Chimpanzee
The August 2014 National Geographic has a beautiful photo spread of chimps from Gombe National Park in Tanzania as part of an interview with Jane Goodall. She knows them all intimately, and the photos by Anup Shah and Fiona Rogers are accompanied by descriptions of each personality. My painting is inspired by one of the photos.
Habitat destruction and poaching have endangered chimpanzee survival. Although legally protected, adults are hunted for their meat, with the infants often being sold as pets. Chimps are also, being the closest genetic relative to humans, used for research.
One organization working to save chimpanzees is the Budongo Forest Project. I received and email via my Etsy shop from the Oakland Zoo asking if I would donate my embroidered baboon mask for their “Discovering Primates Gala” on October 7. The zoo supports the Budengo initiative and also many other conservation and preservation groups. I was glad to contribute.
Wonderful face. What an honor that the zoo wanted your piece–they have excellent taste, obviously.
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Yes I was pleased. They seem to do good work, too.
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