ACTOR, MODEL,SOAP OPERA STAR; RETIRED AT 6?

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

With a name like Bam Bam, you know he’s big! Bam Bam is a male orangutan who lives at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida. He was born on January 3, 1999 in a commercial breeder’s facility in Florida. He was sold to a California trainer and worked in the entertainment industry for several years. He spent 2 years playing the part of an orangutan nurse in the soap opera “Passions”. Once he turned 6, he became too strong to work with people. Retired at 6 and with a life span of 40 – 50 years, the question arose, what will we do with Bam Bam?

Fortunately for him, Bam Bam was sent to the Center for Great Apes, a sanctuary which allows orangutans and chimpanzees to live out their life spans with dignity in a safe and enriching environment. No more side shows, soap operas or medical labs for these residents! Just lots of love, care, and a clean, spacious habitat where they can so what apes do best, be happy.

As an adolescent, Bam Bam loved to wrestle, chase, swing on vines,and cause occasional havoc with his friend Louie, another adolescent orangutan. They loved to follow staff around the property using the tree top tunnel system. They competed for attention with their antics and silliness.

 Bam Bam is now entering his sub adult years. As is natural, he avoids other male territories and prefers the company of females. He especially enjoys spending time with Tango, a female orangutan who formerly starred in Tang commercials. 
Bam Bam is a sweet, gentle giant. He loves to investigate new toys and the enrichment materials given to him. He’s active and very acrobatic. He loves to climb to the highest places in his habitat, but he’s always happy to come down to say hello to visitors.

Bam Bam was recently the subject of a painting by artist Kori Johnsen. With her great talent and unique style, Kori captured Bam Bam’s playfulness and gentle character. The painting will be auctioned off at the annual Members Open House to raise money for the care of these special creatures.

Patti Ragan and painting by Kori Johnsen

 Founder, Patti Ragan makes sure that each resident Ape receives the best care, medical attention, food and enrichment possible. These animals are loved and cherished but most importantly, they are respected and allowed to live the life they were intended to live. Many workers, interns, volunteers and supporters join forces to make the Center a place where miracles happen.

Check out the webpage for the Center for Great Apes and read about the many tragedies turned miracles! Want to give an amazing Christmas gift? Visit the CFGA gift shop to find t-shirts, hoodies, hats,artwork, books and so much more! Donate in someone’s name for a truly unique and treasured gift. For $150 you can receive an adoption certificate with a frame quality photo and biography of your ape. Of course, donations of all sizes are welcome.Donations can be made on line through the website as well.

http://www.centerforgreatapes.org/about-us.aspx

https://app.etapestry.com/cart/CenterforGreatApes/default/index.php

https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/CenterforGreatApes/OnlineDonation.html

Merry Christmas from all the Apes at the Center For Great Apes!

Geri loves to open her packages!

Oopsie loves her new blanket!

*As required by Florida law, we are registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, # SC-09272.
100% of your contribution goes directly to the Center for the care of orangutans & chimpanzees as well as the operation of this sanctuary, and none of your donation goes to a professional solicitor.
The Center for Great Apes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Big Boy Pongo loves his treat box of nuts and dried fruits!

DRL'S NOMINEE FOR THE SILVER SPOON AWARD!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose



Master Chef Amy

 She can whip up three square meals, a snack and enrichment food for over 40 hungry residents each day. The food is fresh, tasty, nutritious, and fun to eat. She delivers and loves to prepare her fans’ favorite recipes! That’s why Amy is DRL’s nominee for the Silver Spoon Award, and Chef of the Century!





Each bucket contains special ingredients for each ape's diet

 Amy is the master chef at the Center for Great Apes in Wachula, Florida. The fans she feeds – Orangutans and Chimpanzees of all sizes and ages. Each one has a special formula for what nutrition is needed. A mixture of fruits, veggies, special biscuits, proteins (such as peanut butter) and special treats like pickles, frozen lemonade pops, bamboo filled with frozen juice, and much more are concocted each and every day.            



Want some of my pumpkin?





Frozen lemonade treats

  From the moment Amy arrives in the morning until she leaves in the evening, she chops, peels, dices, slices and prepares. In between, she cleans like a white tornado. Every time a delivery of Ape Chow arrives, she completely empties the pantry, sweeps and scrubs and puts the new chow bags on the bottom and the older chow on top. The cabinets too are emptied and scrubbed regularly. All the perishable ape food is stored in one of three giant refrigerators or freezers(no people food allowed!). The large walk-in holds huge bags of onions, broccoli, mangos (I know because I peeled 4 cases of them today!), and other assorted veggies. The large freezer was filled with the several large cases of individually frozen lemonade cups that will help the apes keep cool and enjoy a frosty treat tomorrow. The large slider refrigerator was where I found the giant jars of pickles the apes love so much. I made 50 treat boxes which consisted of putting some crinkled brown paper in an empty box (pasta, cereal etc.) or empty paper towel rolls, then adding a handful of sliced pickles, then adding more crinkled paper. Other treats might include nuts, dried fruits and fresh fruits.The apes love to discover the treat hidden in the wrapping. They also enjoy tearing up the crinkled paper. Grub, the chimpanzee loves to use the paper to make masks! 

Amy makes sure each ape gets exactly what he or she needs to be healthy and happy at the Center for Great Apes. She’s even written a cookbook filled with the favorite recipes of all the apes. Most of the meals and treats they enjoy are good for people too!  You can try Tango's Cucumber Melon Salad, Pongo's Vegetable Burgers,  Angel's Sweet Potato Fries or Roger's Roasted Vegetable Hummus, These recipes and more can be found in The Center For Great Apes Recipe  Book by Amy Knighton. Have trouble getting your kids to eat healthy food? Try Oopsies' Citrus Smiling Faces or Ripley's Mango Smoothie! Each recipe has a picture of the food with the Chimpanzee or Orangutan that loves it best!  I'm making Geri's Lemon-Elderberry Pineapple Upside Down Cake this week!



Frozen Bamboo Pops are a favorite!

 Whenever I work in the Feed Room (what most people would consider the ape kitchen!), I have a blast making all the specialties Amy teaches me to concoct. Today, while I made the treat boxes outside the back door, Bam Bam sat right behind me watching and making "raspberries" to get my attention. I think he wanted to help. Either that or he couldn’t wait to have one of the special hidden enrichment treats! Check out the You Tube video below. It shows a Valentine's Day Enrichment treat.  facebook.com/#!/CenterForGreatApes?sk=app_3801015922
 Later I moved into the feed room to peel the mangos. Bam Bam moved to where he could peer in the window and watch while he cooled off in the shade with a large fan blowing his beautiful red hair around. He was one happy camper! I was too because he was great company.



Watermelon, Mango, Lychee Cake

 

The Center receives huge fresh produce deliveries twice a week so all the fruit and veggies are super fresh. Everything is prepared in immaculate conditions under Amy’s watchful eye.  From HUGE Christopher to little Stryker and special little guy, Knuckles, Amy gives them what they love and what they need for optimum health. But the reason we nominate her for the silver spoon is because, in addition to all this, it’s so obvious that she truly loves these special creatures, and they love her. So, here’s to you Amy, our choice for the Silver Spoon and Chef of the Century, for your love, compassion, kindness and expertise in service to the Center for Great Apes.

Halloween Enrichment Treats

For information about The Center For Great Apes Recipe Book by Amy Knighton, contact: https://www.facebook.com/#!/CenterForGreatApes?sk=app_3801015922