Today we celebrated Dora’s 37th birthday!
Dora was born at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP) on June 6, 1989. Her records say that her mother was Stella and her father was Les. She has many half siblings, including Gordo in her own group, who had the same father, and several chimpanzees at other sanctuaries including Pumpkin at Save the Chimps in Florida.
When LEMSIP closed in 1996, Dora went to Wildlife Waystation along with over 30 other chimpanzees.
When Wildlife Waystation closed in 2019, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest continued our planned expansion to make a home for another group of chimpanzees in need. Dora arrived with the rest of the “Lucky Six” on June 26, 2021.
In celebration of Dora’s birthday today, her group (which includes Dora, Cy, Terry, Rayne, Gordo, Lucky and George) got to enjoy whole mangos for breakfast, as well as Honey B, Willy B and Mave. What a special treat!
Unfortunately, due to Annie’s allergy, Jamie’s group did not get mangos, but they were pretty happy with their whole strawberries!
There are so many things to love about Dora (just ask Mave!). She is quick to engage her chimp friends in play (and the humans sometimes too!). She is beloved by those who know her (George took a little bit to learn this lesson during intros), which has allowed her the flexibility to move between groups and maintain her friendships as we navigated the separation of Honey B, Willy B, and Mave from Cy’s group. She brings the fun (sometimes with a side of pokey fingers and her signature head bobble) and quirkiness too!
Happy birthday, Dora!
Happy birthday, Adorable Dora. Old enough to still play with her food, yet still young enough to care less. I hope that this coming new year will allow for an overdue reunion of the Mora B Girls’ Club.
Happy birthday, Li’l Dora!
I love that she’s confident enough to push the big guy off her mango peels!
I miss her head bobble, it’s cute!
Happy birthday, sweet girl, Hope you get some time with Mave soon.
Happy birthday to the beautiful and delightful Dora. You are a little :star: star!Birthday treats for everyone and a fun packed day for you. Magic.
The birthday girl gets a prize for most interesting way to eat a mango! Happy Birthday to adorable little Dora. The girl with the longest eyelashes.
Happy birthday, beautiful, sweet, and sassy Dora!!! You have the cutest head bobbles around!
Happy Birthday, Dora. You look very happy with your favorite fruit. Everyone was so excitrd for mangos. And you are a good friend to all.
Happy birthday, dear little Dora. I love your face as you manage to get every little bit of mango off that seed, and even wave away the thief trying to steal your skins which you wanted to savour later. Well done! PS, you’re looking terrific for 37…..what’s your secret?
I think her secret is living in the best sanctuary , lots of healthy foods, lots of family and friends and a bestie called Mave!