Project Chimps Blog

Chimpanzee caregivers Joseph and Brooke are getting the transport trailer ready for…Group Seven! The Project Chimps transport trailer can accommodate up to ten former research chimpanzees in individual carriers for the one-time journey from the lab in Louisiana to their forever sanctuary home here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In a few days, we’re going…

After 28 years in a research laboratory, Precious the chimpanzee had her first opportunity to step out into a forest now that she lives at the Project Chimps sanctuary. A cloudy sky didn’t dampen the spirits or enthusiasm of Precious and her nine female group mates as they had their first opportunity to step out…

Project Chimps will hold a special, two-day “Chimp or Treat” open house for local families on Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, in Morganton. Children are invited to “Chimp or Treat” in costume, tour the sanctuary – which is now home to 49 former research chimpanzees – and take home candy and fun treats.…

In the lab, the research chimpanzees were separated into artificial same-sex social groups. Now that they’re in sanctuary, we’re working to introduce males and females to form mixed-sex social groups. Learn more about our chimpanzee socialization program in our September 2018 update and see how the 10 female #newchimps are settling into their new life…

After 28 years in a lab, “Precious,” a female research chimpanzee with chronic kidney disease, reached permanent retirement in a forested sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains yesterday. There, she will live the remainder of her life with the opportunity to climb trees in a forest, forage under an open sky and, eventually, choose her…

“On a sunny Tuesday in May, 11-year-old Hercules made a brave move and ventured outside alone. He moved slowly at first, looking at the ground and shaking his head before walking across 2 acres of forest to observe the sights and sounds around him. Not far behind him was Leo, also 11, who ran forward…

On World Photography Day, we asked our talented chimpanzee caregiver and photographer, Crystal Alba, to talk about how she photographs the residents of Project Chimps. Crystal’s images include candid, intimate portraits of the chimps that help us connect with our friends and followers, allowing them to peek behind the scenes at the sanctuary. Here, Crystal…

Project Chimp is preparing to welcome 10 new female chimpanzees to the sanctuary, but we need help to get them here. If all goes well, the group will arrive in late August and join Marlon’s group under the same roof in Chimps Ahoy Villa (formerly Villa 3). Chimps Ahoy Villa was generously made possible by…

Preparing for the arrival of new chimpanzees is a major task, as Ali Crumpacker explains in our July news. Learn more about the process of bringing former research chimps to sanctuary, see Eddie and Jason together in the Peachtree Habitat, and meet the woman who is helping to transform the sanctuary grounds into a sustainable,…

Project Chimps has welcomed three Atlanta residents to its board of directors, Amber Nash and Simon and Helen Law. Project Chimps is a non-profit sanctuary for chimpanzees retired from medical research, located in the mountains of North Georgia. Amber Nash is an Atlanta-based actress best known for her role as Pam Poovey on the Emmy…

Choose your favorite chimpanzee for the cover of our upcoming 2019 Project Chimps Calendar! Caregiver/photographer, Crystal Alba, has chosen five of her favorite images for you to vote on. Will it be Gertrude, Stirlene, Loretta, Almasi, or Noel? The contest is open through July 23, so VOTE NOW!  

Meet Project Chimps on the first-everWorld Chimpanzee Day, Saturday, July 14. World Chimpanzee Day was created to celebrate chimpanzees, our closest cousin. It’s a day to raise awareness about chimpanzees, learn about the threats they’re facing (and what we can do to help), and promote the proper care of chimps when they can’t be in…

In our June News, Ali Crumpacker reflects on what Koko the gorilla taught us about communication, as many mourned her passing. Read about Gertrude and Jason’s second encounter in our chimpanzee introduction program; and meet our new board members Amber Nash and Helen & Simon Law.

Project Chimps Executive Director Ali Crumpacker describes her experiences with wildlife observation in Africa and at Project Chimps. In this issue we also welcome our first intern, Fred Rubio, and recap Hercules and Leo’s first experience in our outdoor Peachtree Habitat. Read more in our May news.

Emma graced the cover of the May/June issue of All Animals magazine! All Animals is the award-winning, bimonthly membership publication of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection organization, backed by more than 10 million people. The article was written by Emily Smith and features beautiful photos of the…