Chimp Eden Boutique Hotelis a 5 star lodge
providing accommodation for JGI Chimpanzee Eden
guests. Click here
for further info
Comment / Question : 04 July 2009 - Posted by Julie M. I love what you do for the chimps! I laugh, and at times, worry, right along with you. I live in Central Ohio with my teenage daughter. If CE were not so far away we would come visit and volunteer. Maybe someday... 'Til then, God Bless and keep up the FANTASTIC WORK you are doing!!! :) Comment / Question : 04 July 2009 - Posted by Jordan P - You are the best chimp Daddy around. Thank you for being you. Hugs, JComment / Question : 04 July 2009 - Posted by Wendy Happy Fourth of July everyone at CE and especially the chimps, hopefully one day they will no what freedom is but for now they are in a great place and have great people who care about them.. Let Freedom ring for everyone in the world.. I am so glad my Cozy man is doing well..Comment / Question : 03 July 2009 - Posted by dee Hi Phillip-Am hoping the tools were perceived by the chimps as protection and that the vervet managed to escape... Yes,what you do for the chimps, your other children, is heart-warming and causes us all to have the utmost confidence and trust in you and your decisions!Thank you so much for giving your all in such a caring fashion! It is obvious that the chimps are very grateful too-as they count on you and trust you-which includes Charles and his little family! I believe that Charles and Co. will all become a beautiful cohesive group, thanks to all of you!Comment / Question : 03 July 2009 - Posted by Nicholas Hi Phil. Have a couple questions. First, what were the five monkeys in quarantine? If you could, include genders. Also, will vervets pose a problem in the enclosures and is this the 1st youve witnessed vervets in any of the enclosures?? Thanks and hope all is well :)Comment / Question : 03 July 2009 - Posted by Ingie I guess they got tired of us nagging.
http://www.animalplanet.ca/schedule/series.aspx?timezone=EST&type=series&series_name=Escape%20To%20Chimp%20Eden
Escape To Chimp Eden: The Rise Of Cozi - Friday, July 10, 2009 at 3:00 PM (EST)
Escape To Chimp Eden: Baby Booming At Chimp Eden - Friday, July 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM (EST)
Comment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by martha Hi Phillip. I just finished watching another film about Koko, the gorilla. It has been about two years since I saw the first one - where I was admittedly fascinated. Now when I watched the second film - all I could think was to let that poor gorilla be a gorilla! They interviewed the zookeeper who believes Koko should have been returned to the zoo after the initial study. The habitat at the zoo did not look that great. You could see her climbing trees and I just thought she needs to be in the jungle. I want to thank you for raising my awareness of how wild animals need to be able to live with their own kind! What is your view when it comes to isolating chimps, orangutans and gorillas to teach them sign language and how much we can make them like humans!
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Martha.Animals in captivity and those kept in captivity will always raise a lot of debate.There are many good zoos out thereand they are doing great work not only inconservation but in education and this is the way people will find out about the plight of animals.If we look at children in SA how many can afford to go,or to travel to the Kruger Park to see a lion!At least tey can go to the local zoo and see one and learn and who knows a future conservationist will be born (I know this will not be the view of all)That said there is no reason tohave a bad zoo,and I have seen some bad ones in my time.
Any good zoo will only dealin captive born animals and thus these animals have not been in the wild.I personally think that zoos are needed and in the case of some animals this is their only refuge.You only have to look at the plightof the Red Pand and the Golden lion Tamarin to see this and to also see how zoos have managed to bring these animals back from the brink of extiction.
Animals in research have always troubledmeand Im not always so sure if the animal is enjoying what is being taught as much as we would like to think (again Im sure many will disagree)If the animals benefit,great and we humans learn thats good but to simply do it because we can,Im not so sure ....Comment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by martha I just searched amazon.com for season 2 of ETCE. They are showing a blank season 2 DVD and also a blank Blu-ray edition and you can click to be notified when it becomes available.Comment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by michelemx Hi all - I miss seeing all the new action but I downloaded all the episodes at Amazon on Demand and have been watching them over and over again!!!!
This is to Amy - you can see a pic of Charles at Animal Planet under ETCE - they have all the chimps' pics!!Comment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by Erica Part 2 of the sudan infants mission from season 2 is up on animal planet! :DComment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by Amy I mean Charles! We want a picture of Charles.
Will there still be a season 2 DVD even if Animal Planet (foolishly) decides not to renew for Season 3?
Thank you
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Amy ,not long to goComment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by Tracy Is Cozi by far the most vocal chimp (when he's well)? He sure seems like it on the shows. Even when he's not part of the story and not on screen (eg, Guida's demise), I could still hear him loud and clear. I'm glad he's recovered. And I'm very glad peace reigns in Group 3 now.
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Tracy.Yip you can always tell Cozy when he makes a noise nomatter where you are,but his great.Comment / Question : 02 July 2009 - Posted by Vanessa Hey everyone.
