to go stomping over with the boys, while the others just looked over with mild interest. Soona seems to get on very well with the males, she seems to spend more time with them than the others.
Just before we were leaving, Galatea and Gombe both went outside. After wandering around on their own for a little while they groomed each other. It was nice to see because Galatea had spent most of the time I was there keeping herself to herself.


Gombe and the first ball

Chimpanzee Girls!! (and other bits)

 Soona being groomed by Zwala

First off, I would like to encourage everyone to vote every day in November to help get a large grant for the Center for Great Apes. They do such amazing work for captive chimpanzees and orangutans and this could really make a big difference to the male orangutans who need new enclosures as they grow up!


Much has been happening in Monarto Zoo's growing chimpanzee group-
The four female chimps from the Netherlands arrived in Adelaide in early October and after spending their quarantine period at Adelaide Zoo, they recently moved in to Monarto Zoo's chimp house. On Saturday they met the males and when I visited them all for they first time yesterday all eight were living together.

  The chimps had access to two areas away from public viewing, so quite a bit of the time most of them were out the back where I couldn't see them, which is fair enough- they've had a lot going on recently! When I first got there, the chimps were all let into the main playroom so I was able to see all of them, it was quite strange seeing so many chimps as I was used to just the four males!


Zombi

I was able to tell the girls apart pretty quickly, Zombi, the oldest, is very large and masculine looking, Soona has large floppy ears, long hair and a bit of a belly, Zwala is small, with a dark, thin face, Galatea is almost as small as Zwala, with a pale chin and is very dainty.

Most of the time it was just Zwala and Zombi in the playroom, Galatea came in occasionally, and Soona came in even less often as she was busy spending time with the boys. Later in the day when the boys came back in to the playroom, Soona was right behind them and showed a lot of interest in Tsotsi, but gave him a bit of a slap at one point. When Tsotsi and Gombe were displaying, Soona didn't move out of the way straight away and tried to hold her own. At one point she displayed at Tsotsi a little bit!


Soona

Galatea made an impressive nest in the corner of the playroom floor with a couple of hessian sacks for extra comfort. Seeing this, Zombi came over and started making her own nest next to it. She then reached over and casually stole one of Galatea's sacks, and when Galatea walked off to fetch herself another one to replace it Zombi helped herself to Galatea's whole nest! Luckily for Galatea, she appears very good at nest construction and made in even bigger one filled with blankets very quickly. Galatea's ex-nest must not have been quite good enough for Zombi as she ended up moving a load of woodwool up next to Zwala, who had built her nest on top of the platform, and making a new one.


Galatea

When I did see Sandali, he was in the thick of things, at one point huddled up around a feeding toy with Galatea and Zombi. It was nice to see because Sandali does seem to spend a lot of his time alone. I hardly saw Boyd at all, but I could just see him in the off exhibit area grooming with Tsotsi. Tsotsi and Gombe came in a bit more often, and both of them displayed a bit. Gombe's display largely consisted of him swaggering around on two legs in an impressive manner.


 Sandali

The females appear a lot more agile than the males, Zwala in particular seems to be quite the gymnast. She spent much of the afternoon having a snooze in her nest, but took an interest to the magazines that had food hidden inside. Zwala spent a long time leafing through the magazine, and then took it with her when she built a new nest- perhaps for reading in bed!


Zwala and her magazine

I had a lovely time watching the new girls, and of course the lovely boys. I should be going to visit them again next week which I am greatly looking forward to.

Happy Boyd-day

Boyd with his most constant companion, Tsotsi

Today, the wonderful chimpanzee Boyd is turning 32 years old! He's been living at Monarto Zoo since August 2009 and is a really great chimp. He's a lot more mature and experienced than the other lads and spends a lot of time grooming or being groomed by Tsotsi.



To celebrate Boyd's birthday I became a member of 'Save the Chimps' in order to help other chimpanzees who have not had as pleasant lives as Boyd and the others. In the future I'm going to make donations to celebrate the birthdays of all the Monarto chimps. Please take a look at their website to find out more about the amazing work they do. http://www.savethechimps.org/

I was going to visit the chimps today as it's Boyd's birthday, but I'm saving my bus ticket money so I can visit more times once the lady chimps are at the zoo early next month. I think four new girlfriends is a pretty good birthday present for Boyd to be getting!

Great Apes Need Their Mothers!

Hsiao-quai with her beloved infant Jin

Great apes have long childhoods and are dependent on their mothers for years. The bond is so strong that their have been cases of the youngsters giving up and dying after losing their mothers. Knowing this, how tragic it is that infant chimpanzees and orangutans are taken from their mothers for no reason other than so they can be raised to entertain us. The treatment of these apes being trained for television, movies or shows can be very brutal and when they become too large and dangerous they are discarded. If they are lucky they may end up at a caring sanctuary, but may find it difficult to adjust to living with their own kind after so long.
 Please write to companies who exploit great apes in this way, especially in a time when computers or animatronics can be used instead, this use of apes is not acceptable.
Look at the Center for Great Apes website for more information:
http://www.centerforgreatapes.org/apes-in-entertainment.aspx


Trudy
When she was an infant, she was whipped and kicked by her circus trainer owner


Sule resting on his mum Sacha's back, luckily he will be growing up with his family, as all chimps should do


Carli, a former television star. He knew very little of how to behave like a chimp when he was rescued but is now a well loved member of a group of chimp boys