A pretty big deal kind of April.

We made it! It’s officially spring here in the chimpanzees’ and cows’ corner of the world! I think we’re all pretty thrilled.

We have one birthday celebration this month and it’s a pretty big deal! George is turning 22 and will most likely be screaming and squeaking at the top of his lungs on April 5th, his first birthday since arriving home, his first birthday surrounded by his new family!

George’s almost one year anniversary since arriving to the sanctuary has been full of firsts. Countless firsts, really. I would guess from his limited and dim view of the world for his first two decades of life, it must have been impossible to imagine anything else. So when things changed, literally overnight, he didn’t hesitate to run through every new door that opened even though so much of it must have been extremely scary. The courage he consistently demonstrates is astounding.

Go, George!!

It’s been three months or so since George has been fully integrated with the six members of Cy’s group. So far, it’s been a mind-boggling smooth transition, as far as integrations and chimpanzees are concerned. Thanks in no small part to Cy, the alpha of George’s new family and wearer of a proverbial superhero cape. That said, all the humans (including YOU) and all the members of George’s group played (and continue to play) huge roles in creating a wondrous outcome for him to date.

As George continues to gain more comfort and confidence there will no doubt be family dynamics to work out, but that’s also part of chimpanzee life, and we’re so grateful for how this group has embraced him so far. This is no small life change for any of them!

George and Cy eating breakfast together in one of their greenhouses:

George and Gordo. I think what we love most about this wonderful friendship is that we can’t believe the happy change in Gordo since George’s arrival! As someone who tends to be more reserved and stick to himself, Gordo has been thriving on a whole new level. He initiates play with both his caregivers and the chimpanzees much for often, he appears more at ease within the group, and he just has a buddy he seems to really enjoy hanging out with. We’re so hopeful to see how this friendship continues to develop for both of them.

Dominant female of the group, Rayne, has played a particularly big role in George’s welcome. If there’s any concern of tension in the group, George’s safety, or if he needs reassurance, Rayne joins Cy like two bookends on either side of him making sure all’s well that ends well. As we’ve mentioned before, Rayne is really adept at innately knowing what chimpanzees with different social skills need.

George also continues to bring immense enrichment to his neighbors, Jamie’s group! The girls love to scream and yell at him, spy on him, and just be generally appalled and intrigued at once by the cute, wild, new boy next door. We saw Burrito having a short game of chase with George recently. And as many of you know, Missy in particular loves to race George up their respective hills! (Random chimp house story: Burrito LOVES this video and of all the ones he watches, he demands I play this one for him over and over. Often he, Foxie, and Jamie will sit, eyes transfixed on the screen, suddenly yelling all at once when George takes off running, Foxie reaching out for reassurance – it reminds me of humans yelling in the movie theatre. It’s really funny.).

George, safe and cozy in his tortilla blanket nest. Among his first nests and what we envision to be countless comforting and creative nests to come:

George arrived with a built-in fan club. The other fifteen chimpanzees, for obvious reasons of coming from labs and/or a facility that largely wasn’t open to the public, were virtually unknown by the outside world before the sanctuary became their home. Of course, they’re all widely known and deeply loved now. But with George, it’s really been something to witness.

If George needs it, it arrives! Gift cards are a welcome constant for his favorite food items. George doesn’t have any Chimpanzee Pals?! Boom! George has 22 – more than anyone else! Donations have handwritten notes to him on them (this delights and awes our local bank, btw). New, but devoted blog and social media followers watch over his progress and well-being. Again, this is true for all of the chimpanzees and cows, but it’s most apparent right now with George being the new guy.

While these things also make us smile, it’s so much more than that. When I said you play a huge role in how embraced George has been and the wondrous life created for him, I wasn’t kidding. In a world that feels it goes sideways on the daily, to see so many people come together and quite literally save and transform the life of one individual feels miraculous. And yet, I think it merely speaks to the innate good to be found in us humans. But at a time when our hearts need to feel that more than ever, to feel a sense of community, you all have been the proverbial cape wearers, right along with Cy. Thank you so much.

And we’d like to also celebrate a birthday in our extended family. Missy’s son, Josh, is turning 39 today, April 1st! Josh was among the chimpanzees (along with Cy’s and Honey B’s groups) who were in need of homes when Wildlife Waystation in California, the facility they’d spent most of their lives at, suddenly closed. Josh, along with his group mates, were so fortunate to land at an incredible sanctuary, Center for Great Apes, in Florida (photo courtesy of CGA).

Some of us had the amazing gift of meeting Josh last year while attending the NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance) conference. He’s gorgeous, just like his mama and half-sister, Honey B! He shares a similar body shape with Missy, though he clearly got the floof in the family. (Photos courtesy of CGA):

Missy:

Happy April, friends! We’re just so grateful for you being here!