At age five, Mowgli still had an active working-life when his California owner decided to get out of the apes-in-entertainment business and retire all his apes to the Center’s sanctuary in Florida. Mowgli had worked in the first CareerBuilders TV ads, was a “regular” on the Dennis Miller Show, and had just finished the movie “Shaggy Dog” before he arrived in Wauchula with eleven other chimpanzees in March 2005.

Mowgli arrived in the company of then 2-year-old infant Kodua, and the two of them were inseparable. But, babies don’t raise babies so when Kodua was introduced back to her original family (Oopsie’s group), Mowgli was introduced to several older youngsters – Natsu, Brooks, and Angel.

Natsu and Mowgli are best friends and love games of chase and tickle. They often share a hammock nest at night. And, since Mowgli still has his baby pink face and white tuft of hair on his bottom, adolescent male Brooks is kind and gentle in his interactions with him. Mowgli looks up to Brooks, often imitates him and follows Brooks’ lead.

Mowgli enjoys swinging in his hammock while looking at photographs in magazines and he loves toys and balls. But his favorite play activity is anything involving water! He laughs while running through the sprinklers, squirting the hose on his feet, or splashing in a tub of sudsy water.