Connie

It was a very sad holiday for us all with the loss of my dear Pretty Girl Connie, who passed on December 13, 2018, after a brave battle with complications from diabetes.

Connie came into my life when she was just six years old, arriving at Jungle Friends in 1997. From the moment she arrived, she settled into the role of matriarch, gracefully leading with a gentle strength. Connie was a natural peacemaker and a loving surrogate mom to many of the younger monkeys. Her nurturing spirit left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her.

Connie was diagnosed with diabetes in November 1999 and needed a daily dose of 34 units of insulin. Her glucose levels swung between dangerously low and extremely high, so we carefully monitored her, testing and adjusting her insulin, and providing fluids when needed. But in her final days, Connie’s health declined. She was brought to our on-site clinic after she stopped eating and became lethargic. Despite testing, treatments, and oxygen support, Connie passed peacefully in her sleep due to complications from pancreatic and liver disease.

Connie had a special friendship with Buddie, another one of our monkeys who was diagnosed with diabetes on the very same day. The two quickly became inseparable, with Connie always there for a comforting grooming session. Buddie, just three years old at the time of her diagnosis, managed to beat the disease and has been off insulin for years. Their bond was a beautiful example of companionship and resilience.

In 2003, Connie met Murphy Brown, who was also diabetic and on insulin. The two formed an inseparable duo, sharing years together as the “little old ladies” of the sanctuary, watching out for each other through thick and thin. While other monkeys came and went in their lives, Connie and Murphy’s friendship stayed strong, always finding comfort in each other’s company.

Connie’s passing has left a void in all of our hearts, but Murphy is feeling it most deeply. Suddenly without her closest friend, Murphy seemed lost. We decided to introduce her to Zaira and Dexter, who lived next door. While Murphy has been a bit indifferent to young Dexter’s antics, she and Zaira have found solace in each other, bonding over long, affectionate grooming sessions.

Connie will be missed by both her monkey and human family at Jungle Friends. She was a kind and gentle soul, a true friend, and an irreplaceable presence in our lives. I miss her dearly, but her spirit and legacy live on, reminding us all of the power of compassion and companionship.

Connie