Project Chimps Blog

Project Chimps is the first sanctuary to vaccinate chimps against Covid-19 with experimental covid vaccines developed by Zoetis, a veterinary medicine producer. This vaccine has been donated to zoos and sanctuaries across the country by Zoetis. Project Chimps, like other institutions requested these vaccines to protect the animals in their care.

Jacob had a four-and-a-half-inch wound that started at his upper chin and extended to his lower chin around his lips. The wound pierced all the way through his lip, creating a hole in his chin. Found out how he handled this injury!

Violet worked as communications intern for the summer of 2021. She wrote blogs about medical conditions at the sanctuary and was excited to combine her love of animals with a passion for understanding their personalities. It was a fantastic experience.

It’s actually pretty cool to work somewhere that celebrates urine. Believe it or not, pee is really an amazing thing! Every urine excretion you make is like a report card from your body, sending in a bunch of grades from most of its complicated systems via a few ounces of liquid.

By Joseph Elliott It’s been a year and a half since separate groups of six males and nine females were put together to form Bo’s group at the Cedar Tree villa. It’s turned out to be a great learning experience both for the chimps and the caregivers alike. In theory, it makes some sense to…

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…