From Gorilla to Chimp Big Guy Sheds Pounds for Primates



At 285 pounds, Pacific Northwest photographer Nicholas Beatty decided he didn'st want to be a chunky monkey anymore. So, like thousands of Americans, he made a New Year'ss resolution to lose weight. He knew that he would need extra-strong motivation to reach his goal weight of 185 pounds, or else temptation would throw a monkey wrench into his plans. Hence the birth of an idea: Pounds for Primates.

Beatty, a passionate advocate of animal rights and welfare, was determined to find a way to help out his favorite animal rescue organization and lose his extra weight at the same time. He created a campaign to lose weight and raise money based on taking pledges for every pound of weight he loses. With his plan ready to go into action, Beatty reached out to Oregon Primate Rescue, a non-profit shelter and adoption agency for ex-pet and rescued research monkeys.

During the development of his program, Beatty learned that the care of primates is no monkey business. Due to the high emotional and physical demands of primates, not to mention adoption services and the educational seminars that the Oregon Primate Rescue provides, the organization frequently finds itself in need of more money than it receives in donations.

I was tired of monkeying around with my weight loss, Beatty said. I was even more tired of seeing these helpless, kind animals being treated without the respect they deserve, and threatened with the loss of the only home that many of them know--the Oregon
Primate Rescue. I knew that I had to do something to regain my personal health, and improve the quality of life for the primates at the Oregon Primate Rescue at the same time.

For over nine years, Oregon Primate Rescue has been in the business of saving the lives of abandoned ex-pet and rescued laboratory monkeys. This year appears to be another difficult year for the shelter--which permanently houses ten Java monkeys and has facilitated the rescue and adoption of hundreds more--due to the decline in donations. Being the only shelter of its kind in the Northwest, the Oregon Primate Rescue often finds its resources stretched to the max. And with funds diminishing, fewer and fewer abandoned primates can be rescued by the shelter.

Knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of these primates is a strong motivation for me, Beatty said. So now every pound I lose has extra meaning. And I hope the program will introduce others to this important organization and to the plight of primates everywhere.

Beatty has since taken his program public with his website, www.poundsforprimates.com. Interested parties can log on to learn more about Nicholas Beatty'ss inspiring program and what can be done to save the lives of the hundreds of primates abandoned each year. Pledges can start at just $ .25 a pound and are tax-deductible.





From Gorilla to Chimp Big Guy Sheds Pounds for Primates