Response to False Allegations

First, know that we take these critiques seriously, and we have thoroughly examined and evaluated the claims to see how we can improve. We engaged multiple outside experts to assess our facilities and care protocols to obtain objective assessments. Some improvements were suggested which we have implemented or are in the process of implementing, such as reopening a behaviorist position, which has been filled, or experimenting with different bedding materials. However, with regard to allegations of animal mistreatment, outside chimpanzee experts and veterinarians have found these allegations to be completely unfounded.

Below, you can find specific discussions of some of the critics’ demands, and also broader context behind the information and images being shared. Some of the demands are for things that have already been done or have long been part of our plan and have been in progress for some time; time and continued funding are needed to complete these plans. Other demands we must reject because they would actually harm the chimps.

Both internal and external experts have concluded that we meet or exceed the standards of our accrediting agencies. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have each conducted their own evaluations. We have also participated in an additional independent assessment by an expert in chimpanzee care and behavior. All inspection results and assessment reports can be found here.

We have recently hired a veterinarian with primate expertise to be on site and their information will be posted our Leadership page soon. Our consulting veterinarian of the past 5 years continues to provide medical care for the chimpanzees until the new vet is able to fully get set up. We have additionally created a council of medical professionals that specialize in niche areas of medicine who can further assist with cases as they arise.

The chimpanzees do have outdoor access every day and rotate access to the multi-acre habitat. Currently, every chimpanzee at Project Chimps has full-time access to a large outdoor porch. Additionally, our current six-acre habitat is divided into two yards that all porches connect to, and to which two groups of chimps are given access at the same time. After several years of access to the habitat, some chimps still are hesitant to go into it, and prefer to watch others explore the habitat from their porches. 

Each day, two chimp groups have access to the yards for six hours. Because the yards are time-shared, which assists in our introduction process to build more natural and stable family groups (a major component of our overall goal), each group may rotate into the yards every other or every third day. This provides each group with between 12 and 24 hours of access to the multi-acre habitat each week in addition to the outdoor access they have 24/7 on their porch.

As the family groups integrate and grow we will eventually be able to provide every chimp with daily yard access. In order to accomplish this goal we need to bring more chimps to sanctuary to provide the appropriate mix of chimps to further stabilize the groups.  We need to continue our capital campaign to expand the sanctuary and add additional chimp-proof habitats; there will be eight yards in all once completed. You can read about our five-year strategic plan here. 

Every day our chimpanzees are thriving and enjoying active, enriched, healthy lives at Project Chimps.  The number of hours that each one spends in the yard in no way defines or determines the flourishing nature of their lives with us.  Bottom line: the chimpanzees at Project Chimps have choices as to how they spend their days, and that is a critical hallmark of good sanctuary care. 

This is simply false.  The facility where the rest of the chimps we hope to bring currently live does not have any yards. They have either a small porch area, or a “biodome” which is a large cage structure, sitting on concrete and pea gravel. And only a few groups have access to the biodomes. There is no grass, no trees, and no open-air spaces for the chimps to utilize at the lab.

Photo: Tim Mueller for The New York Times

A photo being shared frequently by critics is one of Eddie, a chimp with an injured mouth. We know how upsetting the image is, but the way it is being presented doesn’t reflect the truth. When the injury occurred over year ago (likely due to an altercation with a fellow chimp), our veterinary staff treated him quickly.  The wound was fully healed within two months’ time and Eddie never exhibited any behavior that indicated he was bothered by it. We have shared this with critics, who nevertheless continue to perpetuate misleading statements and images. This is a more recent picture of Eddie, which shows how well his lip has healed. Eddie is a happy, thriving chimpanzee:

Similar to the case of Eddie, there are photos of chimps sitting in a dirty concrete room, which imply that this is representative of our standards of care. This is completely false. Every room is cleaned daily, the images being shown of an “unclean” space were taken just before the daily cleaning begins. Chimps are messy animals, and thankfully the chimps now live in an environment where they can exhibit behaviors (even messy ones!) fully.

In 2016, prior to the outdoor forested habitat being ready, we thought mulch might be a way to bring the forest floor to the chimps. While the mulch looked nice in photos and was donated, the chimps didn’t like it. It was also a breeding ground for pests and vermin that could have eventually hurt the chimps, so we made the decision to remove it. 

In 2018 when we removed all the mulch to do a deep clean, the chimps appeared thrilled to have the smooth floor back, and they showed us that immediately! They started to roll around and play on it in ways we had not seen them do on the mulched floors. 

In short, we let our chimpanzees choose as much as possible about what their lives are like now, since they never had that before. We know that giving them the textures and structures they chose and that they find comforting was more important than making facilities look pretty in pictures.  The chimps’ well-being has always been and will continue to be the primary driver behind our decisions – even if it doesn’t make for a perfect photo.

Similar to the issue of flooring, the same holds true to the claim that we do not provide our chimps with proper “nesting” materials.  Unlike chimpanzees in the wild, who build nests every day, many of our chimps are not big nest builders. When given that opportunity and provided with blankets, wood wool, hay, paper, cardboard, and other nesting materials, some still try to make nests out of their hard-plastic toys, and others don’t make nests at all. Similarly, despite sleeping platforms and hammocks, several prefer to curl up and sleep on the concrete. While the critics try to use pictures of those chosen behaviors against us, they are examples of one of one of the most important things we do for the chimps, and of the beauty of the environment we provide at Project Chimps sanctuary – we allow our chimpanzees to choose what they want to do each day and night.

Providing chimpanzees with choices is a huge gift to them after a life in which they were not given any.  This is incredibly important for animals in all settings – especially in sanctuary settings – and it is a powerful way to provide enrichment, reduce boredom, and reduce stress in many animal species, including chimps. It may not make for the best photo or imagery, but that is not as important as ensuring the chimps can select the lifestyle that pleases them, while of course making sure that they are safe and sound and provided with the best nutrition and health care.

Perhaps someday they all will make nests, or maybe they never will, but we continue to be committed to providing all chimps in our care with the options they need to make the decisions that best suit their personal preferences.