Center for Great Apes July eNewsletter

Celebrating July 4th at the Sanctuary

While most of us celebrate today with cookouts and fireworks, the residents at the Center for Great Apes are enjoying a quieter kind of summer fun — plenty of special treats, extra enrichment, and time to relax in their forested habitats.

Our caregivers love getting creative for the holidays, and today’s enrichment includes festive-themed snacks, bright-colored toys, and frozen treats to help everyone stay cool in the Florida heat. Whether it’s an orangutan lounging in the aerial trailways or a chimpanzee savoring an ice pop, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the day — ape-style!

As we celebrate the holiday, we’re grateful for the safety, care, and choice we’re able to provide the orangutans and chimpanzees who call the sanctuary home —thanks to the dedication of our supporters like you.

Happy July 4th from all of us — and from all of them!

Adopt-A-Palooza!

31 Days of Love for the Sanctuary’s Most Overlooked Faces

They may not always steal the spotlight… but they still deserve it.

Each July, our Adopt-a-Palooza tradition shines a gentle light on the quieter residents of the Center for Great Apes — those who aren’t always front and center, but who are every bit as remarkable and beloved. For 31 days, we feature 31 of our orangutan and chimpanzee residents who tend to be overlooked when it comes to symbolic adoptions.

Some are shy. Some prefer the calm corners of their habitats. Others aren’t big fans of cameras or crowds. But every one of these apes holds a special place in our sanctuary family — and in our hearts.

Now in its third year, Adopt-a-Palooza is more than a campaign. It’s a celebration of those who quietly thrive in the sanctuary’s peaceful surroundings. Your symbolic adoption provides more than just support — it offers affirmation that these apes matter, and that they, too, are seen and loved.

This year’s lineup includes:

Natsu, a spirited young chimpanzee whose playful energy shines brightest when she’s with her best friend, Mowgli.
Chuckie is an orangutan with a love for water play and a surprisingly comedic streak.
Butch, one of our older chimpanzees, known for his impressive pine needle nests and the soft vocalizations he offers as he settles in for the evening.
Popi, our oldest orangutan, enjoys peaceful days birdwatching or slowly forging new friendships, always on her own terms.

Each symbolic adoption during Adopt-a-Palooza includes a limited-edition ape-painted postcard, created especially for this event. And if you’d like to take the next step, you can schedule a virtual visit ($300) or a private tour of the sanctuary ($400) to learn even more about your adopted ape.

Your support helps provide lifelong care, including nutritious meals, veterinary care, enrichment, and the dignity of choice, in a safe and naturalistic environment.

You can meet this year’s featured apes and adopt today by clicking the button below.

Adopt-a-Palooza

Meet Orangutan Chuckie

It’s hard to miss Chuckie’s cheerful personality — or his love of water.

This playful orangutan has built a reputation as one of the friendliest (and funniest) residents at the Center for Great Apes. Whether he’s splashing in a tub, stretching out near the hose, or simply enjoying a puddle after the rain, Chuckie knows how to turn an ordinary moment into a good time.

His caregivers often catch him cracking himself up — rolling around in his tub or goofing off with a toy — and it’s hard not to smile along with him.

But Chuckie’s charm goes beyond his sense of humor. He’s known for being incredibly social and easygoing, always eager to interact with both orangutans and humans alike. His favorite activity? Strolling the sanctuary’s aerial trailways, visiting with staff, volunteers, and of course, his best orangutan friend, Radcliffe.

Chuckie also loves his “howdies” — safe, mesh-separated playdates with his orangutan neighbors — and has even been known to share his enrichment, passing blankets or toys through the mesh to his friends. If Chuckie had a theme song, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” would suit him perfectly.

From water play to building friendships, Chuckie reminds us daily that sanctuary life is about choice, enrichment, and connection — and that sometimes, laughter really is the best enrichment of all.

Adopt Chuckie

Meet Chimpanzee Butch

Steady. Thoughtful. And a master of making the most comfortable nest on sanctuary grounds. That’s Butch.

This calm, senior chimpanzee has been part of the Center for Great Apes family for 25 years, and his gentle presence hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who know him best. Butch approaches life with patience — whether he’s carefully crafting his signature fluffy nests or spending a quiet afternoon with his longtime companion, Marco.

He’s also known for his fondness for puzzle feeders and “fishing” devices — enrichment that gives him time to slow down and engage his sharp mind. But when it comes to food, Butch keeps things simple: blueberries, tomatoes, corn, and a little mustard on his greens make up the perfect meal in his book.

Though Butch tends to prefer calm moments, he still shares playful connections with others. He’s maintained a special bond with Chipper, the chimpanzee he arrived at the sanctuary with years ago.

Perhaps what’s most endearing about Butch is his nightly ritual. As the sun sets and the sanctuary settles in for the evening, Butch always makes time to say goodnight to his caregivers — a small but powerful reminder of the quiet trust and respect he’s built over the years.

Butch’s days are filled with choice, comfort, and expert care — and for those lucky enough to know him, he continues to be a remarkable example of how peace, patience, and a little afternoon nest-building can make for a life well lived.