Double the Birthday Cheer | | |
Some dates are extra special here at the Center for Great Apes, and December 19th is one of them. Today, we’re celebrating not one, but two beloved residents who share the same birthday, just one year apart: orangutan Louie (born 1995) and chimpanzee Noelle (born 1994). Different species, different personalities, but both have stories that beautifully reflect resilience, intelligence, and the deep connections that make sanctuary life so meaningful.
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Louie: Gentle, Creative, and Devoted
Louie arrived at the Center for Great Apes in 2005 after time in the entertainment industry. His life took a meaningful turn in 2012 with the arrival of Allie, a female orangutan with significant physical disabilities who relies on her arms to move. Having never lived with a female before, caregivers carefully prepared for their introduction—unsure what to expect.
What followed was immediate and lasting affection. Louie has always been gentle and attentive with Allie, staying close by and moving thoughtfully around her. More than a decade later, the two remain inseparable, spending much of each day side by side.
Louie’s playful spirit shines through his love of creative enrichment. He enjoys kiddie pools, brushes, tulle, register tape, and giant rolls of paper towels—often unrolling them completely and wrapping himself up like a paper toga before proudly strutting around.
He also delights in food, especially chow biscuits, Chex cereal, and large hanging ice treats. Caregivers freeze giant ice blocks in donated pails, which Louie and Allie patiently work on together for hours, sharing both the challenge and the reward.
At the heart of it all, Louie’s greatest joy is simply being with his best friend, Allie.
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Noelle: A Bright Mind and a Playful Spirit
Noelle is one of the sanctuary’s original residents, arriving in Wauchula at just 3 years old, and her intelligence was evident from the start. As a youngster, she carefully watched sign language being taught to other chimps and began using those same signs herself, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of communication.
Today, Noelle “converses” with caregivers throughout the day using her own version of sign language. She asks for favorite treats, alerts staff when ginger flowers bloom, eagerly signs “berry, berry” when mulberries are ripe, and invites volunteers to play. Her empathy is just as striking, signing “hurt” when she notices injuries, even in others. Noelle knows an impressive 30–40 signs and will sometimes practice them in front of a mirror, chatting to herself along the way.
Her enrichment reflects her sharp mind. Mirrors, treat cages, and paper-wrapped puzzles keep her happily engaged, while edible flowers remain a longtime favorite. Socially, she enjoys grooming and napping with Crystal and playing with Kenzy, with whom she currently shares her habitat alongside Bentley and Hannah.
From watching videos of herself in selfie mode to hanging upside-down in the sprinklers, Noelle brings joy, curiosity, and confidence to everything she does.
We’re happy to celebrate Louie and Noelle, and grateful to everyone who helps make a lifetime of care, enrichment, and choice possible for them and all our residents.
Happy Birthday, Louie and Noelle!
| | Last Chance - Orders Close Monday, December 22nd! | | |
The response to the “Noelle” design shirt was overwhelming, and we have sold out.
Because so many of you asked for another opportunity, we reached out to our friends at FLOAT, and they’ve reopened the campaign for a very limited time.
You can still order the “Noelle” design in a variety of colors and styles—but this is your final chance. Orders close Monday, December 22nd.
Just so you know, items ordered during this relaunch will not arrive before Christmas, but they make a meaningful gift or a special treat for yourself.
Even better, $8 from every item sold is donated directly to the Center for Great Apes, helping provide lifelong care for our orangutan and chimpanzee residents.
FLOAT has also brought back a few fan favorites as part of their Holiday Sale, including Cahaya’s design and the “United in Care” orangutan and chimpanzee tee—available in limited colors and quantities. If you missed them earlier this year, now is the time.
Order here before Monday, December 22:
Noelle Design: https://float.org/collections/center-for-great-apes
Other Designs: https://float.org/collections/floatholidaysale
| | What Sanctuary Really Means... and How You Can Help | | |
At the Center for Great Apes, sanctuary means more than a safe place to live... it means a life filled with choice, comfort, and dignity.
For Ripley, a former Hollywood chimpanzee, sanctuary means leading his group, choosing where to rest, and reconnecting with the siblings he hadn’t seen in years.
For Kiki, an orangutan once kept in a garage as a pet, sanctuary means healthy food, open space, and days filled with sunshine, movement, and peace.
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These lives were transformed because of caring supporters like you.
Will you help us continue this work with a year-end gift today?
A generous supporter has offered a special $15,000 year-end challenge grant—so every dollar you give now will be matched to help us reach this goal. Your gift today can go twice as far in providing care, comfort, and meaningful choices for apes like Ripley and Kiki. This opportunity couldn’t come at a better time.
Let’s make a difference—for Ripley, Kiki, and all the other apes who reside at the sanctuary.
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Employment Opportunities
We are seeking passionate individuals who share our commitment to the well-being of these remarkable great apes. We are currently seeking:
- Donor Relations/Development Assistant
- Caregiver
- Volunteer Coordinator
If you possess the skills and experience we are looking for (or know someone who does), we encourage you to apply today! You can visit our employment page on the website for more details on these positions and the application process.
| | Thank you for supporting the Center for Great Apes! | | | | |
