Greg and Armond are two of the oldest chimps here at the sanctuary. They have taken two stances on getting older; one is more accepting and the other is not. Learn more about how Greg and Armond are getting used to the aging process.

No utensils? No problem. Chimpanzees use their hands for basically everything – including eating. They rely on their hands in the same way humans do, if not more! When it comes to eating, the chimps are always showing off their hand eating skills.

Kivuli and Oscar are the two youngest chimps we have at the sanctuary. Throughout their awkward adolescence, they are learning and adapting to their adult lives. Learn more about the physical and mental changes the young chimps have gone through.

Some of our most integral members to the Project Chimps team aren’t the staff, volunteers, or even the chimps – they’re our golf carts and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that make up our fleet.

How would you know if a chimp is obese? Or too skinny? A chimpanzee’s body condition is an important indicator of overall physical health. One non-invasive, visual way to help gauge body condition is by using the Body Condition Scoring System, or the BCS.

Just like humans, chimpanzees can develop chapped lips! Samira came to Project Chimps in 2016, and she brought with her chronic dry skin. The caregivers at Project Chimps used medications to soothe her dry skin. However, they wanted to provide Samira with the least invasive form of treatment.

When there was a scuffle in the yard, Marlon appeared to have an injury to his finger. It eventually required surgery. However, he has made a fantastic recovery! Learn more about how Marlon has handled his injury. Warning *graphic images*

In the wild 2% of a chimp’s diet is made up of animal protein, and the majority of that is bugs! These chimps seem a lot less inclined to eat insects the way their wild cousins do. At least for now.

Leo has been a special chimp from the beginning, and we have been helping him cope with mental episodes. Leo has made significant improvements since he has arrived at the sanctuary and continues to thrive.

When Victoria Washington reflects on her summer internship at Project Chimps, chimpanzee intelligence stands out the most. “They are really smart, especially when it comes to trading and using tools,” said the recent graduate of Auburn University. “I was really excited to get to see that in person. I think that was the most amazing…

Eric Simonton developed the BOT several years ago. It’s actually an incredibly humorous and somewhat cosmic story.

Behavior Coordinator Kate has spent many hours observing when Arielle plucks her hair. Once she understood when the behavior happened the most, she was able to come up with some solutions. Thanks to Kate, Arielle has stopped plucking and her hair has grown back!

Stealing food is a strategic business in the chimp world. While it may sound like a simple interaction, there are actually many reasons why chimps steal food – and no, it is not just because they are hungry. Here is a chimp’s guide to stealing food while keeping a clean slate.

Just like humans, chimpanzees have their own unique dietary needs and preferences. For example, you will probably try in vain to get a chimp to eat foods such as kiwi, squash, kale, and green beans. But you will be very popular if you present favorites such as onions, eggplant, sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas.

Chimpanzees’ eating habits are determined based off of their social rank. When observing chimpanzee foraging customs, it helps us learn more about their mannerisms.