Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Loss of Chimpanzee Icon Gregoire

December 19, 2008

PASA Mourns Loss of Chimpanzee Icon Gregoire
Gregoire, an adult male chimpanzee whose resilience allowed him to survive more than 40 years of solitary display at an African zoo before finding companionship and comfort at a sanctuary, died in his sleep December 17 at the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in Congo.
Gregoire was believed to be 66 years old.

Gregoire was the oldest known chimpanzee in Africa and was a beloved figure in the Republic of Congo. Captured as an infant from the forests, he became a hero to the Congolese, first as a mainstay at the Brazzaville Zoo, and later when he was evacuated to Tchimpounga via airlift during the 1997 civil war.

Gregoire will be buried at Tchimpounga, which is a charter member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA).

“Gregoire symbolizes the long and difficult arc many primates experience in Africa,” said Doug Cress, executive director of PASA. “He was a victim of the bushmeat crisis long before it was an international cause, and his ability to endure so many years alone at the Brazzaville Zoo is a testament to his strength. PASA sanctuaries are committed to the rescue, rehabilitation and – when possible – reintroduction of primates back into the wild, and Gregoire’s odyssey serves as an inspiration.”

Gregoire received a great deal of media coverage in the latter stages of his life, including documentaries on BBC and Animal Planet and the cover photo of National Geographic.

At Tchimpounga, Gregoire spent his final years in a large indoor-outdoor enclosure in the company of other chimpanzees. But that was a very different animal from the one Dr. Jane Goodall first encountered in Brazzaville in 1990.

“I gazed at this strange being, alone in his bleak cement-floored cage,” she once said. “His pale, almost hairless skin was stretched tightly over his emaciated body so that every bone could be seen. His eyes were dull as he reached out with a thin, bony hand for a proffered morsel of food. Was this really a chimpanzee?”

The Jane Goodall Institiute (JGI) and the John Aspinall Foundation jointly arranged Gregoire’s transfer to Tchimpounga, a large chimpanzee sanctuary near the coastal Congo city of Pointe Noire. Tchimpounga is operated by JGI.

JGI issued a statement that read, in part: “Gregoire was a beloved personality…We'll miss him, but we are so happy to have been able to help him find companionship and contentment in his twilight years.”
(Gregoire photo courtesy of Jane Goodall Institute)

R&R E-News

Take the New Year's Pledge Go Cruelty-Free!

Make a compassionate New Year's resolution and help animals just like Molly. Pledge to purchase ONLY cruelty-free products and look for the Leaping Bunny logo -- your 100% cruelty-free guarantee!

The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program is urging consumers to make a difference for animals by making a New Year’s resolution to pledge to go cruelty-free in 2009! With more than 200 cosmetic, personal care and household product companies carrying the Leaping Bunny logo, it is easier than ever to find a wide range of cruelty-free products. NEAVS is a founding member of CCIC.

Did you know The Leaping Bunny Program is the only cruelty-free certification program that ensures not only that the companies are free of new animal testing at every stage of product development, but ALSO that their ingredients - where most animal testing occurs - are also cruelty-free.

By signing the pledge you help to: make our collective voices stronger; provide greater incentive for more companies to go cruelty-free; and, save hundreds of thousands of animals, including rabbits, mice, and rats, from suffering and death in unnecessary product testing. Request your free compassionate shopping guide today!

The Cruelty-Free Pledge As a compassionate consumer, I pledge to only purchase cosmetic, personal care, and /or household products from companies that do not test finished products, ingredients, or formulations on animals. I am taking the leap to cruelty-free products!

From all of us at NEAVS Wishing you a joyous & compassionate New Year!





Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Special Thanks/Remerciements

Fauna would like to thank the following individuals for their continued support.


Neavs for making a donation to help us continue our sky walk tunnels.


Roslyn and Gil Kaplansky, Debbie Weiers, for their very generous donation when we needed it most.

Thank you!

From all the human and non human residents at Fauna


La Fondation Fauna aimerait remercier les personnes suivantes pour leur contribution:


Neavs pour avoir fait un don nous aidant à prolonger les tunnels aériens.


Debbie Weiers, Roslyn et Gil Kaplansk pour leur généreuse contribution lorsque nous en avions vraiment besoin.


Merci!


De tous les résidents humains et non humains à la Fondation Fauna

Monday, December 15, 2008

Action Alert

Help stop the import of primates from Cambodia into the U.S.



A recent investigation carried out in Cambodia by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) has revealed severe cruelty and suffering during capture, handling, and trade of primates destined for the research industry. The investigation focused on the long-tailed macaque, a protected species listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species).

The Cambodian government is allowing what appears to be a largely unregulated and rapidly expanding international trade in macaques, resulting in indiscriminate and widespread trapping. The investigation showed that despite the establishment of captive breeding programs, monkeys are being taken from the wild in large numbers to replenish the breeding populations.

