Celebrating 30 Years of Mystery | | |
On Monday, June 1st, we’ll be celebrating a very special milestone for chimpanzee Mystery... his 30th birthday!
Those who know Mystery (affectionately referred to as Mr. E) absolutely adore his quirky personality, sweet friendships, and enthusiastic love of food. And when we say Mystery is a foodie… we mean it.
One of his favorite activities is foraging for scattered treats like popcorn, cereal, and seeds. During enrichment time, Mystery is known as the “scavenger” of his group. After everyone else has collected their snacks or finished their enrichment, Mystery happily goes around searching for leftovers, often making excited vocalizations whenever he finds something tasty. As the lowest-ranking member of his group, he has learned to patiently wait his turn and make the most of every opportunity.
His favorite foods include red peppers, bananas, leafy greens like romaine lettuce, and dried fruits... especially kiwi, mango, and craisins. He also works incredibly hard on pinecone enrichment smeared with oatmeal, peanut butter, honey, or condiments. In fact, Mystery is the only member of his group who “wadges” the pinecones, carefully chewing and working every last bit of flavor from them!
Mystery shares especially close bonds with Billy and ShaSha. He and Billy often spend time together outside, while ShaSha (who was raised alongside Mystery as an infant) is one of his favorite grooming companions. When Mystery wants attention from his chimpanzee friends or caregivers, he makes a unique clicking sound that quickly gives him away.
He’s also easy to recognize thanks to his adorably droopy lower lip.
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This July, Mystery will also be one of the featured apes during our annual Adopt-a-Palooza celebration.
By joining our adoption program, you can help support Mystery’s care while receiving two exclusive Ape Updates each year filled with fun facts, favorite foods, personality traits, special photos, and stories about his life at the sanctuary.
We hope you’ll help us make Mystery’s 30th birthday month extra special by getting to know this lovable chimpanzee a little better.
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The Countdown is On!
Bid for Their Future — A Wildly Important June Online Auction
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Our online auction, Bid for Their Future: A Wildly Important June, is almost here and bidding begins Monday, June 1st at 8:00 AM EST.
This exciting weeklong fundraiser, running June 1st–7th, helps support the lifelong care of the orangutans and chimpanzees at the Center for Great Apes.
A sneak peek of auction items is now available, giving you the chance to start planning your bids before the auction officially opens. This year’s auction features a wonderful variety of over 90 items including: ape artwork, fine art, unique collectibles, gift baskets, experiences, and fun surprises you won’t want to miss.
Be sure to bookmark the auction page and get ready to bid early when the auction opens on Monday morning. Every bid helps provide nutritious meals, enrichment, veterinary care, and a safe, loving sanctuary for the apes who call the Center home.
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Two Chimps in the Forest
Pewter Figurine
This whimsical vintage pewter figurine features two charming chimpanzees nestled together on a fallen woodland log. One ape holds a small stick or branch, while a pair of detailed mushrooms grows nearby, enhancing the rustic, enchanted forest setting. The finely detailed pewter sculpture is mounted on a handsome, polished dark wooden pedestal base, providing an elegant contrast to the silvery metal.
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"Shamrock in Lavender"
Ape Art by Bubbles
"Shamrock in Lavender" is an enchanting and beautifully textured abstract painting by Bubbles, a handsome adult male chimpanzee.
He must have been feeling extra lucky the day he approached the canvas, masterfully blending a lush, central cloud of earthy shamrock greens with delicate, serene swirls of soft lavender and deep violet. Enhanced by subtle touches of white and a whimsical hint of warm gold catching the light.
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Jane Goodall Collector's Bundle #2
The highlight of the bundle is the Inspiring Women Series Dr. Jane Goodall Barbie Doll, featuring her iconic khaki field gear, binoculars, and a miniature David Greybeard chimpanzee. The bundle also features a beautiful hardcover edition of Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe, a personally autographed copy of her moving memoir My Life with the Chimpanzees, and a soft, cuddly plush chimpanzee stuffed animal.
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14K Gold Monkey Pendant
Add a touch of playful elegance to your jewelry collection with this stunning 14K Gold Monkey Pendant. Beautifully crafted with fine attention to detail, this solid gold charm features a high-polish finish that catches the light from every angle, showcasing a whimsical, textured design of a hanging monkey. Complete with a secure bale.
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Pointillism Portrait of "Bailey"
This magnificent pointillism portrait titled "Bailey" is a stunning masterpiece by artist John Darovitz, meticulously handcrafted using thousands of precisely placed map pins. Capturing the incredibly soulful eyes and wise expression of Bailey, this vibrant, multi-dimensional artwork beautifully blends meticulous texture with brilliant color composition.
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Hand-painted T-shirt of Orangutan Cahaya
This stunning, wearable masterpiece is a custom Hand-Painted "Cahaya" T-Shirt created by talented artist Phil Herman that beautifully honors one of the sanctuary's precious resident orangutans. Featuring an exceptionally detailed, hand-painted portrait of Cahaya, this one-of-a-kind garment makes a truly unique statement.
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Pumpkin’s New Favorite Spot | |
Recently, our ape care staff took part in a special team-building “hammock hanging” party at the sanctuary—and the orangutans were certainly appreciative of their hard work.
New hammocks were purchased thanks to the generous support of our recent $5 Friday social media appeal. While the finished result may look simple, hanging one of these giant hammocks is no small task. The heavy hammock requires multiple lines of durable firehose for support, along with plenty of teamwork, planning, and muscle to safely secure it in place.
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Once an orangutan hammock was finally ready, Pumpkin wasted no time giving it her approval. She was the very first to climb aboard and happily spent the rest of her afternoon stretched out and relaxing in her brand-new hammock.
Moments like these are a wonderful reminder that even small gifts can help create comfort, enrichment, and joy for the apes who call the sanctuary home.
| | Make a Difference with Roots and Shoots | | |
Looking for a way to make a difference? Join the Center for Great Apes Roots & Shoots Chapter, part of the global program founded by Dr. Jane Goodall that brings people together to help animals, people, and the environment through meaningful community projects. Our new chapter is growing, and we would love to have you join us as we work together to do good.
To learn more or get involved, email rootsandshoots@centerforgreatapes.org
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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:
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.
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As we head into the warmer summer months, the sanctuary will be taking a short seasonal break from tours and special events following our Drinks and Ape Dads Father’s Day program on June 20th. Our educational tours and events will resume again in the fall when cooler temperatures make visits more comfortable for both our guests and the apes. Be sure to keep an eye on our Upcoming Events page and follow us on social media for announcements about new programs, tours, and special opportunities later this year. | | Thank you for supporting the Center for Great Apes! | | | | |
