Happy Holidays from Lance
By Marissa Pena
As the holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to reflect on the incredible changes and moments of joy that are possible thanks to your steadfast support. That’s why we’d like to share how you’ve made a difference for one especially brave chimp— Lance.
Meet Lance
When Lance first arrived at Project Chimps, the other chimps viewed him as a bit of a wild card. As one of the smaller chimps in his group, Lance may have felt like he had more to prove than his peers. He could be unpredictable and even antagonistic towards the others, which made it difficult for some of his groupmates to fully trust him.
But as time passed and Lance started to settle into sanctuary life, it became clear he was committed to earning their trust. Rather than trying to chase or intimidate the others, Lance started trying to build his relationships and working hard to unite the group after disputes.
“The amazing thing about Lance’s group is they’ve used their unique personality strengths to help him grow and thrive,” says Kelli, a Chimp Caregiver who has worked closely with Lance.
“It took some time for them to understand Lance’s nature, but they’ve all done so well. Lance will defend any chimp in his group that appears to be in distress. He may be small, but on several occasions he’s used his powerful and super loud display to break up a fight. He’s come to the rescue of the girls many times, and they’ve paid him back later with lots of grooming.”
Go with Gracie
Out of all the new friendships Lance has formed over the years, he’s especially close with Gracie. “Gracie is so amazing with Lance,” she says. “One afternoon I heard that gorgeous sound of chimp “laughter”, so I investigated who it was coming from. All I could see was Gracie’s back because she was facing the wall. Gracie’s stature is so much bigger than Lance’s, so I didn’t see that she had Lance pinned on the ground and was tickling him. They rolled around, laughing and hugging, it was truly a special moment. Of all the chimps I’ve seen play with him, those two laugh the hardest together.”
This friendship is also special because of how it connects two very different chimps. Lance and Gracie were both among the first chimps to arrive at the sanctuary, but while Lance became the first chimp to step outside and lead the way for the rest of his group, Gracie is well known for her reluctance to go outside. But in recent months, it seems Gracie may be learning from Lance in the same way he learned from her!
As we wrap up construction on the Cedar Tree Annex habitat expansion, few chimps have seemed as enthusiastic about the new space as Lance. “Lance is such a brave boy, I think he’ll be one of the first to explore and probably will need his boys with him to make sure it’s safe for the rest of the group,” Kelli says. “I’m interested to see what his favorite spot in the new habitat will be.”
Big Bold Steps
But Lance isn’t the only one to seem excited! Gracie has been taking bigger and bolder steps toward Peachtree habitat, most recently watching Lance and the others play from her perch inside the sunlit tunnel. As opening day comes even closer, we can’t help but wonder if Lance’s dynamic spirit may be leading her to join them in a transformation of her own.
Because of you, these moments of transformation happen at the sanctuary every day. Your generosity provides Lance and his friends with nutritious food, warm blankets, fun toys, challenging enrichment, and soon, the freedom to explore a new habitat area. It’s because of you Lance has the chance to be the best version of himself and continue to step toward new beginnings.
As we enter this season of giving, we invite you to be part of Lance’s story and the countless moments of transformation happening at Project Chimps. Your donation, no matter the size, truly makes a difference in their lives. You can help Lance and the other 95 chimps at the sanctuary experience the life they deserve.