The U.S. is one of the largest importers of monkeys for research from Cambodia. In addition to the profound humane and ethical considerations regarding their use in research, the U.S. government needs to take seriously the species’ protected status and the effect that this cruel and prolific trade is having on them.

Our responsibility
Right: infants, too young to be away from their mothers, cling to each other
“Until we stop importing monkeys for U.S. research, our government is guilty of supporting what would amount to civil rights violations if our genetic cousins were human. The U.S. scientific community must end its self-serving interest which creates a moral blind spot in what we allow other countries to do with and to their indigenous wildlife. NEAVS joins BUAV’s efforts with nothing short of full commitment to this important campaign.”
- Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D., NEAVS president

Act now!
1. Write to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. CITES authority, and ask them to stop the importation of Cambodian macaques into the U.S.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDivision of CITES Management Authority4401 N. Fairfax DriveRoom 212Arlington, VA 22203-3247USA

2. Write to the Cambodian Ambassador to the U.S. and ask him to urge his government to place an immediate ban on the capture, breeding, and export of long-tailed macaques destined for the research industry.
His Excellency Mr. EK SereywathAmbassadorRoyal Embassy of Cambodia4530 16th Street, NWWashington, DC 20011

“Appallingly, the monkeys were even hunted inside a nature reserve in Cambodia — supposedly a place of safety. The hunters used catapults and beat the tree trunks with oars to scare the monkeys out of the trees and drive them into nets. Then screaming in terror, or rigid with fear, these highly intelligent creatures were grabbed by their tails, stuffed into bags and stored in the bottom of a boat before being sold to a dealer of a monkey farm.” – BUAV

Photo credits: BUAV




Thursday, December 4, 2008

Animal Magazine/Magazine Animal

Get your copy of Animal Magazine today!

Fauna has a two page spread!

http://www.magazineanimal.com/

Procurez-vous un exemplaire du Magazine Animal aujourd'hui!

Fauna a un article de 2 pages!

Shopping for the Chimps/Magasinage pour les chimpanzés

Christmas is just around the corner and the chimps just love Christmas time.

If you would like us to do your Chimp shopping for you, we would be happy to oblige! We have great volunteers that would be happy to pick up the gifts you would like to purchase for the Chimps. That way you can stay home and everyone saves on expensive shipping cost.

How it would work...

You send your donation with a list of item you would like us to purchase and we do the shopping, make gift packs, take photos and post them on the blog with your name! How easy is that!

Here are our volunteers and their items.

Dale and Derek's den:

Big toys (pianos, cars, ect)
Sunglasses
Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
Plastic Mirrors
Wrapping Paper
Scrunchies
Gloves

Coloring books

Christina's Corner:

Scrub brushes
Candy Canes
Necklaces
Plastic Bowls and Cups for dinner
Rattles
Flutes
Tambourines
Brushes

Kathleen's Kingdom

Stuffed Animals
Scarves
Purses
Playschool children toys
Pasta (to make necklaces)

Jute Cord (for necklaces)
Fruit Cups
Juice Boxes

Noel arrive à grands pas et cette période de l'année est appréciée par tous nos chimpanzés.

Si vous souhaitez que l'on s'occupe de vos emplettes de Noel pour les chimpanzés, faites nous signe. Nous avons de supers bénévoles qui seraient heureux de vous rendre service en effectuant les cadeaux que vous désirez offrir aux chimpanzés. Cette idée vous permet d'éviter des déplacements et d'économiser sur les frais de transports dispendieux.

La procédure...

Vous nous faites parvenir votre don ainsi que la liste d'articles à acheter. Nous ferons les achats et les emballages cadeaux, nous prendrons des photos et les téléchargerons sur le blog avec votre nom. Facile?

Voici nos bénévoles et leurs articles:

L'atelier de Derek et Dale:

Jouets de grande taille (autos, piano, etc), lunettes de soleil, dentifrice et brosse à dents, mirroirs de plastique, papier d'emballage, scrunchies, livres à colorier, gants.

Le coin de Christina:

Brosses à récurer, cannes de Noel, colliers, bols et tasses de plastique pour les repas, hochets, flûtes, tambours, brosses.

Le royaume de Kathleen:

Animaux de peluches, foulards, sac à main, jouets Playskool pour jeunes enfants, pâtes (pour faire colliers) et corde en jute (pour colliers), coupes de fruits, boîtes de jus.



Wednesday, December 3, 2008

THE CALENDARS ARE HERE!/ LES CALENDRIERS SONT ARRIVÉS!

The TOM calendars have arrived. Be quick they will be going fast!

$10.00 each

Buy 5 and get the 6th one FREE!

