These are photographs of a true story about Julius, a young chimpanzee abandoned by his young mother. He was first adopted by Edvard, a worker at the zoo where Julius was born. Edvard found Julius just a few days after being born, laying on the ground, crying for his mother, with a bitten finger. Edvard knew that Julius would not survive without a mother to care for him, so he and his family decided to take him in until final arrangements were made. Edvard decided that looking after a chimp like a child would be very hard, because he already had a big family to deal with. So, he and another worker at the zoo decided to split the time that they looked after Julius for. And also, it would be easier on the kids, because Edvard didn't want them to get too attached to Julius. But both families knew that, no matter how much they loved Julius, that one day, he would have to return to his natural family.
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After being
adopted, Julius was taken home with Edvard and his family. First,
they cleaned up his wounds. After that was done, they got him
dressed. They thought that because he was just like a baby, they
decided to dress him like one. Diaper, shirt, you name it!
Because nobody really knew that Julius was staying with them, and they had no place to keep a baby chimpanzee, Edvard decided on making a cardboard box Julius's home, until he grew big enough to have a hay stack bed. |
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Because Julius was treated like a baby, he acted like a baby! He sucked his toe, wore baby clothes, and got cuddles from his parents and siblings. Like a human baby, he was the center of attention. |
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This is a picture taken when Julius had been living with Edvard about four months. Like a child, Julius loved to play in the leaves, even though the parents didn't like that very much, for they had just raked.
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Edvards wife thought it would be fun if Julius went outside in the snow for the first time. So, she got some of her girls old clothes, and bundled him up in them. He seemed to like the taste of snow. |
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Edvard thought that it would be a good idea if he took Julius to the zoo to see his natural family. But as soon as Julius saw his family, he instantly clutched to Edvards head in fear. Edvard saw that Julius thought that he was a human, as for he had lived with them for so long. Edvard made a resolution to take Julius to see his family every weekend. |
| After being reunited with his family, they loved him like he hadn't been gone for almost nine years. He was accepted as one of them again. |  |
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Just after arriving at the place where he was born, Julius immediately went over to his little brother, Kjell, and hugged him. Even though he didn't know who Kjell was, he seemed to love him the more! |
| Marita, the mom of one of the families, sits with Julius, probably for the last time. Sometimes love is having to say goodbye. |  |