Born at a breeding facility in Florida, Kenya was pulled from her birth mother a few hours after she was born. After living in a human household in north Florida, she came to the Center when she was less than a year old and immediately began social interaction with other chimpanzees. She is very independent, exuberant and gleeful, and she usually interacts with both humans and chimpanzees in a positive way.

Kenya is close to Noelle and plays with her frequently during the day. However, occasionally the two females get into a “spat” (usually over who gets more blankets at night), and hand-slap each other until one runs away. She’s respectful of Grub, sometimes grooming him, and always watchful of his mood.

Kenya has a special relationship with Toddy in that Toddy is actually her birth mother. Even though they were separated right after she was born at the breeding facility, Kenya was introduced to Toddy at the sanctuary when she was about five years old.

She frequently has a “play face” and often invites the other chimpanzees to play with her. When she was a juvenile, Kenya liked to roll around and somersault in the hay, “frog-hop” backwards, and dig in the sand with a shovel. But her favorite activity has always been water-play. Kenya often jumps right into the hose-spray while the caregiver tries to wash down the outdoor habitats. When she sees someone with the hose, she’ll get one of her “kiddie pools”, carry it over to the staff person, and wait for it to be filled with water. She’ll then lie down in the water, twirl around in it, and even stick her entire head under water to blow bubbles!

Kenya is very skillful at manipulating objects and often fashions tools from sticks and toys. She has removed all moveable parts from most of her toys and has been successful in dismantling all types of climbing structures, swinging devices, and sleeping hammocks.

Once when a 6-foot alligator made its way into the sanctuary creek and sat right underneath the overhead chutes crossing the creek, Kenya helpfully spit at the alligator while Grub, Toddy, and Noelle alarm-barked at it.

Her favorite treats are fruit juices, sweet potatoes, and apples.