Sunflower seeds are a popular human snack, great with a cold beer, but were you aware that orangutans were also partial to them?
Mona Bahraini, 38, from Sacramento, California, owns The Prickly Pear Cactus and Succulent Nursery and PPBody Cactus Skincare. When her giant sunflowers come to the end of their lives, she donates them to the local zoo in Sacramento as snacks for the orangutans.
“We grow sunflowers in our home garden because they attract pollinators. The root system helps regenerate the soil, and the seeds are great to eat or donate to animals or zoos,” Bahraini told Newsweek. “We love the zoo and have a membership, too. They love local food donations for their animals, and they have a list of foods you can donate on their website; sunflowers are one of them!”
Mona Bahraini/Getty Images
In a video posted to her Instagram account @the.prickly.pear, Bahraini can be seen harvesting the huge sunflower heads. The footage then cuts to a zoo keeper placing the heads around the orangutans’ enclosure.
Almost immediately, Chelli, a 51-year-old female orangutan, appears and walks straight over to the portion of sunflower. She then takes it over to a sunny spot to enjoy her snack, deftly spitting out the husks. Soon, another large male orangutan named Makan walks over with a hessian sack on his head, intent on joining in the fun.
“Orangutans eat every sunflower seed. They are meticulous and so entertaining to watch,” said Bahraini. “They’re so human like!”
Donating her sunflower heads feeds into Bahraini’s business ethos. “We are all about regenerative farming and regenerative way of thinking! The earth provides everything we need so, if we honor Mama Earth in every decision we make locally and globally, we would have a happier society and planet,” Bahraini said.
A champion of natural ingredients, she added: “I started this cactus-oil skincare line because it’s what I personally used on my skin for years. I was tired of the skin industry pushing a narrative of the more products you use, the better your skin will be. We have thousands of customers that range in their 20s through 60s.
“Prickly pear is the main ingredient we use in my skincare line, along with veggie and fruit extracts, all 100 percent pure Mama Earth ingredients. It’s a transformative skin experience for most skin types and even those with skin conditions. It helps reduce fine lines, dark circles, hyperpigmentation and more,” Bahraini said.
Many viewers on Instagram expressed their envy of Bahraini’s lifestyle. To anyone wishing to start their own business, she said: “It’s important to know what your talents and purpose are before diving into any career.
“What are you good at, and why? Combining your talents with purpose is a successful route to anything, especially starting a business. You will eat, sleep and breathe your business, but it won’t feel like work because you love it so much and know you are changing the community for the better,” Bahraini added.
“Yesssss!!!! Such a fun morning!” commented one user, while another posted: “Love this! Orangutans are my favorite animal.”
“This was the best post I’ve seen online in so long!” wrote another.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.