You can purchase via e-mail at:
fauna.found@sympatico.ca

Or Via phone at:
(450)-658-1844

Visa & Master card are accepted

Les calendriers 2009 de TOM sont arrivés. Placez vos commandes ils partent rapidement.

$10 chacun
Achetez-en 5 obtenez-en 1 GRATUIT!

Pour commander:
fauna.found@sympatico.ca

par téléphone 450-658-1844
cartes de crédit Master Card et Visa acceptées

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Enjoying the outdoors/Ah le plein air!


Tom in the bush.... Tom dans le boisé...


Tom enjoying his hammoc /Tom aime bien se reposer dans son hamac


Toby & Rachel


Rachel


Pepper

Albert








Albert hiding in the hay!

Albert aime bien se cacher dans la paille!









Theo





Theo enjoying his pumpkin!

Theo se régale de citrouille!




Pepper & Regis




Regis looking to go out on the islands...

Regis est sur le point d'aller sur les îles...





Pepper taking in the sun!

Pepper qui se fait bronzer!





Relaxing....

La relaxation!

Sue Ellen




Enjoying her mirror/s'amuse avec son mirroir









Sue Ellen being her cute little self!
Sue Ellen toujours aussi adorable!









Wildlife at Fauna/La faune à la fondation

A Racoon Family in the tree by the Office
Une famille de raton laveur grimpés dans l'arbre près du bureau


Young Deer in the pasture behind the chimp house.

Jeune daim dans le pâturage à l'arrière de la maison des chimpanzés.













Spock and Maya have a visit from a Friend/Une amie rend visite à Spock et Maya

Sylvie Poulin and her husband Pierre came to visit with Spock and Maya, and brought along gift bags for everyone. They both visit at least twice a year and Spock and Maya are always pleased to get to spend time with them.

(Sylvie was Spock and Maya's keeper at the Zoo for 25 years)

Sylvie Poulin et son mari Pierre sont venus visiter Spock et Maya. Ils ont amenés des sacs cadeaux pour tout le monde. Ils viennent régulièrement 2 fois par année et Spock et Maya sont toujours si heureux de passer du temps avec eux.

(Sylvie a pris soin de Spock et Maya au Zoo de Québec pendant 25 ans)


Sylvie & Pierre

Regis playing tricks/Regis s'amuse

Regis
Here is a little story to make everyone laugh. This afternoon at the end of supper time I had just turned off the lights in the chimp house and that is the usual time for Tom to come in and make is nightly provisions. He believed he was alone in his front room right in front of the kitchen counter. He was sitting on the platform and started to pick and choose his favorite things for a little snack later in the evening. He was taking one article at a time (lettuce, red pepper, apples) turning and putting everything behind him like he always does. Little did Tom know was that Regis was laying on the top platform hanging his long arm right down and plucking up all Tom's stash as he placed it there. I was laughing by myself and Tom was looking at me as if to say "ok, I know I am not crazy I just put an apple right there two seconds ago" but seeing that it was dark he could not see Regis above him. By now I was really laughing and Tom let out a bark when he finally looked up and saw the culprit, then off went Regis with his arms and mouth full. That little moment reminded me of how much I do miss the Chimps when I don't have time to come and volunteer as I often as I would like to. It has been one of the most Zen days I have had in a long time. Even Yoko wanted to play with me today!!

Again thank you so much!
Lyne Charron

**Lyne is a volunteer that has been with fauna for many years**

Tom
Juste une petite anecdote pour vous faire rire. Ce soir, vers la fin du souper, j'ai fermé les lumières dans la maison des chimpanzés et c' est à ce moment que Tom en a profité pour se faire des provisions. Il pensait être seul dans son dortoir situé devant la cuisine. Il était assis sur sa tablette et commença à magasiner pour se faire une bonne collation pour plus tard. Il prenait un article à la fois (pomme de laitue, pommes, poivron rouge) et se retournait pour les mettre derrière lui sur sa tablette. Ce qu' il ne savait pas c'est que Regis était assis en dessous de lui et volait tout au fur et à mesure. Je riais toute seule et Tom me regardais d'un air qui semblait dire: Pourtant je ne suis pas fou, j'ai mis une pomme de laitue là y'a pas deux secondes, non? Puisqu'il faisait sombre, il ne pouvait pas voir Regis qui était très bien caché et très rusé. J'en ai ri un bon coup et Tom a laché tout un cri quand il a finalement découvert le coupable. Regis est parti à la course, les mains et la bouche pleines. Ce petit moment rigolo me rappelle combien je m'ennuie quand je ne les voient pas. C'est la journée la plus zen que j'ai eu depuis bien longtemps. Même Yoko voulait s'amuser avec moi!!!!!! Encore une fois merci,Lyne