Project Chimps Transports Chimps in Need

By Kat West

Meet Erika Fleury of NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance). She chatted with us about how Project Chimps helped NAPSA transport some chimpanzees in need of emergency relocation. She also tells us how you can help other chimps still awaiting their lifelong homes. Read on to learn about this incredible chimp rescue effort.

The Challenge of Chimpanzees in Need

Wildlife Waystation was an animal refuge outside of Los Angeles, California. It closed unexpectedly in 2019 due to financial issues. At the time of closure, there were more than 480 animals at the Waystation. When they closed, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife stepped in to help the animals there. They contacted NAPSA to help relocate the chimpanzees, of which there were more than 40. Unfortunately, at that time all the accredited chimpanzee sanctuaries were at capacity and couldn’t take any more chimps.

The Response

NAPSA started the Chimpanzees in Need fundraiser to help raise money for sanctuaries to expand their facilities. So far NAPSA has raised about 35% of its $5.8 million goal. Chimps in Need has seen celebrity support, including the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall.

Project Chimps Offers to Help

When Wildlife Waystation closed in 2019, Project Chimps, like the other sanctuaries was at capacity and couldn’t take anymore chimps. However, when Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Washington state was able to take six chimps into its facilities, Project Chimps was there to help!

We agreed to send staff, volunteers and our transport vehicle to help move “The Lucky Six” (so called because one of the chimps is named Lucky). This meant a drive from Georgia to California, taking the chimps to their new home in Washington before returning home to Georgia again.

Erika told us Project Chimps offering its help to transport the Lucky Six was “a relief”. This saved a lot of money that could be used to pay for other needs instead of hiring transportation for the chimps. Erika also pointed out the very real value of Project Chimps experience and the trust NAPSA had in their staff and volunteers. This made everyone, including the chimps, more comfortable and avoided concerns about making sure hired transport took proper care of the chimps. The transport was a big undertaking. But Project Chimps and NAPSA working together got the Lucky Six to their new home at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest safe and sound.

Most recently, we went back and helped move eight more chimps! This time the trip was even longer, moving the chimps from California to the sunshine state of Florida where the chimps are settling in at the Center for Great Apes.

You Can Help Too!

The Chimpanzees in Need fundraiser is still going on. More funds are needed to help sanctuaries expand so they can give homes to the chimps still at Wildlife Waystation. Erika told us one of the best ways to get involved is to use your voice to help the message “reach new ears”. The more people who know about Chimpanzees in Need the better. You can help spread the word by liking and sharing NAPSA’s posts on social media.

And will Project Chimps be able to help transport the remaining chimps? Yes we will!

Follow NAPSA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to help spread the word about Chimpanzees in Need.