Noelle, the youngest in her group, was born at a breeding facility in Miami. Her birth mother was hand-reared as a pet and was inexperienced in caring for infants, so Noelle was taken from her mother and was raised in a human family her first year.

Now as a teenager, Noelle is still the “baby” of Grub’s group, and has been somewhat spoiled by the chimpanzees (as well as the staff). When she was younger, Grub and Kenya gave Noelle any toy, food, or attention she demanded. And the eldest chimpanzee of the group, Toddy, spent long hours with Noelle sitting quietly with her, taking naps in the hammock together, and grooming her. Even today, when Noelle fusses, Toddy still runs to her aid to groom and comfort her. Noelle often pouts if things don’t go her way, occasionally has temper tantrums, but generally has a happy and playful temperament.

Noelle is very bright and quickly solves enrichment puzzles. She surprised the staff by observing sign-language “words” shown to Grub... and later forming the signs at the appropriate times.

Noelle “talks” to the staff frequently during the day in her own version of sign language. She’ll ask for her favorite treats or tell us that a tasty ginger-flower is in bloom near her enclosure. She watches the mulberry tree nearby and signs “berry, berry” when the mulberries turn black and are ripe. She asks volunteers for a game of “chase” and comments to us when she sees or hears a bird nearby. Noelle also know the sign for “hurt” and will show us her cuts and scratches as well as sign “hurt, hurt, hurt” when she sees a visitor on crutches, in a sling, or in a wheelchair.

Even though she is the youngest of the group, she is not timid. She’ll often chase the dominant Grub to defend Kenya. Years ago, when Brooks (3 weeks older than Noelle) first joined Grub’s group, Noelle was very jealous of him. She poked and teased him, and threw toys at him….especially when Grub and Kenya were playing with him. But after a few months together, Noelle learned to play well with Brooks, even “flirting” with him occasionally. Although Brooks has moved to a new group, Noelle and Brooks will meet occasionally in the chutes and still eagerly play with each other.

Noelle is one of only a few chimpanzees at the Center that can play with Knuckles. She seems to know that he is special and is very gentle with him when they play. Due to his cerebral palsy, Knuckles is unable to climb and run, so Noelle stays near him on the ground grooming him and tickling him.

Her favorite foods are red peppers, corn, apples, and bananas. She dislikes turtles and grasshoppers and will "alarm-hoot" at resident gopher tortoises at the sanctuary.


NOELLE MEETS MOWGLI...






WATER ENRICHMENT...