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When I design the gorillas’ parties I look for things that are universally fun for humans and can be successfully translated to be just as fun for the gorillas. This year’s birthday theme for Ndume (Oct. 10) came from an idea I had for a simple daily enrichment event. Upon thinking about it further I realized the only way to make this enrichment idea work for a birthday party was to make it really, really big. With our favorite outdoorsman Ndume’s birthday coming up, it seemed like a perfect fit: we would give Ndume a day of camping for his birthday.


	Ndume's indoor yard is converted to a"campsite"

The day of October 10th brought a cold morning and soggy ground from a storm that hit the night before. There was some concern that the gorillas would not want to go out, so we decorated the large yard sparsely, and focused our effort on the enclosed areas, like the small yard and “gorilla bungalow” which were decorated in more detail. We transformed the yards and bungalow into a series of “campsites,” giving Ndume the chance to look into each one. He found tents made of bed sheets, and sleeping bags containing forest-themed stuffed animals for him to play with.


One of many "tents" in the outdoor yard

In front of most tents there was a campfire, made from a red or orange origami paper balloon and filled with popcorn, while empty paper towel rolls filled with the morning’s browse (raw veggies and fruit) lay beneath like firewood. Inside the tents there lay backpacks and water bottles, filled with more of his morning browse and special treats. A “forest” was created in the small yard with large branch clippings woven into the mesh, giving the impression of shrubs. A “tree” was also added — a cardboard roll from linoleum, with green painted cardboard slats inserted into the sides and food in paper balls hidden between each layer, to be revealed only when a slat was pulled. Finally, there was the “lake” made of blue paper, with water-themed toy animals and again hidden treats to be found and consumed. Everyone was hoping for sunlight and a warmer day by the time the gorillas would be let into the yard.


	"Picnic Blanket"

The sun was peeking though the clouds, but it was still a little cold for Koko to go out into the yard. Then it was time for Ndume to go out. He sat quietly next to me at the mesh for a moment, then turned his attention to the open chute and the small yard beyond. He gave out a purr and briskly walked right to the “campfire,” devouring the popcorn inside. I left him pulling apart the various campsites and looking at the new enrichment items, while I helped clean and set up his room.

The smaller space of Koko and Ndume’s bedrooms allowed us to more thoroughly transform the surroundings, creating more of a feeling of a forest. In Ndume's room, there was a cardboard “tree” even larger than the one in the yard. This one had a picnic blanket with a stuffed bear and plastic fruits awaiting beneath. Hung from the light was another origami balloon filled with popcorn; this one was bright yellow and painted as a beehive. Scattered amongst the room were boxes of presents painted with forest animals on the sides. In his sleeping quarters, Ndume's entire bench was covered with freshly picked yellow and red maple leaves (his favorite treat this time of the year) giving the impression of a forest floor. His room truly looked like a campsite in the forest.
Once Ndume had finished searching the yard for treats he began pacing around the yard in a very excited manner. He eagerly watched from the mesh closest to us as we carried in the finishing touches for the camping motif. He was clapping and knocking loudly to get our attention to let him into his room. Ndume then sat on a shelf in the southwest corner of the yard that allowed him to watch us in the kitchen. He again began purring as we placed his meal.


"Honeycomb"	"Bug" Food

"Campfire"	"Lake" Plate
Assorted Creative Camping Enrichment Items

The meal vividly embodied the camping theme too. Since chili and smores weren't a realistic option, we decided to make his food look like the forest! There was an array of "bugs" (rice wrap with mashed vegetables inside and green bean “legs”) and spider cracker nut sandwiches. There was also gelatin shaped like evergreen trees, and made green from juiced green beans. The piece de resistance was a “lake” created on a large plate using blueberry almond milk gelatin, complete with fish made from fruit and sardines with a sweet potato boat floating on top.

When it was finally time for lunch, Ndume was given access to his room. He bolted through the chute creating a gust of sheets and leaves, purring loudly. Then he paused, slowly scanned the room and walked directly to his back room and sleeping bench where he knew the feast was waiting. Ndume eagerly ate his meal, purring loudly his satisfaction. On this special birthday, for the first time ever, I did not see him finish his meal in one sitting. Instead he would eat one dish then walk to the other room. He would open a present, and then return to his meal. He kept doing


	Ndume finally gets to enjoy his camping feast

this until all of his food was gone. Having completed his large meal, he focused his attention on the presents and hidden treats in the room.

After an hour or so Ndume’s room was a sea of leaves, sheets, sleeping bags, boxes and toys. Ndume lay on his back in the middle of the room, grinning and throwing his toys into the air, in a state of pure ecstasy that was made audible by his loud purrs and the rustling of the remains of the birthday celebration beneath him.

It was a fine birthday for Ndume — one that not even damp weather could spoil — proving that creative camping is an experience everyone can enjoy!

(All photos by Adrienne Mrsny.)