THE CHIMPS…… and us

......It has been a long time since this newsletter was updated so I will try to remember all the things that need to be included. My computer and I have had a rough summer. Hopefully we are back on track.

......The biggest thing that happened, of course, was the moving of the Chicago Seven to Chicago. Kelly and the vet went with them and reported a safe and relatively quiet flight. They stayed several days to see how “our little dears” were adjusting. All seems well and hopefully Terry and Kelly will bring us up to date at our meeting in September. Kelly is also going to tell us about her trip to see Terry and Tabitha in Connecticut. I wonder “Do they have snakes in Connecticut?” Tabitha was very fond of them.

......Higgy’s group is now 10 in number and in that respect the move was a good thing. The group seems very happy together now and there does not seem to be the tension that existed when they were all together. Bamboo is a “pistol”. He is going to be another Optimus for sure. That chimp is afraid of nothing. He sits on the very highest pole and looks around like he owns the place. They are fun to watch. We still miss the “7”, but know it was a good move.

......Bashful’s group has had a few medical problems but they are being taken care of. Melody has been in the “house” for some time now to get her medication and diet for diabetes adjusted. She was recently joined by Sabrina, who also has diabetes. So the girls are in watching the soaps and movies. I am sure that Terry will fill us in on their return to the group at the September meeting.

......Peter, in Whitey’s group, jumped off the top of one of the structures and broke his leg. So he was in house for quite a while. He ripped off his cast, so the vet had to put pins in his leg and all that good stuff. He is fine now and back with the group and jumping off tall buildings, as usual.

......Cooper and “his girls” just tend to each other, with very little commotion from anyone. They don’t seem to pay too much attention to the groups on either side of them. They are in their own little world and seem happy.

......We skipped enrichment in July and August, as usual. I apologize to whoever it was who came for the August enrichment. I neglected to remove that date from the website calendar. I really am sorry about that.

......This has really been a hot summer in the preserve, and everywhere else for that matter. I go home soaked to the skin every time I am out there.

......Our bi-monthly meeting is on Wednesday, Sept. 1 from 7 - 9 p.m. They are set for the first Wednesday of every other month so you can put that on your calendar. One of our brand new observers, Bev Scott, has graciously offered her home for the meeting. You will find directions to her house when you click on Sept. 1 on the website calendar. We hope that every one of you will make an effort to come to this meeting. It will be very interesting. Michelle is going to talk about her project of designing the new structures on the Gibbon Island, where the Siamangs used to live. Phyllis Malcom went to see the Chicago Seven two weekends ago so she will tell us what she saw and how she felt about seeing our chimps in different surroundings. So don’t miss this one!!

…..and STUFF

......It has been a ferocious summer but I am glad that the heat has not kept everyone away from the preserve. Thanks to all you observers who came out and went home in wet clothes, sometimes from the rain and most times from the sweat.

......I do hope that you will all come to the September enrichment workshop with new ideas that you found on the internet or thought up in your own creative mind. We have to get off the food kick because all the kids in America, including our chimps, need to eat less and use their minds more. Interesting, challenging, fun, different - all together or separately, these are the ideas we need. The chimps probably need more Jello bottles after our long hiatus and the keepers may have things they want us to do. So come join us and have an interesting, challenging, different, fun time.

......Do keep your eyes open as you pass your neighbors or anyone else’s trash. You never know when they are cleaning out stuff and getting rid of big stuffed animals, or toys that the chimps could play with. Watch those yard sales for t-shirts, comforters, etc. Check your list.

......Everybody please come to both of our September events!! We need you!