"It's 7:00 AM. The wild baboons are stampeding across the tin roof. One of them just stole a piece of laundry off of the line out back. They're mischevious little suckers. But I have to admit, I am starting to fall in love with the babies. It's just that all the hair pulling and biting and throwing up on you all seems worth it when they start to trust you. When they fall asleep in your lap or when they run to you for a hug after they've been picked on by another baby. They look up at you with those eyes and...I wonder how they think of us? Zurika says that the baboons choose the people and not the other way around. It's funny how certain babies like some people more than others. But apparently, as a whole they've taken to me pretty quickly. It's nice to be chosen!"It's only my third day here but I'm already beginning to fall into a pattern; I think i'm finally getting the hang of things around here. Jasper respects me a little more now so when he does bite, he only gets one in before I turn around and then he runs off and that's not even all that often. I'm really starting to enjoy spending time with the babies. And I'm realizing that they really are just babies. They need us. They get scared easily and run to you for reassurance. Even Jasper the bully.
"Yesterday I met the founder of CARE, Rita Miljo. She's like 80 years old or something. A tiny little German woman. She's been married three times and divorced three times. She carries a pistol and owns a shotgun. She keeps a "pet" python which she lets out at night to eat the rats. Basically, she's insane. But also pretty awesome. She feeds the wild ones even though they get by just fine mooching off of our baboons. Including the adult troops on the premises, CARE has around 600 baboons total. Now the wild ones harass her whenever she comes out of her house. Rita throws tantrums too. And unfortunately, if she's not happy, none of the staff is happy. Because at the end of the day, Rita always gets what she wants - no matter how illogical. Anyway, when we were going in to take the babies out for the morning, she looked at me and said "Oh, a new face" and shook my hand. That was it. Honestly, I was too star struck to say anything intelligent or memorable. After all, she's a legend. Anyone who works with primates, particularly baboons, knows and respects Rita. Oh, well. Maybe I'll get another chance to impress her with my brilliance! LOL
1 comment:
your description of rita is hilarious! you crack me up! in a good way!! but when you catch rita on a good day she IS a very lovely lady! did any of you take a picture with her?
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