Today, Mave celebrated her 33rd birthday! We’re so grateful to both Paulette Wrisley and Kenneth Reiter for sponsoring this day her her honor (in addition to Melissa Reed, whose sponsor post came earlier in the day).
One of the challenges of keeping the peace in a new group is to make things exciting for them, but not too exciting. Forages have a way of bringing out the competitive spirit in some chimps, if you know what I mean (see: B., William). So the key today was to ensure that Mave got some of her favorite foods without causing any unnecessary drama. And it was a success! We kept the forage fairly low-key and then made sure that everyone got at least one coconut and one mango. Honey B brought home the award for best coconut cracker, while Willy B had to watch some of the other chimps smash theirs open before figuring it out.
While Mave loved the food, her real present was the one thing money can’t buy, which she already received just recently – Dora! It seems that Mave has always wanted a Dora of her own, and now she has one. For her own birthday, Dora may want to ask for some personal space 🙂
Happy Birthday to an amazing chimpanzee.
Lol, that Dora/Mave thing didn’t come through in the video, JB.
But Dora’s cute little swagger with a head bob and a kiss for her bro did! And how adorable is Gordo’s bunny hop!? There were several kinds of play happening in that shot….someone else was doing a magic blanket ride…
I noticed it looked like someone got 2 coconuts (Willy B?)
How fortunate that we were able to get shots of the birthday girl enjoying her birthday treats!
Thanks to Kenneth and every chimp’s favorite fairy godmother, Paulette!
Looks like everyone enjoyed the juicy mangos and the party!
Yay ! what a wonderful birthday party, thanks for sharing , and all your hard work, Mave looks like she had a great time.
beautiful video.
So happy for Mave and Dora. Well, all at the Sanctuary.
Wonderful hard work from good hearted people.
Happy Bithday, Mave!
:slight_smile::slight_smile::upside_down::slight_smile:
I have already seen this three times and i STILL cannot get over Dora’s little dance at the beginning and Gordito’s bunny hop with Willy B! The best part, though, is how happy Maeve and her look as they celebrate her birthday. My thanks to all of those whose sponsored Mave’s birrthday.
Like Tobin, I’ve watched it 3x. Who’s on the box/blankets during the boys’ chase game? Get that chimp a scooter!
That’s Lucky – it’s a habit of hers to scoot around like that. She does it all the time.
Thanks, JB. I couldn’t tell if it was Lucky or Rayne!
Lucky is hysterical! I thought it wasCy. Yes,get thatgirl a scooter!
Awwww, this was so fun! Gordo could challenge Patrick Swayze to a dance-off. You’ve said that the chimps don’t need many matierial riches because they have each other, Maeve is very rich with a friend like Dora, such a gift. Thank you for the update.
“It seems that Mave has always wanted a Dora of her own, and now she has one.”
J.B. this makes me so happy. Lucky Mave. She has BFF!
Honestly, this video is hysterical. Mr. Gordo Bunny Hop might give Mr. Burrito Bounce a run for his money. Gordo is adorable, especially at the end when he tries to figure out the best way to attack his coconut. Such fun seeing him in action.
And who is scooting on the blanket-sled?! Is that Cy? So funny.
The birthday girl looked very happy eating her mango. What a successful celebration! What a funny group. Really gave me a better sense about Life Of Nine. Nine knuckleheads that is.
What a fun day! Everyone was having such a good time. I’m so happy Mave has found such a good friend! Dora and Mave seem like they are so sweet-natured and just meant to be besties! And just how awesome are those greenhouses!!
tthis rntire video is a delight. it looks like a children’s birthday party. watched it several times, as the news has been so sad. This brings pure joy. My 90th birthday is Sunday and it puts me in the mood!!!:cake::birthday::icecream:
Happy Birthday, Pat!
Cheers to you Pat! 90! Fantastic. I suggest you try bouncing about your house much like Gordo. Happy Birthday and jave a wonderful year.
Oh this video made me happy!
Dora doing a dance with Gordo; Gordo doing a bunny hop, Rayne (?) doing a sledride with a box and blanckets, Willy B. getting the hang of cracking a coconut, Mave savouring her mango and saving the coconut for later, and I agree; those greenhouses are amazing!!!
It sure looks like a happy family celebrating Marvalous Mave’s birthday. So great to know she got what she always wanted: a Dora of her own.
Totally agree, Marianne. It’s so heartwarming to see them so happy and actively playing so well with each other.
I ditto all the fabulous words everyone else has said. I’ve also now watched this video 3 times and plan on more. It makes me SO SO happy! I also noticed that in one of the greenhouse areas there is a perfectly positioned foot perch for coming down from above so the space to the ground isn’t too big. Thanks to the fabulous designers of their greenhouse space!
Happy birfday, Mave! (Mangoes are my favourite fruit, too.)
Jeeb, so when you host a party for one group of chimps, is it only that group that gets to enjoy it, or do you throw the bash for everyone?
Cheers.
We usually throw a bask for everyone, although this time we only managed to find enough coconuts for Mave’s group and the Cle Elum Seven don’t get mangoes (Annie is alergic).