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Chimps Leo & Ray’s Excellent Adventure

Leo at Project Chimps.

by Samantha Jones, Chimpanzee Caregiver

As a chimpanzee caregiver, I’ve learned there’s never a dull moment when working with chimpanzees.

And some days are game-changing. Here’s a flashback to one of my favorite days so far…

An unforgettable day

The day started out routinely, with our team checking on the chimps, feeding their breakfast and cleaning their enclosures. But then the radios start squawking as the chatter between caregivers becomes an excited cacophony.

The message finally became clear: “Leo is outside!”

Leo outdoors in the forested outdoor habitat for former research chimpanzees.

Meeting Hercules and Leo

When I joined Project Chimps more than a year ago, I was assigned to work inside Dorothy Jo & Tilly Villa (DJ&T). I was told that two very well-known chimps lived there: Hercules and Leo, along with seven other younger adolescent male chimps and five older females.

These 14 former research chimps quickly stole my heart and I’ve had the pleasure to work closely with them ever since. I’ve learned that each chimp has his or her own amazing personality and all are a joy to work with.

When I arrived, the males and females were not yet integrated into a single social group. They had been separated into same-sex groups in the lab to prevent breeding. Now at Project Chimps, they were still living side-by side, duplex style, in DJ&T Villa and going out into the Peachtree Habitat on alternating days.

Ray arrived from the lab with Hercules, Leo, and their group mates on March 21, 2018.

Their social integration would come, but that’s another story…

A very big day for Leo

This was Ray’s, Danner’s and Leo’s big day. And for reasons we happen to know, it was a VERY big day for Leo.

That’s because we know Leo’s history, thanks to the work of the Non-Human Rights Project.

Leo and Hercules spent their early years in a basement lab at a New York university walking upright with electrodes embedded into their muscles for the study of locomotion.

When the two finally made it to permanent sanctuary at Project Chimps, in March, 2018, we wondered if they would have the courage to go out into an unfamiliar outdoor environment.

Thankfully, they did.

Hercules led the way when his group had the first chance to go outdoors into a forest at Project Chimps.

Hercules steps out first

Hercules led the way and Leo and many of their group mates joined him. But not all. High-ranking Ray stayed indoors, as did Danner. Following that exciting day, Leo went back into their large-group villa.

He stayed indoors for more than a year, until a sunny day in the summer of 2019.

On a rotated schedule, the males and females took turns having access to the Peachtree Habitat. Even after being here for awhile, watching them enjoy the habitat is still one of my favorite things. It never gets old.

Every morning, we do a perimeter check inside the Peachtree Habitat and scatter foods like peanuts, sunflower seeds, cereal, to encourage the chimps to go outside and practice their natural foraging behaviors.

A great majority of the chimpanzees at Project Chimps investigate the outside habitat.

But not all.

Project Chimps features a forested outdoor habitat where former research chimps can roam with open sky overhead.

Leo and Ray hesitated

Five of the males in Leo’s group were going outside frequently (Kivuli, Oscar, Jacob, Hercules, and Binah). Kennedy liked to explore right outside of the villa, but never strayed too far. Ray, Leo, and Danner liked to hang out in the large mesh tunnel leading from the villa to the habitat, but didn’t go beyond the tunnel door. Until that day….

Leo still hadn’t been outside since that first day in spring the last year. We had put a chickpea scatter in the habitat, and I happened to be standing at the window near DJ&T Villa with caregivers Jill, Maddie and Leanne, watching Hercules and his group mates outdoors.

All of the “regulars” were outside and Ray was sitting in the tunnel door. Then he put a foot outside. Then two.

The radios blared as we announced, “Ray is outside!!”

Ray issued a loud pant-hoot of excitement on his first day outdoors at Project Chimps.

Out into the forest

Instead of running back indoors, Ray decided to come up all the way to the window where we were standing! We were all cheering for Ray when all of a sudden Danner jumped outside too! Danner had gone outdoors for the first few months after their arrival, but one day he stopped and we hadn’t seen him outdoors again.

The excitement was really building up now!

Danner didn’t stay out long, but we then spotted Leo standing at the end of the tunnel. We began cheering Leo on and then, to our surprise, he stepped out into the habitat!

We could barely contain ourselves at the window when I looked over to see caregiver and photographer Crystal cheering him on from her spot near the villa, where she was taking pictures.

Leo, right, pant hoots in excitement. Binah, left, went out to get Leo later that day and escorted him back inside for dinner.

So much excitement

Leo “alarm called” for a few moments (it sounds like someone loudly shouting “woo!” again and again) and quickly received reassurance from the other males. Emboldened, Leo kept on exploring and made it all the way over to Cedar Tree Villa across the habitat.

When it was time for dinner, Leo’s group mate Binah had to go back outdoors and bring Leo back to the villa.

Leo was having too much fun being outside.

Hercules and Leo share a moment outdoors. The two will never be used in research again.

Exploring, climbing and foraging

Since that day, Leo has continued to explore the forest. Now that his group lives in our newest and largest chimpanzee house, the Chateau, he has access to the south yard of the Peachtree Habitat, with new climbing structures and a mock termite mound.

Leo is frequently spotted sunning himself and observing the volunteers in the kitchen preparing meals and enrichment.

The forest was a scary and unfamiliar place for Leo, who now explores the outdoor habitat with greater confidence.

Looking back, it was such an exciting day. I was so happy to see Leo exploring the habitat and being able to be outside and embrace the freedom.

More chimps would follow

Since then, the radio has erupted again with shouts of excitement as other chimps like Bo, Genesis, Josh and Alex have ventured outdoors after months or years in sanctuary. Something in the air must make them brave! Whatever motivates them to take that leap, it’s wonderful to be able to experience chimpanzees enjoying sanctuary life.

Leo will always have a special place in my heart, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my days.

You can support Leo, Ray, and the other former research chimpanzees by making a recurring donation, sponsoring a chimp, or donating a much needed item our Amazon Wish List or Amazon Smile Wish List.

Photos by Crystal Alba.

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