By Paula Thelwell
A TALE involving an escaped chimp, a raincoat and bike – and a chase to capture the primate – is likely to make headlines any day.
But as this unusual escapade took place in a war-torn city in Ukraine, the story was always destined to travel around the world.
Chichi made his bid for freedom a week ago from the Feldman Ecopark zoo in Kharkiv in the country’s north-east, which has suffered many devastating Russian bombardments for over six months.
The chimp was stopped in his tracks by rain, which he is not fond of. This gave one of the zookeepers trying to capture him an opportunity.
Taking off her bright yellow raincoat she offered it to Chichi, who happily accepted, even allowing her to slip his arms into the sleeves.
The unnamed woman then sat by him, giving him a few cuddles and reassuring words to keep him calm.
The tale then took a bizarre turn when, with the assistance of other keepers, the now placid chimp happily clambered onto the saddle of a bike to be pushed back to the zoo, as delighted onlookers marvelled at the scene.
Who knows what terrors Chichi and his fellow inmates have endured as rockets, missiles and mortar fire have poured down on Ukraine’s second-biggest city.
A direct hit in the early stages of the war killed more than 100 animals and six volunteers.
Enclosures have been repaired and the remaining animals cared for but the zoo remains closed to the public.
Pet and livestock owners know only too well how animals can suffer in thunderstorms or firework displays.
It is hard to imagine what Chichi and all animals in Ukraine are going through.
In a post on Facebook, reprinted in numerous news stories, the owner of Feldman Ecopark, Oleksandr Feldman, said: ‘Animals suffer from war no less than people. The recipe for the rehabilitation of war animals is quite simple – it is love and care. And a peaceful sky above your head.’
Who flew a kite?
Islanders admirably marked Ukraine Week in August by forming a ‘living flag’ in St Ouen’s Bay in a show of solidarity.
Organisers Side by Side, the local charity which specialises in supporting victims of war and disasters, had urged people to show support by wearing either blue or yellow to recreate the country’s national symbol.
Other events also took place to mark the anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991.
These acts of solidarity in the Island and across the world coincided with – and sadly overshadowed – another international demonstration of togetherness.
The aim of the Fly With Me festival, held in 16 locations throughout the UK and Europe, was to mark the first anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan with a celebration of the ancient Afghan craft of kite-making.
The international condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s attempt to reinstate the borders of the old Soviet Union, and the subsequent energy crisis threatening Europe and the UK have pushed the plight of Afghanistan and its people down the list of priorities as ‘aid fatigue’ sets in.
I saw few kites flying on 20 August in my neck of the woods. Did you, dear reader, see any flying above the Island?
However, there is still time. Afghanaid, the charity behind the kite-flying initiative, is accepting donations until 30 September.
You can still fly a kite for the refugees that fled the Taliban and the people left behind in Afghanistan, to show they have not entirely been forgotten.
Every picture tells a story
Tabloid newspapers, in particular The Daily Meghan, have taken to employing body coaches to explain the ‘language’ behind posture and expressions and lip readers to try to make out what people in the spotlight may be saying.
I wonder what such ‘experts’ would have made of the picture of External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf and French diplomat Gerrit van Rossum, which accompanied a JEP story a fortnight ago under the headline, ‘We need to deepen relations with France’.
While Deputy Ozouf was smiling broadly, extending his arm with a firm grip on the Frenchman’s hand in a clear and obvious demonstration of the old ‘entente cordiale’, Mr van Rossum’s expression and posture told a very different story.
Unsmiling and with a taut-looking arm being held back rather than extended in a mutual act of friendship, he gave the impression of a reluctant participant in the proceedings.
It made me wonder if the usual platitudes of maintaining Jersey’s ancient ties with France, plus calls for trust, meaningful exchanges and improved relations with France post-Brexit are being reciprocated across the water.
It is more than 800 years since the Island ditched its French/Norman roots in favour of allegiance to the British crown.
Yet over the past three decades much time and resources have been devoted to reinstating those ties.
But has it all been worthwhile? Or to paraphrase the famous line from Monty Python’s Life of Brian: ‘What have the French ever done for us?’
