Weekends at SBF (1)

The first nine

months.....

I started going out to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in March of 2009 - and now my week feels incomplete without my Sunday visit to the creatures! Of course I have met some wonderful people in the past while - Sherri and Leonard are two of the finest I have ever come across in many long years of experience!
But the primates are so special. And as I have spent more time there, I have come to know them in some small ways...
Susie was an invisible Spider monkey when I first went to SBF. For the first several weeks, I didn't see her at all, but was told that she was old and not very strong - perhaps not a good prognosis for the future. But with the arrival of spring and the building of the outside enclosures for those creatures who did not yet have one - Susie blossomed. She spent every day (at least when I was there) out on her platform soaking up the summer warmth. She got stronger, she ate better - even switching back to real food from the Boost diet she was on - and coming to meet me. It is such an honour to have this old girl come to the mesh and talk to me, put her head down and ask for a scratch, shift her body so that scratch can be delivered to other areas. George, her enclosure-mate, has always been outgoing and friendly, talkative and sociable (and adored by all), but to get to know Susie has been a real joy.
Then there is Sweet Pea, the Olive baboon who can be sweet or scary depending on the moment and the circumstances. Yesterday she needed to be lured outside so the door could be closed and her indoor enclosure cleaned. The wonderful bottle of peanuts, peanut butter and banana didn't do the trick - but she loves her ju jubes. And she takes them with all the gentleness in the world. She also likes a scratch from time to time, and I was again honoured when she presented herself against the mesh to me and asked me to give her a little rub. I hesitated for a few weeks before I worked up the courage to do this, but now I am ready to grant her request as it comes. There is always vigilance here - Sweet Pea has really impressive teeth and is certainly strong - but she also seems to be grateful for the attention.
And I have seen incredible changes in Lexy and Julian, the Japanese macaques. Their backgrounds are horrific, and they can be very frightening animals. I have no doubt that either of them would attack and injure severely if given the chance. But I have also seen great changes in their behaviour. With the love and kindness they get now - plus good food, enrichment, clean surroundings - they have both calmed down considerably and some of the violence seems to be oozing away. They are both scary still, and I am always extra careful in their vicinity - but they seem to have gentled somewhat, and perhaps one day they will be scratchable too...
　

A Primate Christmas Wish

Happy Monday! Now that Santa Claus has come to town, we are all wishing for a happy Christmas!

Could you help make the primates warm and cozy for the winter? Currently, their home is heated by an oil furnace. As we align our values and goals to be ever more environmentally diligent and cost effective, our wish is to install an outdoor wood burning furnace with a capacity to heat >6,000 square feet. Can you assist in making this wish come true? If you have any contacts or leads, please feel free to contact Leonard White and/or Sherri Delaney at 705-357-3961. Your monetary donation is also appreciated, and can be made through our website via PayPal or by cheque.

We, along with all the monkeys, including the newest resident - Pockets - appreciate your ongoing support and generosity!

Giving Thanks...

As the weather changes, and the cold evenings begin, we are getting ready for the winter. The residents are sleeping under their heat lamps, and the barn is warm....

...I reflect back on this summer - the joys and heartbreaks. I am thankful for the kind hearts who have joined our community - hands that joined together on Peace Day to pray for peace for all primates - the hard working volunteers who day after day impart tenderness, caring and love - the precious beings who we share lives and moments with - albeit sometimes for a short time - and for the gift of purpose and meaning we all share.

Every time I am at the farm I am truly grateful for Sherri and Leonard who with their hard working hands and loving hearts are building a world of compassion, kindness and mercy...

Peace

peace
let it blow in your direction
let it touch you
melt you

and
mould you
Children of Parque Ecologico, Brazil

....please join us on Sunday, September 20, 2009

Peace Day - September 20, 2009 - Peace for All Primates

Summer 2009 has been very busy at the sanctuary. On August 15, we welcomed over 170 people to the farm to learn about our residents and the work we do. Thank you to everyone who came, and to all the great volunteers who helped out.

