Harmony
Celebrate HARLEY’s 15th birthday!
Despite her distinctive brow ridge, which can give the impression of a perpetual grumpy expression, Harley’s playful nature shines through as she engages in daily challenges with her caregivers and enjoys spirited playtime with her groupmates Sarah and Amy.
Read MoreAlpha Kareem Diagnosed with Probable Cancer
Project Chimps is sharing the sad news that Kareem, a celebrated alpha male at the sanctuary, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Dr. Jim McClearan, DVM was on site yesterday to check in on Kareem and to inform the sanctuary staff of the distressing report.
Read MoreChimp Time at the Sanctuary
By Marissa Pena We’re always thinking about chimp time here at Project Chimps, but what exactly does that mean? As readers of the blog are aware, our mission is to provide former research chimpanzees with exemplary lifelong care. In order to do that, it’s important to provide a consistent schedule built around the specific needs…
Read MoreThe Gift that Gives Back: Meet Laurie
Philanthropy is often the gift that gives back, and Laurie reflects on the far-reaching impacts that her generosity has had on charities like Project Chimps over the years.
Read MoreStop Keeping Pet Chimps
By Kat West We can all agree that chimps are cute. But we also know they are wild animals and shouldn’t be kept as pets. Not everyone understands this, however. Although it’s illegal in many countries like the U.K. it is still legal in the United States. The Captive Primate Safety act aims to change…
Read MoreThe Role of “Auntie” in Female Chimps
Chimps have these ambiguous female figures too! Growing up without their mom, our orphaned lab chimps rely even more heavily on the guidance of older influences.
Older female chimps who take young female groupmates under their metaphorical wing, I call “aunties.” But really, they’re just old ladies showing young girls the ropes.
From Studying Chimps to Seeing Chimps
Studying chimps in her textbooks, India ultimately discovered, does not compare to meeting them in real life. She remembers her first day at Project Chimps clearly, because on this day she came face to face with a chimp for the first time.
Read MoreBig Girls, Little Girls, Middle Girls: Female Chimps Learn From Each Other
When chimps come to sanctuary, they may be interacting with other chimps (or chimps of the opposite sex) for the first time. They may fail to understand social norms, and feel awkward, unsure, or anxious around other chimps. These interactions can be tricky because the chimps haven’t learned lessons that mom usually instills during childhood.
Read MoreThe BCS – Weight Management for Captive Chimpanzee Populations
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.
Read MoreDo chimps eat insects?
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.
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