Save the gibbons!

We went to a Frenchie evening event at a totally hip coffee shop a few weeks ago.  Dia-lo-gue is one of those places made out of concrete with funky spaces all over to hang out with your laptop.  And an art space. And a store.  Made me think a lot of Reuben as I'm sure that's where he'll show his work when he comes.  I wore heels and jeans.. they served mini eclairs and quiches.

We were there to see Chanee, a 33-year-old French guy who has been working with gibbons--in France since we was 12 and in Indonesia since he was 18.  In Indonesia we hear about the orangutans all the time.  He was there to tell us all about the gibbons, about how they are the lesser of the great apes (but great apes nonetheless nevermind how the anglophones classify them scientifically) and how they are very endangered.  He runs two sanctuaries for these animals and many other animals too because the people who live around the forest know that he can help take care of snakes, bears, alligators, and pretty much anything else that walks into their villages.  He works closely with the communities that surround the (ahem) protected parks to teach them why it's so important to take care of the wildlife.  Gibbons are so close to humans hat they contract the same diseases so all of the people who work in the sanctuary wear masks so as not to infect the animals.  Their catching herpes from a human cold sore will kill them in just a few days.  So all of this made me think of Tirzah (the saving animals part, not the herpes part!).

To see Chanee in action and some fabulous pictures of these beautiful creatures (and have an opportunity to donate!) see http://www.kalaweit.org/.