On October 2, 2021, the team at our primate sanctuary was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a very important delivery. While I knew the driver, Laura, would keep me updated on any delays, I couldn’t help but cast nervous glances up the road every 15 minutes as the time of arrival grew closer; just in case they surprised us by showing up early.
The reason for our nerves was that the delivery was not a package, but a very elderly baboon named Picassa. Picassa was (at least) 42 years old and she was being transported on the 24-hour, 1,300-mile journey from Los Angeles to south Texas. The average lifespan of an olive baboon is between 25 and 30 years; Picassa could legitimately be considered ancient by baboon standards. She had existing health problems, and there were very real fears that the journey may be too much for her. It was a risk we had chosen to take to try to give her the end of life care she deserved.
You see, Picassa’s 42 years had, for the most part, not been happy ones.
An Early Life of Suffering
She began her life in the notorious LEMSIP laboratory and was there for at least the first 25 years of her life. A test subject, , we don’t know exactly what she was subjected to there, but we know that it will have been deeply traumatic for her. She was later moved to a troubled sanctuary in California, which was closed in 2019 following failure to meet regulatory requirements. While there, she had lived with and alongside some other baboons, but she was bullied by them and ultimately ended up living alone. When the sanctuary closed, its administration was handed over to the Fish and Wildlife Service, which took on the task of trying to relocate the animals. When we were contacted by a former volunteer in mid-2021, Picassa was one of the few remaining animals. No one wanted the old baboon with health problems. But, thanks to the tenacity of that volunteer, Picassa’s luck was about to change.
The Start of a New Life for Picassa
Fast forward to that day in October of last year, and it was with absolute delight that I lifted the blanket covering her transport crate after her long journey and found myself looking into bright, alert eyes. She was apparently unscathed by her journey and ready to start her new life.
In the months that followed, Picassa proved herself to be active and friendly. She would chatter to her neighbors as she successfully navigated her specially adapted enclosure. We had expected a frail and largely immobile monkey who may struggle socially, but she was none of those things. We had initially hoped Picassa would be a great friend for Betsy – another elderly baboon under our care – but Betsy showed no interest in the newcomer and seems content to live independently. We had not even considered that Picassa might be able to be integrated into larger social group with younger, stronger monkeys but she continually showed interest in her next-door neighbors, Kaleb and Darwin; two big strong males who have the run of a large one-acre space.
And Picassa gets what Picassa wants, so with some trepidation, we slowly introduced her to the boys. We could not have imagined how well it would go.
Not only did Picassa make instant friends with Kaleb, but she also took advantage of forming bonds with Marlin, Violet, and Presley, whose enclosure adjoins that of Kaleb and Darwin. We watched as this little old baboon expertly navigated social relationships and quickly formed deep attachments to her new friends. This was everything we could have hoped for her and more.
Picassa’s Health Was in Decline
Then, in June 2022, we discovered during a health check that Picassa had cancer. It was difficult to know how quickly it might progress, so we gave her medication and monitored her carefully as she continued to live happily, showing no signs of ill health until that changed quite suddenly a month later.
Picassa quickly slowed down and showed signs of edema (fluid build-up), which suggested she was in the beginning of liver failure. We increased her medication, but her decline was then swift, and less than a week later, her mobility became severely compromised, and her breathing labored as the fluid build-up spread to her lungs. We made the decision to euthanize her gently and humanely in her enclosure.
We shielded the other monkeys from the procedure but then left her body close to the adjoining fence where Kaleb and Darwin were waiting. It is important for baboons to process death by being able to see their friends when they have passed. Kaleb was particularly affected, and touched Picassa’s hand gently, and then tugged on it, as if trying to wake her. He then sat quietly at a close distance. We left him to grieve his friend, and removed her the next morning to lay her to rest.
Rescue Is Worth It at Any Age
Picassa was with us for such a short time, but like elderly Mrs. Wilkin – who came to us with severe health problems from a terrible roadside zoo and passed away in 2020 after just 12 months under our care – these are some of the individuals for whom the time, effort, and resources involved in a rescue seem so, so worth it. That Picassa was able to feel the grass under her feet, the sun on her face, eat great food, be given the best veterinary care, and most importantly, be loved and cared for by other monkeys, means the world. Both to her and to us.
Picassa teaches us that it is never too late to make a new start and we will always remember her for that.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Liz
