Contributed by Nadja Ramseyer Krog, the Long-Tailed Macaque Project
A journalist recently asked me: “But is there REALLY anything to be positive about?”. I think my answer surprised him. Everyday I am fortunate enough to work with some of the most passionate and skilled people I have ever met. The result of their and our hard work will never be fruitless and will never not matter.
Our organization mostly does research. Research takes time; it will not change things tomorrow. But it has eternal life. Not only in the shape of published work but also the way it has changed the people who conducted and participated in it. The number of researchers working with long-tailed macaques continues to grow, and the results are filling up notebooks and excel sheets all over South East Asia. That, to me, is something to be very positive about.
Besides that:
Volunteers spend their precious free time on macaques;
Data analysts and statistical geniuses fill their hearts and laptops with macaque numbers;
Professional photographers donate their art to us;
Funders choose us;
Administrative staff smile while trying to keep track of funding reports and deadlines;
Zoos, rescue centers and sanctuaries care for long-tailed macaques;
Online warriors battle abuse and support everything “real”;
Legislative experts read through endless pages of paragraphs, with large cups of good coffee;
Journalists dig and try to find truths.
Dealing with difficult truths, it can sometimes be difficult to see the hope. But that does not mean it is not there.