Center for Great Apes September eNewsletter

When the Forest Burns:

Orangutans in Crisis

Across Indonesia, wildfires are burning through forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra—some of the last remaining natural habitats for orangutans. Fueled by an unusually severe dry season, many fires are spreading through peatlands, where flames can smolder underground and remain difficult to extinguish.

More than 200,000 hectares have already burned this year. Thick smoke is blanketing communities and forests, threatening people and wildlife alike. Orangutans have been found weak, dehydrated, and suffering from respiratory illness, while others are being forced from the trees into plantations and villages in search of safety and food. At least seven orangutans have already required rescue. Countless other animals—from sun bears and gibbons to hornbills and smaller forest species—are also losing the shelter and food they need to survive.

Although the orangutans at the Center for Great Apes are safely sheltered here in Florida, the crisis feels very close to our hearts. We care for orangutans who cannot return to the wild, but their relatives in Indonesia depend entirely upon healthy, protected forests. Each fire is a painful reminder that sanctuary care and wild orangutan conservation are different parts of the same larger promise: ensuring a future for these extraordinary great apes.

You can help by supporting reputable conservation organizations working in Indonesia—and the organizations that make their lifesaving efforts possible. Orangutan Outreach is a trusted U.S.-based nonprofit that works with and supports the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). International Animal Rescue (IAR) is another reputable organization providing direct rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation assistance in Indonesia. Together, these organizations help rescue injured and displaced orangutans, protect and restore their forest habitats, respond to fires, and work alongside local communities. Supporting their efforts is a meaningful way to help orangutans in the wild from here at home.

The forests may be thousands of miles away, but compassion has no borders. By caring, learning, and taking action, each of us can help protect the wild homes that orangutans—and so many other animals—still depend upon.

September is Sustainer Month:

Become an Ape Ally

Every morning at the sanctuary begins with a promise: each orangutan and chimpanzee will receive the care they need that day and every day for the rest of their lives.

That promise looks a little different for each ape. It may mean special meals for an aging orangutan, daily medication for a chimpanzee with arthritis, fresh enrichment for a curious youngster, or simply the comfort of a familiar caregiver who knows an ape’s personality, preferences, and routines.

Our monthly donors, known as Ape Allies, help make this individualized care possible.

By choosing to give a set amount each month, Ape Allies provide dependable support we can count on throughout the year. These steady gifts help us plan responsibly for nutritious food, veterinary care, enrichment, habitat maintenance, and the many other needs that come with providing lifelong sanctuary to 70 great apes.

And monthly giving does not have to be a large commitment. You can choose an amount that feels comfortable for you, as well as the date you would like your gift to be processed. Each monthly gift, when joined with others, creates stability, security, and compassionate care for the apes who depend on us.

Signing up is simple. Visit our online giving page, select your gift amount, and choose the monthly giving option. You can also create a secure donor account to manage your donations, update your payment information or credit card, and make changes whenever needed.

We are welcoming new members into our Ape Allies family. If you have ever wished you could do a little more for the apes, monthly giving is a meaningful way to stand beside them all year long.

Become an Ape Ally today, and help ensure every ape receives the care, dignity, and safe sanctuary home they deserve.

Become An Ape Ally

Giving Day for Apes

Save the Date – Giving Day for Apes!

Mark your calendars for October 6, 2026, when the Center for Great Apes joins sanctuaries around the world for Giving Day for Apes—our largest online fundraising event of the year.

Early giving begins September 15th, so you can make your gift before the big day and help build momentum for the apes. Every donation helps provide nutritious meals, expert veterinary care, enrichment, and the dedicated caregivers who make sanctuary life possible every day.

Watch your email inbox and follow the Center on social media throughout the campaign for ape stories, prize challenges, and ways you can help us reach even more supporters.

We are just one month away from Giving Day for Apes, our biggest online fundraiser of the year, and we are seeking individuals, families, businesses, or foundations to provide a matching or challenge gift.

Matching gifts are especially inspiring to donors. Knowing their contribution can be doubled or even multiplied encourages more people to give and often inspires them to give more generously. Every dollar raised directly supports the lifelong care, nutritious food, enrichment, habitats, and specialized medical attention our orangutans and chimpanzees depend upon.

If you would like to make an even greater impact by sponsoring a matching or challenge gift, please reach out to our Donor Relations Team. Together, we can make this year’s Giving Day for Apes our most successful yet!

Giving Day for Apes

September Birthdays

Murray, 34

September 7

Geri, 37

September 13

Bentley, 17

September 14

Chipper, 52

September 16*

Butch, 54

September 16*

*Chipper and Butch were taken from the wild in Africa as infants, so their exact birthdates are unknown. Instead, we celebrate their birthdays each year on the anniversary of their arrival at the sanctuary.