Toddy
Toddy was born in Africa approximately in 1974.
She was
captured in the wild and sold to a family in Florida as a pet.
When she was still an infant, she had many seizures, and
veterinarians discovered she had bullet fragments lodged in her 
brain. This most likely occurred when she was captured and taken away
from her chimpanzee mother in
Africa.
As she grew
up, she was passed along from pet-owner to several places finally
ending up in a breeding farm. While there, Toddy
had at least 4 or 5 infants
but did not raise any of them. After
living with a group of chimpanzees at the
breeder’s farm, Toddy was separated due to health problems and
kept alone in a small cage for several years. 
Her only companions were her caregiver at the breeder's farm
and a stuffed toy gorilla that she carried with her at all times.
Toddy
arrived at the Center’s sanctuary in 1998 and was introduced to 3
younger chimpanzees (Grub, Kenya, and Noelle).
She has a sweet disposition and a close relationship with the
others… especially the youngest (Noelle) whom she grooms,
tickles, and naps 
with daily. She's become a very good “aunt”
to Noelle. Toddy spends a good deal of her day preparing and
rearranging her nests, which she makes from tree branches, hay,
palm fronds, cardboard boxes, etc.
She moves
very slowly and appears to be older than she actually is. However,
since her introduction to the large outdoor habitat, she's become
considerably more active. She runs and plays with the others and
laughs heartily during games of tag. She often climbs the
ladder to a 30' high platform and watches the activities going on
at the sanctuary.
On hot summer days, Toddy enjoys a good soak in the tub!
Her
favorite foods are mangoes, celery, and collard greens.
A special
thing happened to Toddy a few years ago.
The family in Florida (who originally owned her as an
infant over 22 years ago) located her at our sanctuary!
When she was a baby, she lived with them for six years as a
member 
of their human family,… but as nearly always happens when
great apes grow too large and strong to be in a house, she was
placed somewhere else.
The family
lost track of Toddy, but rediscovered her 22 years later here in
Wauchula. When her
original owner visited us for a reunion with Toddy, it was very
clear she remembered him
even after more than two decades. 
She was very excited, jumped up & down, laughed, and
“food-barked” when he asked her if she wanted a “Dairy
Queen” (a treat known only to them).
He visits her frequently now at the sanctuary…
even
helping us with sanctuary chores and construction.