Born:07.24.1983
Family:Alice's Family
Mother:Nova        Father:Rufus
Siblings:FL: Adina, Alice, Amanda, Brent, Christopher, Cookie, Emily, Grace, Hailey, Jake, Katie, Knute, Maya. For other siblings read description.

Amazing Alice

Poor Alice.  It’s a phrase we said often when we first met her.  Alice’s years in research had left her sad and disturbed.  She would often have screaming fits, rubbing at her face, biting at (but thankfully not injuring) her hands and feet, rocking against the wall.  It broke our hearts.  The good news is we don’t say “Poor Alice” anymore these days.  Instead it’s “Yay Alice!” when she goes outside for her enrichment without hesitation, or “Way to go, Alice!” when she refuses to let anyone else steal her food.  And of course, there’s “I love you, Alice,” which we all said from the moment we met her. 

Alice was born July 24, 1983, and was taken from her mother Nova at birth.  She lived in the nursery until she was 18 months old, when she was sent to isolation to be put on her first study.  On this study she was anesthetized once a week for six months, then once a month for another year.  2 weeks after that first study ended, she was put on another study.  Her records indicate she was used in one research study after another for the next twelve years. 

When we met Alice she was living in a group with 5 other females her age, and except for stealing her food from her when they got the chance, they were kind to her.  One girl, Christie, never left her side and would even usher her outside so they could enjoy their blankets, toys, and enrichment.  Alice was gentle and kind, but hesitant to go outside, try new foods, or take enrichment.  Not so Christie!  Alice followed Christie’s lead and over time gained confidence, so we decided that with the support of her girlfriends, she could join a larger group.  She became part of the group that was eventually named after her, and we marveled at how the chimps accepted her. 

Perhaps the most wonderful moment came when Alice met the babies of the group, Elway and Pamela.  At first she wanted nothing to do with these wild bundles of energy and mischief.  But it didn’t take long for them to win her over, because when a young chimp wants to play, you pretty much have no choice but to join in the fun.  Her caregivers sat with smiles on their faces and tears rolling down their cheeks as they watched Alice wrestle and tickle and laugh with the babies.  None of us had ever heard Alice laugh before.  It’s possible she had never laughed in her life.  We were witnessing a miracle. 

These days, Alice’s is a changed chimp.  Since her arrival in Florida, her confidence has grown by leaps and bounds!  Her episodes of screaming and rocking are few and far between.  She is often the first at the feeder for meals, no longer the shy girl who was afraid to take anything from us.  She has adopted a stuffed monkey toy (that has been reduced to a tail, really) and shares custody of the tail with her best friend Eboni.  Best of all she has a big family who shares her island in Florida.  Like all of our chimps, she’ll live happily ever after.    

Alice's other Florida siblings:  Reba, Sophie, Tony, Virgil, Zeke.
Alices other New Mexico siblings:  Comet, Devon, Doc, Howard and Lisa.