First Time Outside for Former Research Chimps
At Project Chimps, a sanctuary dedicated to caring for former research chimpanzees, life is full of firsts. For many former research chimps, their first time outside is one of the biggest. But even though every Project Chimps resident has the choice to enter the habitat, not every chimp does.
This was especially true for alpha Prince’s group, which at one point housed the highest number of “indoor-only” chimps. Out of nineteen chimps, seven—Dawn, Vicky, Jessie, Babette, Muttie, Bobby, and Paul—consistently chose staying indoors over entering the habitat with their peers.
However, thanks to some key changes powered by donors and lots of caregiver support, that’s no longer the case! Three of the original seven “indoor” chimps have started joining the rest of their group in the habitat. In honor of Giving Tuesday and the holiday season, we’re sharing their stories as a reminder of the new beginnings you make possible every day.
Dawn’s Transformation
Growing up in research labs, it makes sense some chimps might arrive at the sanctuary a little out of shape. Wild chimpanzees spend their days climbing, swinging, and often walking great distances to find food. Meanwhile, the average research chimp has far fewer opportunities for exercise.
When Dawn arrived at Project Chimps, she was significantly overweight and struggled to move easily. While she joined her group on their first day in the habitat, for a long time her first time outside was also her only time outside.
Dawn’s caregivers put her on a specially tailored health plan designed to address her specific needs. As a result, she lost nearly 50 pounds of excess weight and gained both confidence and mobility. Then, after almost two years of staying indoors, Dawn went outside again!
“It was really exciting,” recalled India, a caregiver who’s worked with Prince’s group since their arrival in 2022. “Once she lost the extra weight, she was able to climb and brachiate and do all these other things. I wonder if part of her choice to stay inside was because she couldn’t go into the habitat the way the other chimps did, and now she can.”
Dawn has continued going out ever since her first time outside. She’s even become one of her group’s most adventurous explorers, often journeying farther and staying out longer than her peers. With Dawn’s decision, change was coming, and it was only the beginning!
Changes in Chateau
Dawn’s change of heart added new fuel to discussions about a possible “flip” in Chateau. As Project Chimps’ largest building, Laurie and Carlee McGrath Chateau is unique because it houses two groups on opposite sides.
At the time, Binah’s group lived on side “A” closer to the kitchen, which was then undergoing major renovations. Caregivers noticed all the commotion from construction seemed to work up a few more anxious members of Binah’s group. They suggested flipping the two groups, putting Prince’s group on “A” side and Binah’s group on “B” side.
According to Alyssa Wren, the supervisor of Chateau, this flip would have several benefits.
“It had been a goal of mine to flip the Chateau chimps every now and again for enrichment,” she said. “Chimps tend to grow and become bold when they feel confident in whatever space they occupy, not just whatever space occupies them. It’s all in their perspective, and sometimes something simple like a move unlocks this perspective in their mind.”
While Binah’s group had previously lived on the other side, this would be a completely new space for Prince’s group. And for those indoor chimps, caregivers thought it might encourage some of them to try going out now that they could see the other side of the habitat.
Brave Steps for Bobby
This turned out to be exactly the case for Bobby!
At just 18, Bobby is the youngest chimp in his group and an occasional troublemaker. Like Dawn, he’d also been outside once, but after that first time outside he chose to stay indoors.
“He’s kind of a chaos agent,” said India. “I’d assume he’d have a really good time in the habitat displaying at other groups and being his energetic self, but he didn’t seem interested until around the time of the flip. We started to see him standing outside the tunnel door and looking out, but if he noticed anyone watching, he’d come back in. It was almost like he was testing the waters but didn’t want any attention. Then suddenly, he was just outside! He’s been making rounds, and while he doesn’t go as far as Dawn, he goes out regularly.”
“I’ve seen this over the years when we’ve moved groups from villa to villa,” Alyssa explained. “Chimps that were too nervous to use hoppers suddenly use them, chimps that once held rooms start shifting with their group, chimps that hated oranges start giving them a try, or chimps that never went outside go for a little jaunt. Those little victories look different for every chimp, but we celebrate them all the same. The idea and the freedom to take up space gives way to agency. That’s what we want to see for these guys.”
Because the flip allowed Prince’s group to see into the habitat from a different vantage point, the change in perspective could’ve been exactly what Bobby needed to give the outdoors another try… and he wasn’t alone!
Vicky’s Unexpected Breakthrough
According to her caregivers, Vicky has always had a unique way of doing things.
“She’s funny,” said India. “Instead of walking, she tends to sprint as fast as she can to different locations. Instead of climbing down like most chimps, she just kind of drops into a room from the platforms. If we’re shifting them into the cubbies out of the bedroom, rather than walking through a door, she swings through feet first and you won’t necessarily know where she’s coming from. She’s just kind of goofy in the way she likes to move and do things.”
Like Dawn and Bobby, Vicky was another chimp who had only ever gone outside once. But while Bobby had started showing interest in the habitat before going outside again, there were no signs with Vicky.
“It was just really unexpected. I hoped by flipping them where they could see the other side that some of them might go out. That happened with Bobby pretty much immediately, but it wasn’t a guarantee anyone else would. I just remember someone asking me, ‘is Vicky outside?’ and I said ‘oh, I don’t know,’ not really thinking about it. I looked up and there she was, just sitting on a platform out in the habitat. It was like ‘Oh! I guess she is!’”
Since then, Vicky has continued to go outside with the rest of her group. While her caregivers occasionally spot her sitting with her friends Melanie or Manetta, often she seems to prefer lounging on the platforms or exploring by herself.
“It seems like now, even when the rest of her group is inside, she’ll still be out there,” India remarked.
What’s Next for These Chimps?
Today, Prince’s group looks a bit different! Dawn, Bobby, and Vicky have grown so much since their first time outside, but they aren’t the only ones who’ve changed.
Project Chimps’ mission is to provide chimpanzees in need with exemplary lifelong care while educating and inspiring humanity. Four chimps in Prince’s group still prefer to stay inside, and that’s okay.
“I think sometimes, them going out into the habitat is a dream we have for them,” said India. “And there are practical reasons we’d want them to. It’s good exercise, it’s enriching, it shows they’ve built confidence, and it even helps us clean the villas more easily. But if they don’t want to go out, it’s not the end of the world. There’s still plenty of enrichment and ways to exercise inside, and we’ll still do our best to clean by shifting them into different areas.”
Although the choice to go outside is left up to the chimps, they have a whole team cheering them on! Kris Dyer, our Behavior Coordinator, helps support “indoor only” chimps when they begin showing interest in the habitat.
“Kris does positive reinforcement training that helps encourage them to go into the tunnel consistently,” Alyssa explained. “The hope is that the next time we flip, maybe we’ll get a new batch of outdoor chimps!”
How You Can Help
No matter where a chimp is in their journey, our mission remains the same. Your generosity helps provide the care, enrichment, and new outdoor spaces that make these new beginnings possible.
“That’s the main thing of helping them gain confidence and trust in their new lives here,” said India. “They have to do it themselves, and we can’t force it. But once they do start to gain confidence, you see it all the time, in all these different ways.”
This holiday season, please consider making a gift to support the chimps and their next steps toward freedom and discovery. With your help, they can continue to explore, grow, and just focus on being chimps.
Thank you so much for supporting these chimps and their continued care at Project Chimps. By donating today, you can help them experience not just their first time outside, but a lifetime of firsts. Because of you, they can thrive!
