1. Dr Jane Goodall is Coming to Australia in 2017!
We are thrilled to announce that in June 2017, Dr Jane Goodall will be returning to Australia! We are still working on the schedule, but Dr Jane’s visit will be full of inspiring events, Roots & Shoots gatherings and support for animals, people and our shared environment in Australia and aboard. The best way to stay in touch in by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or better yet, become a JGIA member and get exclusive early bird access to tickets to see Dr Jane Goodall live. We can’t wait to share Dr Jane’s message of hope with you all!
2. JGIA AGM, Annual Report and New Membership Structure
Firstly, a big thank you to all of our members who attended our AGM earlier this week. We hope that you found it informative and enjoyed it as much as we did. A special thanks goes to Cameron Kerr, CEO of Taronga Zoo, for his thoughtful and inspiring presentation on his recent visit to JGI’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary. Secondly, with a big year ahead, we are pleased to share our Annual Report with all of our supporters as well as the launch of our new membership program! There are three tiers of membership with benefits such as access to earlybird tickets, special offers, AGM invites, dedicated updates, JGIA gifts and recognition in our Annual Report. To be the first to get news and tickets, plus other special offers become a member today.
3. A King Dethroned at Gombe
In the primate world rank is everything and the fight to be on top is key for access to mates and food. At Gombe, Ferdinand, 24, ironically named for the peace-loving bull, is the alpha male of his group. He has maintained his position by intimidation, threats and surprise attacks including biting and marking all his rivals with a tell-tale scar on their backs. However, this warrior chimpanzee and Gombe’s alpha of eight years has recently been toppled from his rank position by none other than his nephew, a 19-year old male named Fudge. In the last two years, Ferdinand’s aggressive form of leadership left him few friends. Meanwhile, the majority of adults have formed a large subgroup, where younger males have been maturing and gaining strength. In October, Fudge made his move by attacking Ferdinand with support from the rest of the troupe. After a struggle, Fudge emerged victorious and Ferdinand withdrew to lick his wounds and mend his pride. Since then, Fudge has been cemented as the new alpha with many displays of dominance on his part and
submissive approaches from his group. So now the question is, how long will Fudge reign?
Ferdinand grooming another chimpanzee Ferdinand’s nephew Fudge
4. Zara Goes Wild for Chimpanzees in her Edge Pledge
One of our JGIA Directors, Zara Bending has certainly been a good sport this month and has completed her Edge Pledge. Zara, a Doctoral candidate at Macquarie Law School and Lecturer at the Sydney Institute of Business and Technology, spent a full week wearing animal onesies, each representing an endangered species. She tutored as a turtle, lectured as a lemur and chatted as a chimp, all to raise an amazing $1500 for JGIA! To join Zara, sign up for your own fun Edge Pledge and watch this space for future JGIA Edge Pledges.
5. Happy Holiday Season from JGIA
Last, but certainly not least, from all of us at JGIA, and all of the JGI chapters and Roots & Shoots groups worldwide, we want to wish you a very safe and peaceful holiday season with your loved ones. We also want to thank you for all that you do to help us make this world a better place and encourage you to give the incredible gift of Chimp Guardianship this Christmas. Your gift will change the future for injured and orphaned chimpanzees cared for at the JGI’s Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center. Sadly as a result of the illegal wildlife trade of chimpanzees, we now have more than 120 chimpanzees at our sanctuary. By becoming a Chimp Guardian, you are contributing to the daily care and attention of these chimpanzees and guaranteeing them a healthy and safe life. Thank you again and best wishes for a healthy and happy 2017!
