Meet Kiki: The Queen of Creativity and "Happy Feet"

Kiki

There’s no one quite like Kiki.


Since arriving at the sanctuary in 2006, Kiki has transformed from a sedentary and obese pet into a playful, curious, and confident orangutan with a personality as bold as her happy feet dance. Now, nearly 40, Kiki is thriving, thanks to a healthy diet, a habitat that encourages exploration, and her favorite daily enrichment activities.


A master nest-builder, Kiki turns every day into a design project. She weaves together blankets, boxes, tubs, and anything else she’s been given into elaborate nests and cozy hideaways, sometimes perched high in the aerial trailways where she can lounge and watch the world from above. And while she loves music, she’s not a fan of loud noises… often plugging her ears with her fingers when things get a little too rowdy.


Kiki’s story is one of renewal. In her early days at the sanctuary, she was paired with Linus, her quiet half-brother. But when Linus couldn’t keep up with her energy, Kiki was introduced to (then) young orangutan Jam. Their time together helped spark Kiki’s remarkable health journey. With a nutritious diet and more room to move, she lost over 100 pounds and now enjoys a steady menu of leafy greens, dried fruits, and the occasional treat of prunes, figs, and sunflower seeds. A particular favorite is the Plumbago flower and its leaves!


Enrichment is everything to Kiki. She adores colorful paper, puzzles, brushes, and her honeycomb feeders. She’s also a superstar in husbandry training and eagerly participates in healthcare routines. While she’s content to keep her distance from other apes, Kiki thrives on attention from her caregivers, always ready for a brushing or even a “spa day” for her nails.

And when she’s really feeling joyful? Watch out for the happy feet! Kiki stomps, jumps, hides under paper, and might even throw in a headstand just for fun.


Kiki’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to bloom. With love, care, and room to grow, she’s turned her life into one of creativity, playfulness, and personality, and we couldn’t adore her more.

Watch the video of Kiki with her puzzle pieces.

Last Day to Grab Your Limited Edition Ape Tee!

Last Call – Today’s Your Final Chance to Order!


Today is the very last day to get your hands on the limited edition Two Species. Two Continents. One Sanctuary. One United Design FLOAT shirt supporting the Center for Great Apes—and you don’t want to miss it!


This exclusive design features both an orangutan and a chimpanzee, celebrating the incredible individuals we care for every day at the sanctuary. It's only available through midnight tonight, and once it’s gone… it’s gone!



Every t-shirt, tank, and hoodie purchased sends a donation directly to the Center, helping us provide food, medical care, and enrichment for our 65+ orangutan and chimpanzee residents.


Grab yours now before the campaign ends: float.org/cga


Wear your support. Spread the word. Make an impact.

Calling All Chimpanzee Champions

Join us on Monday, July 14th to celebrate World Chimpanzee Day with a very special behind-the-scenes experience at the Center for Great Apes!


This exclusive event is one of the few opportunities to tour our chimpanzee area and observe some of our amazing chimpanzee residents up close, while learning from our dedicated caregivers.


What’s included:


  • Chimp Talk hosted by our Ape Care Supervisor of Chimpanzees
  • Guided chimp-focused sanctuary tour
  • Caregiver stories and fun facts about the chimps!
  • Limited-edition chimp art and CGA merch for sale
  • Raffle prizes include: a CGA cabin stay, a painting experience, and more!


Two time slots available:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

$50 per person | Ages 15+ | 20 guests per group

Walking tour (~1 mile) – contact us in advance if accommodations are needed


Orangutan fans, don’t worry, your day is coming! Join us on August 19th for our International Orangutan Day tour!

Get Hands On With Enrichment

Date: Friday, July 25, 2025

Time: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Cost: $35 donation

Ages: 12 and up

Join us for a fun and educational intermediate-level workshop where you'll build durable honeycomb-style PVC feeders for our apes. These reusable enrichment tools encourage natural foraging behaviors, and they're easy for caregivers to clean and refill.


No experience needed! We’ll guide you through each step.


Approx. 1.5 hours of hands-on enrichment building, followed by a group educational tour of the sanctuary.


Come help us create something meaningful for the apes!

A Chance to Hear from Orangutan Advocate Dr. Gary Shapiro

You're invited to hear Dr. Gary Shapiro, the co-founder and president of Orang Utan Republik Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides the Orangutan Caring Scholarship to send students in orangutan-range provinces of Indonesia to universities to get degrees in biology, forestry, and veterinary science to prepare graduates for careers in wildlife managmnt and primate welfare to help make a difference for wild orangutans and other eildlife in their home countries.


More than 300 multi-year scholarships have been provided over the past 19 years, and over 200 students have graduated. The foundation is also educating and helping villagers around Sumatra's Gunung Leuser National Park through the Community Education and Conservation Program, enabling them to live in harmony with wild orangutans. Additionally, it has partnered with The Orangutan Project to support other organizations working in Borneo and Sumatra to save orangutans.


Dr. Shapiro will be speaking in Crystal Lake (near Tampa) at the home of one of his foundation's board members on Saturday, June 28, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.


He will be sharing updates and stories from the field (Borneo and Sumatra) where he worked over 47 years ago, teaching sign language and rehabilitating orangutans back to the rainforests. He will also discuss his new book, Out of the Cage.


If you would like to attend and meet Dr. Shapiro, please visit the RSVP and ticket page at www.ourf.org/fundraiser.

June 6-20, 2025 - FLOAT T-shirt Campaign

July 25, 2025 - Enrichment Workshop (Intermediate)

July 2025 - Adopt-a-Palooza

July 14, 2025 - World Chimpanzee Day

August 19, 2025 - International Orangutan Day

October 7, 2025 - Giving Day for Apes

October 11, 2025 - Ape-ology: In the Field (Healthcare & Training)

November 8, 2025 - Art with the Apes

December 6, 2025 - Holiday Open House for Members & Guests

 
 

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Thank you for supporting the Center for Great Apes!

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