Celebrating DANNER’s 15th birthday!
There’s an extra buzz of excitement in the air at Project Chimps, because today we celebrate Danner’s 15th birthday! We hope you’ll join us as we share a little of what makes this chimp so unique.
Danner didn’t venture outside much before moving to Chateau, but now he’s one of the first chimps in the habitat. That’s not the only thing that’s changed in recent years, though!
As one of the youngest chimps living at the sanctuary, sometimes it feels like Danner grew up overnight. Once one of the smallest, most insecure chimps in his group, now Danner is one of the largest! He’s come a long way from the awkward chimp with enormous hands, but we still know him by his “Danner Bananer” nickname all the same!
As Danner continues to grow in body size, he’s also grown in group influence. According to his caregivers, he’s a big part of the ever-changing group dynamics in Chateau villa. Danner has become much more confident and self-assured, no longer content to simply sit and watch his group. In a group full of adolescent males, Danner’s social standing can fluctuate depending on the week. Often, he likes to remind the other chimps just how large he is by causing a little chaos!
When he’s not keeping his groupmates on their toes, Danner spends his time grooming with the other males. He hangs out often with Panielle and is usually the first chimp waiting at the food hopper. His food squeaks are very loud and high pitched, particularly during celebrations in the habitat. He also seems to get extra excited when oranges are on the menu!
Today on July 25th, we hope you’ll help celebrate Danner’s 15th birthday and his 6th birthday here at Project Chimps! If you’d like to send him a gift, please consider some healthy snacks or stuffed animals from our Amazon Wishlist! If you’d rather make a donation in his honor, let us know so we can thank you for your impact.
Happy 15th birthday, Danner! We’re honored to have witnessed your incredible transformation, and we can’t wait to see where your confidence takes you next. You’ll always be “Danner Bananer hands” to us!