This year (2017) Ndume celebrated his 36th birthday on Oct. 10. Ndume is 10 years younger than his well-known companion, Koko, and loves to party!
The theme for this year’s birthday celebration was “Movie Night” (selected by Koko’s FaceBook community), and featured some of Ndume’s favorite movies, including Scooby Doo (and the Alien Invasion), Despicable Me (1 and 2), Mulan, Aladdin, the Emperor’s New Groove, Finding Nemo, Cars and Toy Story.
In particular, the caregivers prepared two special piñatas — Scooby Doo, and a Minion, both filled with popcorn. Ndume had fun retrieving the piñatas, opening them, and eating their contents, as he scanned his habitat for other treats, surprises and presents — which included a flat Unicorn pillow, given to him by one of our gorilla food enrichment volunteers (Deb Parsons).
Ndume’s caregivers also crafted one of Ndume’s favorite movie characters out of cardboard — Kronk, from Emperor’s New Groove — and one of the caregivers (Konner Holzwart) dressed up like a cross between Kronk and one of the little green aliens from Toy Story.
To top off Ndume’s party feast, which included a veggie burger and sweet potato fries, he enjoyed a mini vegan chocolate birthday cake (gluten free, of course).
Ndume’s caregivers and volunteers, as well as Koko, enjoyed celebrating Ndume’s birthday as much as he did, sharing food, presents, and good company.
We thank you all for supporting both gorillas, Koko and Ndume, and helping them enjoy every moment of their lives, while acting as global ambassadors (and often spokespersons) for gorillas everywhere!