On September 20, 2009, we will be hosting Peace Day, along with the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots & Shoots groups, members of Free the Children, and other communities in a celebration of peace. The day will include inspirational speakers, workshops, nature activities, drumming, games, tours of the farm, vegetarian bbq, and readings. The afternoon will culminate in the making and flying of giant peace doves in the pastures - a hopeful symbol for peace! Reserve a seat on the bus from Toronto, leaving Yorkdale Subway Station at 10:00AM - roots_shoots@janegoodall.ca - suggested donation $5.00.

If you are on Facebook, please RSVP on the event: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118193674087

www.janegoodall.ca/PeaceDay2009.php and http://www.freethechildren.com/


See you then!

Rachelle

Open House 2009

Happy Tuesday! Finally we have a beautiful sunny day - the past weekend we had a number of determined baseball players in the rain, helping to raise money for the sanctuary. Thanks to Russ, Brittany, Connor, Donna and all those who participated. Special thanks to Larry for organizing this event for the third year in a row!

We are excitedly preparing for the Open House on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 from 12:00PM to 4:00PM - $5.00 per person/$15.00 for a group of four. Please visit our website for a downloadable .pdf flyer to share with friends and family. An event has also been created on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=135644594250&ref=nf

Highlights will include small group tours to "meet and greet" the monkeys. Prior to the tours, you will have an opportunity to see a presentation about the SBFPS residents - their backgrounds, likes/dislikes and how you can help make a difference in their lives.

Activities will include a jumping castle, games, making enrichment for the monkeys, a garden tour, nature safari, BBQ, jumble sale, bake sale, silent auction, and a great raffle - including a plasma screen tv!

The money raised through the event will be used to provide energy efficient heating for the barn in the winter months. All proceeds go to the care of the primates!

We are counting down the days to welcome you to our sanctuary community ....

Rachelle

Lexy's New Space

Happy Tuesday! We are happy to share news of the reno's to Lexy's enclosure. On a beautiful Sunday evening, she walked into a new space...literally and figuratively. Jenn, Sherri, Leonard, Paxton, Anne and Shelley built amazing structural enrichment, interesting nooks and crannies, planted trees, made a waterfall, and put their hearts into making a happy place for Lexy. We are so thankful to Dwight for his generosity in providing high quality, macaque-proof coloured plastic wood.

Inside Lexy was such a good girl, even though her access to the outside was blocked. She could hear the banging of construction, and commotion. At times she did pace excitedly, but was good company for me while I was in the kitchen getting supper ready. At one point she even made that little macaque "oooh" sound, asking for a bit of banana.

Outside the gang was working feverishly to get things ready - apparently Rome can be built in a day! Sherri so lovingly put the final touches in - treats in strategic places, nectarine pieces in the pool, toys and enrichment items.

Now, as you may know, Lexy is attached to her dolly - she loves the kind that has a cloth body and vinyl head, arms and legs. She can be so demonstrative in her love, that the dolly mostly is worse for the wear. At this point, only the dolly's head remains. So, the dolly head was placed in the small pine tree for her.

With bated breathe, the door was opened for Lexy....Jenn held her breath, as we all did... how would she react to the new house? After all this girl has been through, she deserves so much - this year she lost her best friend Yoshi, and we have seen changes in her - she is quieter and a bit more anxious. With tears in our eyes, we watched our brave, strong Lexy, coming out - albeit cautiously, looking all around - and the first thing she went to get was her dolly head. So calmly, she took the head and went to one side of the enclosure, sitting up high and checking things out. As you can see in the photos (courtesy of Anne), she was so calm, relaxed, and showed no signs of stress or anxiety....she loved the pool and sat on the edge, with dolly in hand, dipping its head in the water.

There was a contented, peaceful silence... (expect for Leonard calling out to Sammy to get out of the duck pond!) .. as we witnessed Lexy, exploring her new improved world - full of colour, love and hope.....