Day in the Life of a Former Research Chimpanzee
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a former research chimpanzee looks like? Well, you’re in luck! Stay tuned to learn how one young chimpanzee spends her day at Project Chimps sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
A Bit About Arielle
Arielle lives with her groupmates in Chimps Ahoy villa, led by alpha male Kirk and alpha female Lindsey. At just 16, Arielle is not only the youngest female in her group, but also the youngest female chimpanzee in the entire sanctuary.
She has a fun and quirky personality and is always full of energy. Flo, a behavior intern observing the Chimps Ahoy group, said about Arielle:
“Not only is she very, very cute, but she is also cheeky, mischievous, and just so funny. She loves attention and has her ways to get it.”
Arielle’s Social Life
As a young chimp, Arielle normally spends her time with other young girls like Mandy, Kyrstin, and Roxy. But lately Arielle has become quite socially adventurous, approaching higher ranking males like Kirk, Rocko, Bozo, and Roy. She is quite the extroverted chimpanzee!
“Arielle is very energetic and loves to be in the center of attention. She plays a lot and is always involved in everything. It didn’t matter which chimp I was observing, Arielle was usually there at one point. She can be a little dramatic as well. When she bothers other chimps and gets corrected, she will make a whole drama out of it and will seek reinsurance from alpha Kirk, who definitely has a soft spot for her.”
Arielle’s Daily Routine
Just like humans, the day in the life of a former research chimpanzee consists of a routine. Like the rest of her group, Arielle gets up around 8 am for breakfast.
“During breakfast, Arielle loves to annoy other chimps by tagging them or making her unique raspberries in their faces…Where other chimps mostly use their lips, Arielle uses her whole face to make a very interesting sound that you can recognize from far away!”
“She especially likes to bother Rusty, the oldest chimp of the group who is usually very patient with her.”
After breakfast, Arielle likes to snuggle up with her blanket in a hammock for a good nap. When she wakes up, she is ready for more fun!
“On habitat days, she is usually one of the first to go out and races to the termite mound. She is very particular with her tools and always puts in a lot of effort to find the best stick possible for this job!”
Once Arielle finds the perfect tool, she’ll use it to fish peanut butter and oats out of the mock termite mound. While wild chimpanzees use sticks to fish for real termites, these mock structures filled with treats provide important enrichment for the chimps at the sanctuary without needing to bring in real insects.
After that, Arielle will just explore the sanctuary. She’ll carry around a blanket, stick, or toy around for the rest of the day while she plays. Then she comes in to eat dinner, enjoy her enrichment, and go sleep so that she’s ready for the next day.
Donate to Support Arielle’s Care
Arielle and the other chimpanzees at the sanctuary can spend their days like this thanks to everyone who helps the sanctuary grow at Project Chimps. If you enjoyed reading about a day in the life of a former research chimpanzee, consider becoming a chimpanzee sponsor! By sponsoring one of the currently featured chimps on our sponsorship page, you can opt-in to special email updates about your sponsored chimp throughout the year. Or, you can visit our ways-to-give or donation page to help support the chimps and their continued care. Anything helps to keep Arielle and the other chimpanzees here happy.
