Donate Water Bottles for Chimp Enrichment

By Ari D’Arconte

Here at Project Chimps, we use all forms of enrichment to make sure that the chimps are properly enriched. Today we will share how we use donated water bottles for enrichment activities and how you can donate water bottles to help!

Water Bottle Enrichment

There are a few different activities that the caregivers use water bottles for. One of these is called “icees”; basically frozen water with sugar-free flavoring to create a chilly treat for a hot day. Or if bananas are also donated, oftentimes they freeze the bananas and turn them into smoothies.

Caregiver Jill shared some of the ways she uses water bottles. “One is frozen Raisin bottles, basically water with some raisins in there. They have to dig the raisins out of the frozen water which takes a long time.” This way the chimps get to practice foraging and mimic behaviors similar to those they would use in the wild. (Of course, in the wild they are unlikely to come across fruit inside ice blocks, but it mimics similar types of situations!)

Another enrichment is called “container smears”, which is a mix of peanut butter, apple sauce, or other sticky foods thinned with water. Then it is frozen just enough that when the water bottle is shaken, it sticks to the sides. Again, the chimps have to put work into getting the treat out.

How to Donate Water Bottles

Project Chimps is the best place to donate used water bottles!

We mainly use the 16- to 20-ounce water bottles. However, we also use gallon and half-gallon milk jugs. (Do not donate soda bottles as those are usually thicker and not preferred.) We disinfect all donated bottles; but we cannot use them if they are moldy before they get here – so wash them out at home first!

To donate, we have a large box on the porch at the Gatehouse (2031 Lowery Road, Morganton, GA 30560). Just drive up and place all of your donations in there!

If you are not in the area, or do not have water bottles to donate, you can donate some of the goodies we put inside the water bottles from our wishlist!