Zola, JeJe and Anzac warm up to Antonette

Several members of the Tchimpounga staff are deeply involved in caring for the infant and younger chimpanzees. The babies, Zola, JeJe and Anzac were with Antonette for a few days but now, Angel has taken over their care. Before working at Tchimpounga, Angel worked in neonatal care in a hospital and has a special gift of finding veins on young and very sick individuals. This skill has saved a number of the chimps at Tchimpounga, because Angel has been able to get a vein to give lifesaving medication and fluids when no one else was able to do it.  For example chimpanzees like Mambou, one of our Chimp Guardian chimpanzees would not be alive today if it was not for Angel’s special gift!

At first it seems that Zola, JeJe and Anzac really missed Antonette and keep their distance playing around Angel without approaching her very often. After a long dry season the first of the rains have begun to fall at Tchimpounga and the sound of thunder echoes across the sky. On hearing this loud and mysterious noise the three young chimpanzees, with some changed attitudes, run to Angel with their hair bristling; looking for reassurance and protection. Angel, who has seen many storms in her life, smiles and quickly embraces the three chimpanzees with tenderness, providing them a warm and safe refuge until the skies become clear again.