A New Chapter for Toby

Toby celebrated his 32nd birthday earlier this week—his first at the sanctuary. His caregivers chose “a new chapter” as the theme, inspired by one of his favorite ways to spend a quiet afternoon: carefully flipping through books and magazines, then lounging with them in a nest.

Toby has become an excellent nest builder. He gathers wood wool, blankets, and paper to make a comfortable spot, often with a book or magazine close by. He also enjoys playing with Slinkies and has been exploring more challenging enrichment. When an activity calls for a tool, Toby is increasingly finding one for himself instead of waiting for a caregiver to offer it. He’s getting better at fishing for treats, too.

His caregivers are learning his food preferences. Toby loves fruit, but iceberg lettuce gets an especially enthusiastic response: he food grunts when he sees it and often eats it before drinking his juice. He’s selective about other vegetables, though corn, tomatoes, and white potatoes have made the list.

Toby has already begun participating in healthcare training. He steps onto the flat scale for weights and cooperates with nail trims. He enjoys following a laser pointer during training sessions, which helps him practice moving toward the hanging scale and gives him another way to exercise.

Florida thunderstorms are still taking some getting used to. When one rolls through, Toby often chooses to spend time inside watching a movie; cartoons such as Kung Fu Panda and The Smurfs seem to hold his attention while the storm passes.



Toby is curious about his orangutan neighbors, Jam and Bailey. Once he has completed quarantine and is cleared, he’ll have the opportunity to meet other chimpanzees. For now, his caregivers are pleased with how well he’s settling in and how clearly he’s learning to communicate his preferences, including “yes” and “no.” Each day brings another chance to learn more about Toby as he begins this new chapter at the sanctuary.

Giving Day for Apes Early Giving Continues!

Thanks to our generous supporters, we have officially unlocked our Early Giving Match! Thank you, Ronni R., for making the match possible! But there is still plenty of time to make your gift and help the orangutans and chimpanzees who call the Center for Great Apes home.

You can continue donating throughout the early giving period, and on Giving Day, October 6, we will have several additional matching gift opportunities to make your generosity go even further.

Power Hours are two of our best opportunities to win additional prize money for the apes, and every donation can help! On October 6, please make your largest gift during the Most Dollars Raised Power Hour from 1:00–2:00 p.m. EDT, when your support can help us climb the leaderboard and unlock matching funds. Then, join us again during the Most Unique Donors Power Hour from 6:00–7:00 p.m. EDT by making a second gift of at least $5. During this hour, the number of individual donors matters most—so please invite your family and friends to participate, too!

Celebrating 33 Years of Sanctuary

CGA's founding five apes.

September 29th marks a special milestone for the Center for Great Apes. On that date in 1993, we signed and filed our Articles of Incorporation, officially beginning a journey that started with just five great apes.

Over the past 33 years, the Center has welcomed 91 orangutans and chimpanzees in need of sanctuary care. Today, 70 great apes call our sanctuary home, where they receive individualized care, enriching experiences, and the safety and dignity they deserve.

The timing is especially meaningful because October 1 marks the beginning of our new fiscal year. As we close one chapter and begin another, we are reminded of how far we have come... and how much remains possible. None of it would have happened without the devoted caregivers, staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and friends who have been a part of the Center throughout the years.

Here’s to honoring our history and continuing the promise of lifelong sanctuary for generations to come.

Be sure to keep an eye on our Upcoming Events page and follow us on social media for announcements about programs, tours, and special opportunities to visit the sanctuary.

Other Ways To Help

Thank you for supporting the Center for Great Apes!