Kevin, a mid-sized chimp with pale speckles on his chin, seemed nervous when it came time to meet some of the female chimps who lived nearby.

At 150 pounds, 16-year-old Thomas is a large chimp. “He’s got a long, lanky build—more like a bonobo,” says caregiver Fred Rubio,  “and a big patch of gray hair on his back, like a silver back gorilla.” Thomas is emerging as one of the more dominant and respected chimps in his group, says Fred, who holds a Masters in Primate Behavior from Central Washington University.

From the beginning of my internship, we had our eyes on Justin and Rocko as possible enforcer candidates. Justin and Rocko are very dominant chimps that would usually be found around Kirk to show their high rank status.

The Chimps Ahoy group was really fun to watch!  A majority of my time was spent watching a lot of grooming and napping—the two most common affiliative behaviors. This may seem like an uneventful behavior to some, but I got plenty of information on the relationships that the chimps had with each other.

Chimpanzees are complex. Their social group dynamics thrive off the strength of their interconnecting web of relationships known as hierarchy. At Project Chimps, caregivers use three “levels” of hierarchy to help them discuss such a dynamic web: high-ranking, mid-ranking, and low-ranking.

Here at Project Chimps, there is something for everyone who wants to get involved. Nobody knows this better than Jan Russell, 72, who has always wanted to help animals and found an opportunity here.

Sometimes in life you have to go with the flow and let the sea set you free. That’s one theme that emerged for artist and staff member Sari Morand, in Project Chimp’s latest mural at Chateau.

When arriving at Project Chimps, our koi pond is one of the first sights to greet you. It is a haven for many species and its unique color has everyone asking—why is it that color?

Project Chimps has amazing donors that bring, or send, items we use for making our enrichment. The chimps receive a morning enrichment, a themed enrichment, and evening enrichment daily. Many of these items are made from your everyday “trash” that we in turn treasure. Learn more about the Enrichment Committee today.

Dreams come true at Project Chimps.
Just ask Janice Hudson-Huff, 60, who spoke about how the non-profit has helped her realize her own.

At Project Chimps its not uncommon to see a tattoo here and there. Like many people some of the staff are tattooed. Did you know some chimps have tattoos as well? Why would a chimp have a tattoo? Chimp tattoos seem very odd. This blog will explain. We’ll also look at some of the interesting tattoos our staff have that celebrate their connection to chimps.

A team of students at Georgia Tech is working with Project Chimps to develop a unique device. The device would collect and store chimp semen samples to help with reproductive health. Why are these samples important for sanctuaries? What makes this device so innovative? Read on to find out.

Gail and her husband, Joe, have become critical pieces of the Project Chimps mission over the last several years. Joe Dufresne, DDS, volunteers for any dental work the 82 chimps may need and assists in maintenance around campus at other times. Gail, who comes in weekly, is assigned to whichever area of the non-profit she is needed in that day.

Torian’s caution influences her eating habits. She waits for all the other chimps to be fed before she’ll come get food. As Samantha describes it, “she’s going to wait until everything is gone before she gets a chance to lick the crumbs off the floor.”

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.