A Tour of IPPL Headquarters

Photos © Michael Turco
November 2002

Michael Turco is a noted wildlife photographer whose work appears regularly on nature calendars and in many magazines. Last summer he visited IPPL Headquarters, camera in hand. In the following pages, he takes us on a pictorial tour of IPPL’s gibbon sanctuary in beautiful South Carolina.

We feed the IPPL gibbons only the freshest fruits and vegetables, which we find at the local Farmers’ Market.

While preparing the gibbons’ breakfast, Wendy Lynn offers Courtney Gibbon a grape as Donetta looks on.

The corn-shucker at the Summerville Farmers’ Market prepares one of the gibbons’ favorite summertime treats: fresh-picked Carolina sweet corn.

"My many years here at IPPL have given me a wonderful understanding of these beautiful apes. I cherish that relationship each and every day." Donetta

Maui uses the "bridge" to skirt around the Big House, on the way to a lunch date with his companion Michelle.

Lauren makes sure everyone gets their fair share. "I have been enlightened and blessed by the opportunity to build relationships with these extraordinary gibbons. It has changed my perspective about the overall scheme of things and my place in it." --Lauren

Donny looks out from one of the sanctuary’s numerous aerial passages: could lunch be on the way?

IPPL gibbons are never lonely: Arun Rangsi and Shanti (above) share a resting platform with their family, while Nicholas and Elsa (holding her pale baby Chanee, below) relax in their roomy sleeping quarters.

"The mission of IPPL has always been to improve the lives of our primate cousins; here at the IPPL sanctuary, we put that mission into action every day." --Shirley McGreal

Ahimsa (left) reaches for a piece of banana, while Elizabeth considers whether to exchange her kale for some sweet potato.

Hardy, one of IPPL’s animal caregivers, and Beanie, IPPL’s blind gibbon, share an outing on the grounds. Beanie loves to have his caregivers rub his tummy.

"The research veterans here have literally given their lives to help mankind. We all respect that , and will try to make the rest of their lives as happy as possible." --Hardy

The gibbon enclosures have plenty of room for our residents to play! Here, Baby (left) and Blythie enjoy a good romp.

Igor, a former lab gibbon, is on the lookout for another visit from his special friend Courtney. "The important thing is that they’re happy." --Shirley McGreal

Chanee (a "surprise baby," the result of a failed vasectomy) and her mother Elsa curiously eye visitors to IPPL.

Arun Rangsi huddled in his shipping crate. (Photo from IPPL archives.)

Courtney goes exploring among the scuppernong grapevines that grow along the fence rows on the IPPL grounds.