This Story’s Author

Maria Witz is an international development expert who volunteered at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary last July during annual exams and has graciously shared her stories of the chimpanzees with her Friends of Chimp followers!

February 25, 2026

A Mother’s Love: Natasha and Tam Tam

Written by Maria Witz

ptivated by the chimps I was meeting. As I began to learn their names and recognize their physical characteristics, I also learned their life stories. One mother-daughter pair, Natasha and Tam Tam, were in the enclosure 24/7 because the mom, Natasha, had an injury that caused her to limp and required daily medical monitoring. I was able to observe them quite often due to this temporary containment. I watched Tam Tam breast feed from her mom. I watched her mom grab food from Tam Tam at feeding time and of course, I was thinking mmmm, is that right. I watched them groom each other, and having just read Jane Goodall’s notes on chimp behaviors and calls, I recognized the vocalization chimps make at grooming time through smacking their lips together to make a pa pa sound. I saw lots of hugs and I did see Tam Tam make a collection of food during one feeding time then run to the other side of the enclosure so her mother could not grab it, which I found amusing. I watched how Natasha took her medicine so well from a spoon! And I watched her bravely hold her foot out for some spray medicine.  

I heard staff talk about how they believed Natasha and Tam Tam were getting restless and obviously were wanting to go back to the freedom of the forest. It had been over one month that they could not run in the forest.  

As I was getting to know Natasha and Tam Tam through observations, I wanted to know a bit more about their history. I found Tam Tam’s story card in my room so as I sat on my porch enjoying the winds and scents of Lake Victoria, I noticed Tam Tam was born September 4, 2019, one day before my daughter, Aiyana. My daughter died 2 weeks later due to complications or else she would have been here with me today watching Natasha and Tam Tam. Learning this gave me an instant connection to both mom and daughter. I could not help but think how Natasha had mothered Tam Tam for the past almost 6 years and wondered what this relationship was like, and although very different species, I could not help think about how I had envisioned raising my daughter.   

I then dug into Natasha’s daily journal that the staff keep and I realized what an amazing mother she has been. Even though I saw her grab food from Tam Tam, I read page after page of how she shared her food with Tam Tam at feeding time as a regular practice throughout the years and how she was very happy when staff called Tam Tam over for a special treat. I read how she would run and stop Tam Tam if she got too close to the electric wire. I read how she and Tam Tam so enjoyed being in the forest and hanging out with their friend group.  

As I sat in front of the enclosure watching both of them and reading their stories, I felt proud to know this amazing mother, who had a daughter that shared my daughter’s birth flower, Morning Glory, and birth month color of blue. I wished I could share this thought with Natasha, but knowing the impossibility of that, I was content with looking into her eyes knowing we share a mom bond with our September babies.  

Both will soon be returning to the forest. Natasha is healing well so as soon as she completes her annual health check this week, she and Tam Tam will again be running and playing in the forest. Now as I write this at the end of the day, I watch Natasha so meticulously make a comfy bed out of straw then once it is absolutely perfect, Tam Tam comes to join her and takes comfort in her mom’s milk and hugs. What a perfect way to end a day and I imagine all 3 of us may have dreams of the forest tonight. 

Update since first writing this story. Natasha has been medically cleared so she and Tam Tam are now allowed to go back into their forest home. Above is a picture of their first day back looking very happy. If you would like to support Natasha and Tam Tam, consider an adoption through Friends of Chimps!