Yesterday, Diana announced the big news about our newest sanctuary resident George. We are absolutely thrilled to get to know this young guy and we’re just starting to scratch the surface of his personality and find out some of his likes and dislikes as he hangs out in his current quarantine space.
Here’s what we know so far…
- George is an inquisitive chimp. He’s interested in the sounds and sights of his new chimpanzee neighbors and spends a lot of time looking out the window and door.
- He likes most fruit, especially grapes and cherries!
- He enjoys endive, bell peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. We’re trying lots of different vegetables to see what his preferences are.
- He likes a good protein smoothie with breakfast and juice served from a squeeze bottle.
- He hasn’t yet shown interest in nesting with the blankets or paper that we have provided him.
- He seems to prefer that food is hand served to him, rather than scattered as a forage.
- We’re slowly introducing enrichment items to him so we can carefully monitor him. So far he has shown a little interest in a durable dog toy shaped like a giant peanut.
- He plays chase and grooms with caregivers
- He gives sweet kisses to our wrists with his tongue poking out just a little.
There are some people out there that probably know George much better than we do and we are very interested in learning more about our new friend. If you are someone that has worked with George, we’d really like to hear from you so we can provide George with familiar items as he settles in.
Please also consider donating toward George’s care and thank you so much to all the support that everyone has provided George so far!
I can’t wait to see him meet his new family and fully blossom!
Yes, happily made a donation last night. I can’t express my joy enough on sweet George’s new forever home at your sanctuary. Your updates blogs and videos are most appreciated.
Pay Day is tomorrow, and I intend to call with a donation. I am relieved to read that George appears interested in the other chimpanzees, and that he seems to respond favorably to his human caregivers at his new home. I so hope that he can integrate into an appropriate troop.
He has a bonobo-like face. Are you sure he’s not a hybrid?
That was also my first respons when I saw him, very bonobo-like.
it’s the pink lips! But I think it’s just the angle of the photo. In the previous blog or in the original email, there’s a straight on picture Where he’s definitely all Chimp. IMO
I thought the exact same thing – he has a bonobo’s finer features – but there aren’t that many bonobos in circulation (unlike chimps). He’s a looker, that’s for sure.
LOTS more pics please! We are all excited for him and so anxious to know him. I’m sooo happy to hear he’s already grooming and kissing!:heart_eyes:
has he had his full health check yet? I’m sure that will be extensive, but then you can really get on with the very best care I know you’re going to give him. can’t wait to learn what enrichment he’ll gravitate to so we can start sending gifts!
I just reread your original email. I must’ve missed it the first time because now I see the sentence. “Dora has been unabashedly flirting with him every chance she gets.”
I’m still laughing! :heart_eyes: That’s our Dora! IS GEORGE FLIRTING BACK??
I can’t wait for all of our new George followers to meet and fall in love with all the others. Your hearts are absolutely going to explode!
Today is my birthday, and I decided to donate instead of getting ”stuff” because I can’t think of anything I want more than a happy George !
I can’t wait to see him blossom in his new home.:revolving_hearts:
Yay! and happy birthday CeeCee!
Hope your birthday was amazing, CeeCee!
I (and many others, I know) am absolutely crazy about George! I know the caregivers must be, as well! I can’t wait to see him settle in and learn more about him! Sounds like Dora might already be harboring a bit of a crush…
All I know is he had a cage that was small but tall. he could go up and down. There were no enrichment items that i saw except for a tire. There were 2 metal sleeping shelves but no blankets or bedding materials at all. The cage was rusty with loose wire. Im sure he hasn’t been given anything but monkey chow in years, if ever.
oh my. knowing what a fabulous life our chimps have here at CSNW, that just made me tear up. George is safe now and will soon blossom!
he looks like & sounds like a Lover ?. so hope he not scared of new place. some one is a Faboulus picturer taker. wow. :kissing_heart:?:feet::feet:
I grew up going to Game Park when I was a child. I took my son there in 2017 when we came back and I saw the horrible condition the park was in but I do remember George had a ball in his enclosure
Thanks for the update on your observations of George’s Likes and Not-so-much feelings. He has the sweetest face! I love the white whisps of hair on the sides of his chin and his eyes seem so bright and sparkly. I hope you’ve heard him laugh. George looks as if he’s full of breathy laughter.
What fun it must be to get to know this youngster. To build trust and with that trust building, a friendship. To be able to slowly heal his loneliness. To learn about and tend to his personal needs. To be creative and thoughtful in introducing new healthy food options, homey comforts, fun enrichment, and over time play a significant role in helping George blossoming into a new, better, best chimpanzee person. To essentially let George become the person he’s been needing to be but never had the opportunity to pursue the proper path to get there.
Dear George, blossom and grow! We are all here for you.
thank you so much for all you do and are doing for george. I already see a sparkle in his eyes that wasnt there 2 weekd ago. It brought a few tears of joy, thanks again :):heart_eyes:
Hannah. Aw. you just wait. You will be crying many tears of joy. I know they will choose the right family for George. The quarantine period can be frustrating to us. We all get so excited and anxious to see his progress, his introductions to other members of the Sanctuary. Anxious to see where he’ll fit the best. JB and Diana and all the caregivers are truly intelligent and compassionate and dedicated. And wicked smart. George is home. And they’re all gonna make sure he’s very happy!
Thats amazing 🙂
I only visited George twice while he was in Bandon, but he played with my son through the cage he was in. They passed sticks back and forth through the fencing of the cage (no sticking hands near him of course) and blew raspberries at each other.
I love George, pure and simple. i have made several comments about him on your page. he just loves to be loved and a nice sweet treat every now and then. He was my friend and I miss him dearly. Thank you for taking such good care of him. He’s precious to many.
Oh my, this wonderful news has me in tears of joy! My 12 year old son fell in love with George two years ago. He even has a stuffed chimp, named after him. When we heard that he was rescued, we were over the moon. But now I can assure him that George is somewhere safe and loved and on his way to thriving! Thank you so much for all that you do.
please know that he does know a little sign language. I was able to say Hi, thank you and please and get a response back from him.
Bless you for that important bit of info Andrew!
That’s cool! And useful knowledge!
i live in oregon and have visted the bandon zoo a few times and george always made me want to cry everytime i was there. Him being in his cement pen alone with a couple toys he was miserable 🙁 he was going completly stir crazy being there he would sit in the corner and rock back and forth. im so glad he is with you guys and is safe and away from that place!!!!
would love to know more about his progress everytime i was there it was so heartbreaking how sad he was, but every now and then he would come to the side of cage interested in a kid and would start blowing rasberies at them my thought was that he liked kids more than adults
Jenny, To follow his progress be sure to sign up to receive the daily blog. scroll down on the blog page
https://chimpsnw.org/blog/