Project Chimps Blog

Although she’s one of the lower ranking females in Harmony, Almasi is friends with all her group mates. Her name means “diamond” in Swahili and it definitely suits her sparkling personality. 

Volunteers serve as the foundation of many conservationist efforts. We aimed to acknowledge our volunteers’ efforts by honoring them at our annual Volunteer luncheon. Our VOY Award for this year was granted to Catharine Dunlap. To honor her experience, we asked Catharine some questions about her time here.

Ronald can look small compared to some of the larger chimps in his group. But, although he may be small in stature, he has a power all his own!

Rusty was born on April 25, 1985, making him the oldest chimp at the sanctuary! He’s a quintessential retired old man who prefers the simple things in life.

Jennifer (or Jenny) has always been very social, both with humans and her fellow chimps. Rather than just hanging out beside her sister, Gertrude, she seems to be enjoying the company of others. 

A crucial step for our ten-year anniversary is making Project Chimps more visible. To do this, our team constructed a sign for incoming visitors! Learn about our team’s installation process and how a sign directly helps our chimps.

When she first arrived, instead of spending time with her fellow chimps, Genesis spent most of her time alone. However, that’s no longer the case!

When she first arrived, Sophia was known for having a lot of attitude and spunk. Although initially very patient and polite with the other chimps, she learned the importance of standing her ground early on.

From the moment she arrived at Project Chimps back in 2016, Gracie stood out as a truly special chimpanzee.

With her towering presence and strong-willed nature, Babs has managed to secure the top spot among her female peers. She skillfully appeases the males while maintaining order among the younger females

Let’s kick back with a glass of grape juice and give a big shout out to Rocko. This chimp has charisma that grabs everyone’s heart who gets to know him. Navigating Rocko’s life hasn’t always been a walk in the park. Yet, his gritty tenacity and spirited nature have always sparkled brightly, securing him a high ranking position within his group at Chimps Ahoy.  

Anna, a fiercely clever and audacious chimp who’s successfully carved out a distinct niche in her group, spent over 23 years in research before coming to Project Chimps.

After over three decades in research, Dawn finally arrived at the sanctuary in June of 2022 and has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Over the past year and a half, Babette has flourished, becoming a higher-ranking female in her group at Side B of the Laurie & Carlee McGrath Chateau and forming strong bonds with her fellow females. Let’s take a closer look at Babette’s journey and the things that bring her joy.

Jabari delights in simple pleasures like any kind of food, ringed toys, and Kongs. But what sets him apart from the rest is his distinctive large head, earning him the affectionate nickname “football head.”