Posts by Project Chimps
Meet Purple Shirt, Debbie Barton
Debbie’s attire gives her instant recognition in the kitchen, where all the chimps’ meals are prepared a day ahead of time. She uses her countless hours of experience to guide the newer volunteers toward how they can best assist in the mission of Project Chimps today.
Read MoreStop Keeping Pet Chimps
By Kat West We can all agree that chimps are cute. But we also know they are wild animals and shouldn’t be kept as pets. Not everyone understands this, however. Although it’s illegal in many countries like the U.K. it is still legal in the United States. The Captive Primate Safety act aims to change…
Read MoreThe Role of “Auntie” in Female Chimps
Chimps have these ambiguous female figures too! Growing up without their mom, our orphaned lab chimps rely even more heavily on the guidance of older influences.
Older female chimps who take young female groupmates under their metaphorical wing, I call “aunties.” But really, they’re just old ladies showing young girls the ropes.
Chimp Faces: Noticing & Reading Facial Expressions
Caregiver Aide Mackenzie explains the importance of closely observing the chimps, saying, “With the chimps we have to watch very carefully to determine how they’re feeling.” Staff must develop an understanding of the chimps’ baseline body and facial expressions so they can tell when something is ‘off’.
Read MoreLove at First Sight for Jill Nielsen
Jill’s story of getting involved with Project Chimps was one of ‘love at first sight.’ When she visited the sanctuary years ago, she knew she had both the passion and education to help the chimps in a way not many others could.
Read MoreWith Guide Mimi Ackerman, Tours are Special
Mimi Ackerman has been volunteering at Project Chimps for two years, and it is moments like this where her experience really shines. She encourages even the apprehensive infant to reach out his arm toward the latest chimp to have wandered over to this family.
Read MoreEasy to Volunteer at PC
Pete Cutter finds it easy to volunteer at a non-profit like this one. Perhaps the most ‘creative’ in his volunteering of anyone on campus, Pete thinks out of the box for the chimps.
Read MoreFrom Studying Chimps to Seeing Chimps
Studying chimps in her textbooks, India ultimately discovered, does not compare to meeting them in real life. She remembers her first day at Project Chimps clearly, because on this day she came face to face with a chimp for the first time.
Read MoreChimpanzee Menstrual Cycles
By Kayla Adgate Have you ever noticed that female chimpanzees seem to have a saggy bottom? That’s called a swelling and it’s an important part of their anatomy. Swelling, Health, and Fertility Although there is some conjecture regarding its exact function, scientists agree that chimp tumescence, or the process of swelling, and menstruation are physical…
Read MoreBig Girls, Little Girls, Middle Girls: Female Chimps Learn From Each Other
When chimps come to sanctuary, they may be interacting with other chimps (or chimps of the opposite sex) for the first time. They may fail to understand social norms, and feel awkward, unsure, or anxious around other chimps. These interactions can be tricky because the chimps haven’t learned lessons that mom usually instills during childhood.
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