Project Chimps is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia.
The sanctuary includes a forested, six-acre habitat in which former research chimpanzees can forage, climb and play with no caging overhead.
Project Chimps’ first phase includes the Peachtree Habitat, a six-acre forest surrounded by five chimpanzee villas.
Transforming a Former Gorilla Sanctuary
The Project Chimps property was originally developed to be a gorilla sanctuary and had some of the needed infrastructure in place to repurpose immediately for chimpanzee housing, but much work would be needed to transform the property into a fully-functioning sanctuary for 200 former research chimpanzees.
Read more about our founding here.
The Humane Society of the United States
After more than five years of providing significant yearly financial and administrative support, in 2022, the The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) amplified its commitment to Project Chimps, pledging an additional $20 million. This pledge includes an initial grant of $5 million that will serve as a major kickstart toward the total funds needed for the second large outdoor habitat and housing construction, and up to an additional $15 million over the next 10 years, to support operational needs and organizational independence.
Today, the villas and the habitat include climbing structures and areas that afford enriching activities for the chimpanzees.
The sanctuary grounds included a historic, 19th century, homestead cabin that Project Chimps uses for meetings, events and intern housing. The lush fields and koi pond around the cabin are used for outdoor events, like Project Chimps’ Discovery Days, and is available for rent for private events.
A field of greens in Project Harvest with a basket of produce volunteers picked that day.
Project Harvest
In 2020, as part of our Strategic Plan, we planted and harvested the very first crops in our own farmland on campus! Over 700-pounds of produce for the chimps were harvested that first season. Since then, we have expanded the farmland, planted additional crops, added green houses, and hope to plant fruit and nut trees to establish an orchard as well. In addition to Project Harvest, we maintain several browse gardens and an apiary to support the chimps' dietary needs.
Learn more about Project Harvest and our Apiary programs.
Help Us Bring More Chimps to the Sanctuary
In the future, the sanctuary will include additional habitats as part of a Phase Two capital expansion. That expansion will provide the housing and habitat needed to bring the remaining chimpanzees from the lab to their forever home at Project Chimps.
If you’d like to help us build to bring more chimpanzees to sanctuary, please contact us today. If you’d like to volunteer to help us maintain our current facilities, please sign up.