If you remember, DRL introduced you to some of the residents at the Center for Great Apes not too long ago. One of the very special chimpanzees at the center that we highlighted was Grub. We are heartbroken to announce that Grub has passed away after a sudden illness.
Check out his story at
http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/07/meet-grub.html and read his touching memorial below!
Memorial for Grub
Grub was the most wonderful chimpanzee and had many fans and friends, both chimp and human. He passed Tuesday after a sudden i...llness that was advanced and terminal. He was 20 years old.
While Grub is not suffering and is out of pain now, our grief comes from a sense of great loss in not having him physically in our lives anymore. But I realize that all the wonderful qualities and intelligence expressed by Grub… along with the joy and sweetness he brought to others… will always be in our thoughts and memories and did not pass away with Grub.
Today, I am remembering the happiest part of Grub’s life and the things that made Grub such a special and dear fellow.
Grub has been in my care since he was 12 weeks old when he arrived at a Miami tourist attraction in 1991 where I was already volunteering to care for infant orangutan Pongo. As I helped to take care of several infant apes there, I became more aware of issues around the retirement of hand-raised apes used in entertainment and also as pets. It was Pongo and Grub (and concern for their future) who provided the impetus to start a sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees coming out of these situations.
It is because of Grub thatover 30 chimpanzees have had a home at our sanctuary over the past 18 years.
Losing one of our great ape residents is the hardest and saddest part of our work in providing sanctuary care for them. This week, our hearts are breaking with the loss of our first chimpanzee resident at the Center for Great Apes – our precious Grub.
Grub was the most wonderful chimpanzee and had many fans and friends, both chimp and human. He passed Tuesday after a sudden i...llness that was advanced and terminal. He was 20 years old.
While Grub is not suffering and is out of pain now, our grief comes from a sense of great loss in not having him physically in our lives anymore. But I realize that all the wonderful qualities and intelligence expressed by Grub… along with the joy and sweetness he brought to others… will always be in our thoughts and memories and did not pass away with Grub.
Today, I am remembering the happiest part of Grub’s life and the things that made Grub such a special and dear fellow.
Grub has been in my care since he was 12 weeks old when he arrived at a Miami tourist attraction in 1991 where I was already volunteering to care for infant orangutan Pongo. As I helped to take care of several infant apes there, I became more aware of issues around the retirement of hand-raised apes used in entertainment and also as pets. It was Pongo and Grub (and concern for their future) who provided the impetus to start a sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees coming out of these situations.
It is because of Grub thatover 30 chimpanzees have had a home at our sanctuary over the past 18 years.
