Today, I decided to share some “leftover” photographs of Mave’s birthday celebration that didn’t make it into earlier posts!
On Thursday, we threw a bash to commemorate Mave’s 32nd trip around the sun. The party- planned to perfection by Chad, the sanctuary’s Enrichment Coordinator- featured whole coconuts, giant banana leaves, pineapple bowls, and massive heads of iceberg lettuce. Anna posted and amazing video from the event on Thursday, and Diana shared another fun clip on Saturday of Honey B enjoying the sandbox well after the party!
Now, here are some still images to complement their media coverage of the festivities. Enjoy!
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Mave immediately grabbed a coconut and ran away to devour it in peace.
Then, Mave also annihilated an entire pineapple stuffed with iceberg lettuce.
Honey B preferred to drink her coconut by the pool.
(Sadly, I didn’t get any good photos of Willy B because he was running around scarfing down all the lettuce and stomping on coconuts.)
On the other side of the building, the neighboring group of chimps had an equally amazing birthday bash in honor of Mave. Since they can hear and see each other, it would be unfair to leave them out of the fun, and they seemed to appreciate all the same appetizers, entrées, and desserts.
Jody, forager extraordinaire, swiftly grabbed a coconut and then went back out for peppers afterward.
Annie found a coconut and loudly slurped all the liquid from inside. The sound was kind of gross, to be honest, but it was funny that we could hear it from 100 feet away.
Missy went after the lettuce, but had to acknowledge Jamie before she could run away and eat it all in privacy.
Negra’s strategy was to chase everyone else and beg them for food. It works sometimes.
Foxie “flew under the radar” during this forage. She was barely visible as she ate iceberg lettuce atop a distant platform.
After displacing Missy from her perch on the Treat Rock, Jamie harvested a bunch of coconuts, iceberg and peppers. Even though she paused to sip on a coconut, she had a hard time carrying it all back into the Greenhouse.
Burrito’s manner of transporting lettuce and coconuts made us all chuckle. At one point, he gave up trying to hold it all and just kicked his coconut downhill towards the Greenhouse.
Thank you to everyone who sponsors chimps, donates items, follows and engages with our online media and supports the sanctuary! Once again, you facilitated another memorable birthday party for Mave and her companions.
Thanks for the pics and commentary. I will always be awestruck at watching the Chimpers using straws.
well, I would also enjoy a birthday party like that..but, I know my mouth is not nearly big enough to work over a coconut !!!
Their jaw strength is so impressive! Millenia spent cooking our food have cost us some muscle.
Thank you Anthony for sharing all these ‘leftover’ photos from Mave’s celebration. Everyone clearly enjoyed Chad’s efforts. It was a bountiful day!
Thanks, Kathleen!
I love watching what these wonderful animals eat. Today was my birthday and if you gave me pineapple, iceberg lettuce and coconut I would have gone home Mad! Actually my diet is very healthy but it is salmon, chicken and salads (romaine lettuce please). Possibly a cocktail now and then! This was indeed fun and your videos are heartwarming!????
Oh the joy on Jodi‘s face! I love that
Cracks me up seeing them try to carry as much as possible
Thank you Anthony for the smiles on their and my face <3
Of course, Paulette! You make us smile, too!
Great photos!
As usual, I’m left wishing I could carry things with my feet.
But you’d be asked to leave the supermarket….Just sayin’ 😉
Ha!
The opposable big toe is a game-changer!
LOL! 🙂
Looks like a formidable lunch was had. What appetites! I am jealous though. Iceberg lettuce is so pricey here in Toronto that we rarely get it. Enjoy!
The funny thing about lettuce is that its value (according to the chimps) has nothing to do with its nutritional content! They just want something cool and crunchy, so they get excited for greens like human children for candy. 😀
The part about Burrito deciding to kick his coconut towards the greenhouse made me laugh out loud.