Center for Great Apes February eNewsletter

Celebrating Cahaya's Golden Birthday:

6 Years of Light

Today, we are happy to celebrate a very special milestone for one of our most beloved young orangutans — Cahaya’s 6th birthday! Even more special, Cahaya is celebrating a Golden Birthday — turning 6 on the 6th — a perfect match for a little girl whose name means “light” or “radiant” in Malay and Indonesian.

From the moment she arrived, Cahaya has truly lived up to her name, bringing joy, laughter, and endless smiles to our sanctuary community.

Born in February 2020, Cahaya’s arrival was a rare and unexpected surprise. While we do not intentionally breed apes, her birth was a reminder of the incredible bonds and wonder these beings bring into the world. For her mother, Sunshine, motherhood has been truly transformative. Once more reserved, Sunshine has blossomed into a gentle, attentive, and playful mother, watching protectively as Cahaya explores and engages in sweet, nurturing play.

Cahaya is also surrounded by an extraordinary family. Her aunt, Keagan, has embraced her role as a doting helper, providing companionship, guidance, and plenty of playful interaction — much like what would be seen in wild orangutan family groups. Perhaps most unique is Cahaya’s bond with her father, Archie. While male orangutans would not participate in raising young in the wild, Archie shares a rare and heartwarming connection with Cahaya, often letting her climb on him, tug at his cheekpads, and even share his food.

Now at six years old, Cahaya is as adventurous as ever. She loves climbing to the highest points of her 42-foot-tall habitat and hanging upside down with effortless grace. Brave, confident, and endlessly curious, she keeps her family and caregivers on their toes with her constant energy and playful spirit.

Her days are filled with enrichment fun — from bubble baths, grooming boards, and boxes to butcher paper, honeycombs, and, of course, her special buckets. Cahaya also enjoys a variety of favorite foods and flavors, practices her orangutan vocalizations (including her very enthusiastic raspberries!), and never misses a chance to enjoy misting time.

While Cahaya was an unexpected addition to our sanctuary, her presence has brought an incredible sense of light and joy to everyone who knows her. As we celebrate her Golden Birthday today, we are grateful to all of you who make it possible for Cahaya and all of our residents to thrive in a safe, enriching, and loving home.

Happy 6th Birthday, Cahaya!

Adopt an Ape - Now is the Perfect Time

If you’ve ever thought about becoming an adoptive parent to one of our incredible chimpanzee or orangutan residents, now is the perfect time to adopt! Whether you’re treating yourself, deepening your connection to a favorite ape, or giving a meaningful Valentine’s gift to someone special, February is a wonderful month to share the love.

There’s extra good news for February adopters: our next round of Ape Updates will be sent out by the end of the month! When you adopt in February, you won’t have to wait until summer to receive your first update — you’ll get the chance to learn more about your adopted ape, their personality, and what they’ve been up to this month.

It’s a great way to feel even more connected right away and to celebrate the month of love with a gift that truly makes a difference.

If you’re looking to share a little extra love, these residents could use some extra hearts headed their way:

Chimpanzees: Angel • Bentley • Boma • Brooks • Chloe • Crystal • Hannah • Josh • Kerry • Kodua • Mikayla • Ripley • Stryker

Orangutans: Jam • Jethro • Keagan • Louie • Pongo • Sinbad • Tango

Adopt an Ape

Almost Fully Sponsored... And It's Only February

Because of our incredible supporters, only 25 birthdays and anniversaries remain to be sponsored for the entire year! That’s right — as we head into February, nearly every special day for our orangutan and chimpanzee residents already has a sponsor. WOW!

This is a wonderful testament to how passionate and dedicated our community is. Your generosity ensures that our residents receive extra-special birthday and anniversary enrichment, tasty approved treats, and the daily care they deserve — all while creating meaningful connections between our supporters and the apes they help.

With just 28 days in February, our goal is to have every remaining special day sponsored for the rest of the year! By becoming a Day Sponsor, you are directly helping to make an ape’s day even more memorable.

As a Day Sponsor, your gift helps provide:

Birthday or anniversary enrichment and special treats (approved by our care staff)
Sponsorship of your chosen ape’s diet and daily care for the day
A deeper, personal connection to a resident you love

You can choose to be:

A Full Day Sponsor with a $250 donation
A Half-Day Sponsor with a $125 donation

As a thank you, Day Sponsors receive:

A one-year membership to the Center for Great Apes
Invitations to our two annual Member Days
Recognition on our social media pages for sponsoring your chosen ape’s special day (unless you opt out)

Together, let’s celebrate our apes!

Below is the current list of available days. Choose your favorite resident, or a meaningful date, and help make their special day extra memorable with enrichment, approved treats, and love.

April

Jam – Orangutan – April 9th
Jeeter – Chimpanzee – April 12th

May

Angel – Chimpanzee – May 5th

June

Ewok – Chimpanzee – June 1st
Mikayla – Chimpanzee – June 2nd
Ripley – Chimpanzee – June 12th

July

Kenya – Chimpanzee – July 1st
Hannah – Chimpanzee – July 27th

August

Billy – Chimpanzee – August 1st
Kodua – Chimpanzee – August 7th
Radcliffe – Orangutan – August 18th

September

Murray – Chimpanzee – Sept. 7th
Geri – Orangutan – Sept. 13th
Bentley – Chimpanzee – Sept. 14th
Butch – Chimpanzee – Sept. 16th

October

Maude – Chimpanzee – Oct. 1st

(Half Day Sponsor needed!)

Linus – Orangutan – October 10th
Christopher – Orangutan – Oct. 11th

November

Crystal – Chimpanzee – Nov. 16th
Marco – Chimpanzee – Nov. 21st
Brooks – Chimpanzee – Nov. 30th

December

Chloe – Chimpanzee – Dec. 2nd
Pumpkin – Orangutan – Dec. 2nd
Larry – Chimpanzee – Dec. 5th
Boma – Chimpanzee – Dec. 14th

Become a Day Sponsor

CGA Memberships

We are pleased to share that the Center for Great Apes has earned a 2026 Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most respected charity evaluator. This is the highest rating an organization can receive and reflects strong accountability, transparency, and financial stewardship.

Charity Navigator’s independent review affirms that donor gifts are being managed responsibly and used effectively to support lifelong care for the orangutans and chimpanzees who call our sanctuary home.

This recognition belongs to you. It is made possible by the generosity, dedication, and trust of our supporters, members, volunteers, and friends. Your belief in our mission allows us to provide consistent, compassionate care every single day. We are deeply grateful for your partnership with us in this important work.

To learn more about Charity Navigator and view our profile, visit:

https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/650444725

Thank you for being such an essential part of the Center for Great Apes family.