With the terrible news coming from Florida, US and the devastating Hurricane Ian, we have the confirmation that Bubbles and all his 69 friends are safe!
The staff of the Center of Great Apes have evacuated the animals (included Bubbles) to a shelter/safe house waiting for the Hurricane to pass.
The Wauchula facility is prepared for hurricanes and has secure areas for the apes and orangutans to stay in during dangerous storms. “The maintenance team has boarded up all the offices and homes, sandbags have been placed in the areas prone to flooding, supplies have been purchased, and our caregivers have prepared the apes’ night houses, diets, and special enrichment during the storm,” the center reassured on its website. “They are heated in the winter and strong enough to withstand Florida hurricanes.”
The rooms also include spacious hammocks, where several apes and orangutans awaited Ian’s arrival. Besides Bubbles, the institute is also home to over 70 other great apes, many of which were rescued from careers in the entertainment business or private zoos. The 100 acres that make up the facility are open for residents to use as they like.
We hope that their home will not have too much damages following the images we saw earlier in the news!
And a big thank you to all the carers and staff of the Center!
Be safe Florida!
SOURCE: Center of Great Apes
