Center for Great Apes October eNewsletter

Giving Day for Apes is Almost Here -Tuesday, October 7th!

On Tuesday, October 7th, the Center for Great Apes will join sanctuaries across the world in the biggest online fundraising event of the year: Giving Day for Apes. This 24-hour challenge is packed with opportunities to win extra prize money for the apes—but we can’t do it without you!

Here’s how you can help the most:

Power Hours

1–2 PM EST – Most Dollars Raised

Make your largest gift during this hour

Your donation helps us compete for the Most Dollars Raised prize, and we've secured a special matching grant which doubles your impact!

6–7 PM EST – Most Unique Donors

Make a smaller gift (as little as $5!) and help us compete for the Most Unique Donors prize

Golden Tickets – Every donation enters us into random “Golden Ticket” prize drawings throughout the day. Your gift could unlock bonus dollars for the apes!

Additionally, we have secured an Early Giving Match Grant from an anonymous donor, as well as a Momentum Giving Match at the start of Giving Day from friends Gordon & Pat Crosby.

Be sure to follow us all day Tuesday on Facebook and Instagram for fun facts, photos, and videos featuring our orangutans and chimpanzees. You’ll meet some of the incredible residents you’re helping with your generosity!

Your support makes all the difference—whether it’s $5 or $500. Together, we can provide lifelong sanctuary for Geri, Bubbles, Christopher, Murray, and all the great apes who call CGA home.

GIVING DAY FOR APES - DONATE NOW

Bubbles and the Art of Wadging

Chimpanzees are endlessly inventive when it comes to enjoying their food, and one of their most fascinating habits is called wadging. This natural behavior allows them to savor the flavors and nutrients of fibrous plants by chewing them into a compact bundle, called a wadge, and then sucking out the juices before discarding what’s left.

At the Center for Great Apes, our chimpanzees practice wadging with the fresh browse we provide. Leaves, stems, and vines not only add healthy variety to their diet but also give them the opportunity to enjoy this important natural behavior.

One of the most dedicated “wadgers” in our sanctuary is Bubbles. Known for his calm presence and gentle ways, Bubbles especially enjoys creating wadges from grapevine and hibiscus browse. He carefully chews the stems and leaves, shaping them into a neat bundle that he tucks in his cheek or holds in his mouth, savoring every drop of juice.

And while browse is his favorite, Bubbles doesn’t limit himself... he occasionally shows off his creativity by wadging his brown paper lunch bag or even a piece of butcher paper! Watching him concentrate as he practicex his wadging technique, even with paper is a reminder of just how resourceful chimpanzees can be.

Providing materials for wadging isn’t just enrichment, it’s a way of supporting the apes’ health and well-being. This simple act helps mimic what they would do in the wild, where wadging is a daily practice for extracting nutrients from tough plants. From grapevine and hibiscus to fresh banana leaves, wadging highlights the chimpanzees’ adaptability and resourcefulness in their daily lives.

A Lasting Legacy

As we move from grief to profound gratitude for Dr. Jane Goodall, we continue to celebrate a life defined by extraordinary accomplishment and inspiration, and an undeniable global impact.

A perfect illustration of her enduring legacy occurred during her visit to the Center for Great Apes in 2023. She was joyfully reunited with three 35-year-old chimpanzees—Ewok, Sabina, and Josh. Dr. Goodall had first encountered all three as tiny infants in the late 1980s, confined to solitary cages in a biomedical research lab.

At that time, she advocated with the research facility for a better life for them, and her visit decades later confirmed the ultimate success of that effort. She could see them thriving now, living out their lives in sanctuary care at CGA. This meeting highlights her lifelong commitment to recognizing and fighting for the dignity of every individual animal.

Afternoon with the Apes Tours

Join us for a guided stroll through the sanctuary and hear the remarkable stories of the orangutans and chimpanzees who now call the Center for Great Apes home.

A limited number of spots remain for our October 23rd tour, so reserve yours today! If we don’t see you in October, we hope you’ll join us for our November or December tours.

Reserve Your Tickets

Holiday Open House

Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 6, 2025! Our Holiday Open House for members and their guests is a cherished tradition and the highlight of the year. Invitations and registration details will be sent in late October. Come celebrate the season with the apes and your sanctuary family.