Emu Email Episode XXXII: Saving the Apes one pin at a time!

Family and Friends,
I am not sure if this is really Episode XXXII of the Emu, but Episode XXXI was the last one I could locate.I promise to send out 1 or 2 or more Emu Emails before the summer is over (for some of you this is a bad thing!), but I had to get one out today as it is TIME SENSITIVE. So here goes... Reagan and I are "Bowling for the Great Apes" on Saturday July 28th. This is a fundraiser put on by the Great Ape Trust (www.greatapetrust.org) located right here in the Easter Lake area. Please visit the website to learn more. I have been interested in their most interesting reasearch, teaching Bonobo Chimpanzees to speak through computers, since I started teaching. Little did I know that the research would move from Georgia State U. to 2 miles from my house. I also did not know how much this organization does to try to save the great Ape species that are living in the wild. Some estimates show there are now only 3000 Bonobo chimps in the wild (down from 100,000) and less than 1000 Mountain Gorillas in the wild. 100% (Yes, all!) of the proceeds will go to support Great Apes in the Wild. What Reagan and I are asking for you all to consider, is to sponsor us in this event. Whether it is a $1 or $50, we would love and appreciate your support. In fact, we are willing to donate $2 in our own name for every person who donates. That means if we have 50 people sponsor us, we will kick in $100. If we have 100 people...well, you can do the math. Anyway, give it some thought and if you think you can spare some money (all donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE), please send a check made to "Great Ape Trust of Iowa" to my address (at bottom of email). Thank you for your support, and yes, I will send another email to all of you reporting how well we bowled that night!
So you are thinking what the heck is a Bonobo Chimp? Well, I didn't know either until I started teaching. They are the closest species to the human, even closer than the regular chimpanzee. They are different then the chimpanzee in that they are non-violent, walk on two legs a majority of the time, and have human like facial expressions...more than the regular chimp. They were discovered less than 100 years ago. What is happening here in Des Moines is that about eight of the Bonobos use computers to talk to humans. They have the vocabulary of a 4-year old, but simply lack vocal cords to say what they want. They can cook their own food, they use toilets, they can help build a camp fire, and they decide who gets to see them and play with them each day...not the caretakers. So if you go to visit them, they may not even let you in! They are fascinating animals and the Great Ape Trust facility in SE Des Moines will someday be amazing (plans to add Gorillas and regular chimps to the Organgatans and Bonobos are beginning). I have attached one more website link if you want to learn more about bonobos. Again, thank you for any supportyou can give.

http://bonobo.org/whatisabonobo.html

Love&Prayers,
Ben (and Reagan)

address to send check or cash:
5706 SE 31st St.
Des Moines, IA 50320