Project Chimps Blog

In our April 2018 update, we see how well-known former research chimpanzees Hercules and Leo are settling in, along with their seven adolescent group mates. We also look at the critical role volunteers play at a chimpanzee sanctuary – we couldn’t do it without them!

Morganton, GA (March 21) — Two well-known former research chimpanzees now have a forever home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, thanks to a cooperative agreement between the New Iberia Research Center in Louisiana and Project Chimps, a 236-acre sanctuary in north Georgia. Eleven-year-old Hercules and Leo joined other retired chimpanzees at the forested Project Chimps…

Gertrude meets Jason in our March 2018 update as we describe our new chimpanzee introduction program. The intros are conducted under the supervision of Michael Seres, Project Chimps’ Manager of Chimpanzee Socialization. We also look in on Genesis after her recent bout with pneumonia and look ahead to Project Chimps’ first-ever Discovery Days.

Project Chimps has been granted full member status in the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. The North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA) is dedicated to the mission of advancing and advocating for the welfare of captive primates. This coalition of primate sanctuaries, who care for more than 700 nonhuman primates retired from the entertainment, biomedical…

Project Chimps took top honors at the Blue Ridge Business Association’s annual Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off with its debuted “Chimp Chili” recipe. The animal-free, vegan chili recipe was created by Rachael Ray and modified with her permission to include foods that are tasty to both humans and chimpanzees! The chili earned first place…

February 7, 2018, (Washington DC) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Accredited status to Project Chimps as of February 1, 2018. Project Chimps is the newest chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States and provides lifelong care to former research chimpanzees…

In our February 2018 update, we describe the first day in our outdoor habitat for Marlon and his group of seven chimpanzees. Project Chimps’ executive director, Ali Crumpacker, also shares her experiences working with wild and exotic animals.

There wasn’t a dry human eye in the sanctuary on Tuesday, as we celebrated the opening of the new Peachtree Habitat and the first release of chimpanzees outdoors at Project Chimps. Lance’s expression, above, says it all. This was the first time in their lives these former research chimps could look up at an unobstructed…

There wasn’t a dry human eye in the sanctuary yesterday, as we celebrated the opening of the new, six-acre, Peachtree Habitat and the first release of chimpanzees outdoors at Project Chimps. In our January 2018 news, we also look at all of the exciting initiatives planned at Project Chimps in 2018!

Research chimpanzees who have spent their entire lives in captivity explored an outdoor forest habitat for the first time today. Project Chimps, a 236-acre sanctuary for chimpanzees formerly used in biomedical research in laboratories, released the chimps to freely explore a six-acre, forested habitat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Nine female and…

  We are so excited to share the first look at our nine #NewChimps, Babs, Sky, Amy, Almasi, LB, Noel, Sarah, Loretta, and Harley! Our journey began at 5:30 p.m. yesterday, as we left the New Iberia Research Center in southern Louisiana and drove through the night, arriving in Blue Ridge, Georgia, before sunrise this morning. These nine…

In this month’s Project Chimps news, we share the first look at our nine #NewChimps: Babs, Sky, Amy, Almasi, LB, Noel, Sarah, Loretta, and Harley! Learn more about their journey from the lab to sanctuary and meet volunteers Sandi Boone and Ruth Beers! Read more…

We’re building a new, six-care outdoor habitat for the former research chimpanzees now in permanent retirement at Project Chimps! In this month’s Project Chimps news, we describe our vision for the habitat and the new opportunities it will create for captive chimpanzees that have only experienced life in mesh enclosures. Read more…

Our facilities team is busy renovating Villa 4 so we can bring the next group of chimpanzees from the lab to permanent sanctuary. The Project Chimps property was once a gorilla sanctuary, so major renovations are required to make the facilities suitable for chimpanzees. We also unveil the winning photo for our 2018 calendar! Read…

I woke up really excited this morning. While I’m always passionate about the work I do here at Project Chimps, there’s something else that’s got me pumped. On October 17, 2017, thousands of animal lovers are going to show their support for ape conservation and rescue during Giving Day for Apes. On that day, every…