Most meals for the Cle Elum Seven include fresh fruits and vegetables, along with primate chow biscuits. Nuts and seeds are also given to the chimps each day. And on occasion, we prepare special treats for the chimps and today was one of those special occasion days. We served the cake that was made for Dr. Elliott Sumers birthday. Cake ingredients included grated butternut squash, homemade applesauce, chow “dust”, and raisins, then topped with more applesauce, coconut flakes, and banana chips.
To say that the chimpanzees enjoyed the cake would be an understatement!
Jamie
They loved it so much they couldn’t stop licking the plates even after the cake was gone!
Missy
Negra
Jody even brought her plate with her when she ventured outside onto Young’s Hill.
Burrito was pretty excited about the almond milk too!
Tonight, we are also trying a new evening enrichment for the chimps, which we’re calling “grab bags”. It is inspired by a children’s birthday party I went to recently, when each child received a small bag filled with an assortment of goodies and toys; each bag different from the others. Included in tonight’s grab bags, are things like socks with nuts and seeds hidden inside, crumpled up paper with peanut butter smeared on it, kongs tied inside bandanas, etc. We hope they like them!
And here are a few pictures of Annie and Foxie looking beautiful as ever today.
Annie
Foxie
I love all you do to make their lives so great !
Thank you .
Just curious, what kind of cake was it?
Was it a cake made with sugar flour & milk?
They certainly enjoyed it.
Wonderful cake and wonderful idea for the bags ~ they are so much like human children I’m sure they’ll LOVE them!! Curious how you made the cake???????? U all do a gr8 job and I thank you so much! Hugs to you all!
grated butternut squash, homemade applesauce, chow “dust”, and raisins, then topped with more applesauce, coconut flakes, and banana chips. (Staff posted on Facebook)
Save for the chow dust — substitute bran or other grain — and the cake sounds great! Super healthy, too.
Thanks so much Mary!!
Thank you so much for sharing the photos of the very special party you made for the gang.
The creativity and love you give the chimps is boundless and makes me incredibly happy!
I think you need to bake more of those healthy, yummy cakes! It looked beautiful too. Jamie’s photos are so funny, is that two more pieces of cake in front of her in the third photo?! What a fun day the chimps had celebrating Dr. Sumers birthday.
I also love your Grab Bags. At the shelter where I volunteer the staff makes Busy Boxes for the dogs. They fill old cereal or cracker boxes with braided cloth pull toys smeared with peanut butter, frozen Kongs full of kibble, bones, squeaky toys, etc. and give them to the dogs as they leave. Great enrichment before settling in for the long night. I am sure the chimps had a blast with their bags. You guys are amazing.