For Charlie
by cricketjeff on February 11, 2009. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
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The fools who paid for photos did not know
The owner of this chimp was not a man
A man could not have treated Charlie so
But Jim arrived and formed a rescue plan
It takes some time for injured chimps to heal
And cruelty and drugs can bend the mind
With kindness and with friends he learned to feel
And leave a dreadful childhood behind
Another life was laid before him now
With other chimps (and tanks) he must impress
As happy as his half blind eyes allow
And far away from dreadful Spanish stress
When Monkey World in Dorset was begun
These ill used chimps began a life of fun
Author notes
The prompt by Princess Perdue
Those of you who know me, will know that many years ago I adopted two apes
( Charlie and Mojo) at Monkey world ape rescue sanctuary in Dorset uk. This
week I received the sad news that Charlie had passed away. He was 25 years old.
I’d like you to read a
little bit about him and how he came to be at the ape sanctuary.
Charlie is a male chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) who was used as a photographers’
prop in Spain. He arrived at the park on 05/06/89 and we estimate he was born
during 1980. Charlie’s history was traumatic. When he first arrived he was a
drug addict, had a broken jaw, cataracts, and only four teeth. Charlie has a
very strong character and is often seen displaying both to other chimps as well
as to passing tanks on the road. He appears older than he is. Charlie arrived
at the park with Butch and they are still great friends.
CHARLIE WILL never recover physically. He took too many beatings. His jaw was
smashed by the fist of his ruthless owner and he cannot see properly after
another vicious thrashing damaged his eyes. And the tourists who paid to be
photographed with him on a beach in Southern Spain probably didn’t realise the
little chimp posing so obligingly had been force-fed Valium.
Charlie’s life as a beach photographer’s prop was bleak, his future even
bleaker until Jim Cronin picked up his malnourished little frame and
transported him to another life.
Monkey world was brought together by Alison and the late Jim Cronin.
God bless them both for giving Charlie and other primates such a loving and
wonderful life.
I would like some beautiful tribute poems for my Charlie.
Thank you. Shaz
English