I will be attending the 2010 World Cup soccer in South Africa and I was wondering if any stadiums are near your enclosure, since I want to take advantage and pay a visit.
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Vanessa.You are welcome to visit us in Nelspruit.There is one game in our town.The sanctuary is about 20 min drive from town.Remember we have games all over SA so it will depend on whereu are based.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by Erica Hi everybody!
Just to let everyone know that animal planet has put up the 7 sudan infants episode from season 2, only part 1 though :)Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by jen Hi Phillip & Jessica. Reading the recent obs notes made me think that you should co-author a book about your adventures with the chimps. I'd be the first in line to buy it! :)
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Jen.I have thought about a book,perhaps when I retire,not that folk will beleive some of the stories told.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by NikkiP I am so proud of Zac and the work you have done with him. He seems to have matured from the socially isolated older male who did not catch on right away to nut cracking! When I "adopted" Zac, do the funds go into the general account or does it ever go for special enrichment for that particular chimp (whichwould be hard to manage, I imagine)?
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Nikki.The funds go into a general fund and used for all the chimps.Thanks so much for the comments.I saw Zac in Angola when we were rescuing Sally.I thought he wouldnt make it.I asked Dr Van Der Spuy to have a look at him when he went up.He treated him and Zac was moved here all cudos to him.We carried on with good food and look at Zac todayComment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by Tracy Phillip, what was your zoo project? How did it turn out? I thought you were just lending out your insect-free quarantine space to primates in need.
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi Tracy.We did provide tha quarantine facility as we are the only insect free quarentine in SA.The monkey project was something that I started when I still worked at JHB Zoo.I was approached by the folk in Rwanda to see if we could help out and take the animals.They fitted into the collection plan so we agreed.It did however take a number of years,but it was great to see something you started come to a great end and the icing on the top will be if the monkeys breed.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by Tracy Yes Julie, that's exactly the difference between you and the program. They set it up as two opposing extremes and were speaking in gross generalizations, ie, for the most part humans use the active give and take whereas for the most part apes do not. By no stretch of the imagination do I think they meant that active teaching is impossible for apes. I also assume they were basing their statements on the results of experiments, not nature. I'm not disagreeing with you either--actually I agree, especially when it comes to language. It's another case of nonbelievers setting up impossible hurdles that apes cannot overcome--actual speaking and the like--to make sure humans come out on top. // To anyone else who got this far, another good book to read is Next of Kin by Roger Fouts. It's a fascinating account of chimps using sign language, and learning other behaviors from humans as well. I warn you, though, there are sad parts where the powers that be sell some of the educated chimps off to medical research labs.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by Fran Hi Phillip, well you weren't kidding when you said there's never a dull moment there at CE! You had quite a productive day, I would say. Regarding the oral contraceptive that you will be giving Martha: is it similar to what human females would receive? With both implants and oral contraceptives, how long does it take to become effective in a female chimp? I am guessing about the same amount of time that it would become effective in a human primate, correct? I will be interested to hear how you synchronize the timing of your introductions of Charles with the females. All my best to you. I too am holding thumbs for dear Charles..that boy needs a tree to climb! :)
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Hi fran very simlar to humans.I plan to intro Jessica first and see how it goes.Next I will try Suzie or Martha and then the youngsters.I will possibly do the youngsterd in two groups so that they dont scare Charles to death,they can be little hells if they want to be and I know they can gang up like a bunch of thugs.Again gut feeling will play a role.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by Theresa Holding thumbs and sending good wishes for the beginning of Charles' introduction to this new family. Looking forward to hearing about it. Good Luck!
Answer: - Posted by Phillip Many thanks Theresa will keep all posted.Comment / Question : 01 July 2009 - Posted by julie Hi Tracy, I didn't see the documentary on primate intelligence this time round but I've seen it before. I know the experts use the active/passive terminology and say that chimps learn but don't teach. As both a visual artist and a teacher of English as a Second Language, who has been reading about language experiments with primates like Washoe, Koko, Kanzi, etc. since college in the late 1970's (ouch), I am fascinated with questions related to how language is learned, how thought occurs (is language needed for it?), visual thinking, etc. The traditional linguists still like to claim that having a brain wired for language sets humans distinctly apart from the entire rest of nature. (And they used to say that only humans think.) Now that that barrier is being broken down on many fronts they want to find something else to set humans distinctly apart, and they say things like "only humans teach". I just think we are on a continuum with other species, and that it is arrogant of us humans to need to make such a distinction. Sure, I know chimps don't have pedagogical theories written down in text books, but human teaching also consists of demonstration, guidance, and many of the same behaviors these same documentaries show chimps engaging in, even when the narration tells us to interpret the behavior as much more casual (just as human learning is in part by imitation). When Charles lightly slaps Charlene on the hand without trying to hurt her (when she is stealing too much of his food) isn't he trying to teach her? So I wasn't disagreeing with you, but more to that reductive way of framing animal behavior that still goes on --like either they do or they don't teach. It's not that simple. Teaching is also on a continuum, in my view.
