Chimpanzees' warrior dies

Chimpanzees’ warrior dies

posted in 08 May 2009

DR. CAROLE NOON, IN MEMORIAM

“Chimpanzees’ warrior dies”

After Jane Goodall, maybe the most known primatologist on the work with chimpanzees in the recent years was Dr. Carole Noon. We had the chance to know her eight years ago, in the sanctuary she was giving the start in Fort Pierce, Florida, with 20 chimpanzees retired from North-American Space Programme.

When North American Air Force put an end on the absurd use of chimpanzees in space travels and retired them, Carole Noon asked that the chimpanzees should be delivered to her, but selfish Air Force did not attend the request. She appealed to Justice and was able to receive them. She found money and built the first enclosure in a remote area in Fort Pierce, where she put in practice the first island. Today there are already 12 islands and more than 200 chimpanzees. And when the migration from New Mexico finishes, there will be more than 300.

We have almost 50 chimpanzees and we know what these numbers mean. Even more in United States, where everything is more complicated and expensive and where there are no laws to protect the great primates.

We have been in Fort Pierce again in the end of 2008. The magnificent sanctuary that Carole Noon built has nothing else similar in the world. She was treating chimpanzees who had been submitted to the most terrible medical experimentation that a living being could be submitted to. In the majority, they are survivors who spent a lot of years in concrete cages and could not see the sun light. The great majority has behavior and psychological problems, not to mention the physical and physiological, caused by several diseases and chemical products inoculated in them and by the biopsies in their defenseless bodies.

We did not talk for so long with her, as long as she had a visit scheduled and we did not have much time. We showed her photos of our sanctuary and offered money support on behalf of GAP Project, so that she could continue to develop her projects. When we visited her for the first time, she lived in a trailer in the sanctuary. This last time she had already built a house beside the islands and practically lived together with her loved chimpanzees, listening to their vocalizations day and night.

Jen Feuerstein is now the temporary director and she announced that the efforts to conclude the migration of the chimpanzees who are still in former Coulston Foundation, in New Mexico state, would continue, despite the economic crisis. The sanctuary should now be named CAROLE NOON, in tribute to this brilliant, strong and fighter woman, who, when was talking about chimpanzees, used to be kind and docile, as long all of them were her sons.

Carole Noon passed away last weekend due to a non-revealed terminal disease, which she fought against for the last few months. World chimpanzees lost their major advocator, but her work and knowledge will be learnt by many primatologist generations, which undoubtedly will follow her lead.

Dr. Carole Noon, rest in Peace!

World chimpanzees, together with those who knew you, cry your death!

Dr. Pedro A Ynterian

President, GAP Project International

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