Kodua
was only two years old when she left the entertainment world and
arrived at the Center for Great Apes.
She still had several years
ahead of her in “show business,” but her owner retired
from working apes in movies and commercials, and so, fortunately,
did Kodua. Even in her infanthood she was used in a few
commercials including the first CareerBuilder advertisement
broadcast during Superbowl XXXIX in 2005 and also a TV spot
advertising water purity with a computer-generated elephant
dancing in the jungle.
Kodua was the
second infant born to Jessie at a
When she
first arrived in Wauchula, she was housed with the little chimp
Mowgli, but usually wanted to be with the caregivers at the
sanctuary. She was also introduced to Knuckles and became a
wonderful playmate for him and very gentle with his special needs.
But
Kodua’s birth family had also come to the sanctuary, and the
staff felt it was
important to reunite her with her mother, aunt, grandmother and
infant brother. So
at age three she was gradually introduced to each one of the six
chimpanzees in that adult group. While her own mother, Jessie, was
very gentle and playful with Kodua, it was her maternal
grandmother, Oopsie, who decided immediately to adopt Kodua and
raise her as her own infant.
Today
Kodua’s life is a happy one living with her grandmother Oopsie,
her birth mother Jessie, and her aunt Boma. She plays constant
games with her baby brother Stryker as well as the adult males in
her group, Sam and Bubbles. She is tenderly mothered and groomed
by Oopsie and sleeps next to her each night in their nest.
Much to the
delight of Knuckles, she still has frequent “play dates” with
him which is a terrific benefit to Knuckles in terms of his
increasing ability to interact with other chimpanzees.
Kodua is a
beautiful and sweet little girl who is well-loved by all the
chimpanzees in her group.