Former Research Chimps Explore Outdoors for the First Time

Lance looks up at the open sky on his first day outdoors at Project Chimps.

Research chimpanzees who have spent their entire lives in captivity explored an outdoor forest habitat for the first time today. Project Chimps, a 236-acre sanctuary for chimpanzees formerly used in biomedical research in laboratories, released the chimps to freely explore a six-acre, forested habitat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia.

Nine female and six male chimpanzees, ranging in age from 11 to 27, were given access to the enclosed, natural habitat in two separate groups. All/nearly all took advantage of the opportunity.

The chimps’ vocalized in alarm calls, then pant hoots of excitement. Their expressions ranged from excitement, wonder, fear, trepidation and intense curiosity. They hugged one another in reassurance and foraged for food and plant materials on the forest floor, as they would have in the wild. The chimps did not initially attempt to climb the trees outdoors but did explore both forested and grassy areas. They also playfully banged on the shatterproof viewing windows in the enclosure’s perimeter wall.

Chimpanzee caregivers placed pomegranates and other foods in the outdoor habitat to encourage the chimps to explore. It was their option to go outside or remain in the sanctuary’s large indoor housing.

“This was the first time in their lives that these chimpanzees could exercise their free will with regard to their environment,” said Ali Crumpacker, executive director of Project Chimps.

“Imagine never having stepped outside your own home and only knowing carpet or your porch under your feet. That’s what it was like for these chimps,” said Crumpacker, adding, “Today was a monumental day in their lives.”

As the newest chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States, Project Chimps was created to provide exemplary lifelong care for more than 200 chimpanzees now retired from the University of Louisiana’s New Iberia Research Center (NIRC). In 2015, NIRC made the decision to move its entire population of chimpanzees in phases to Project Chimps beginning in 2016. To date, 31 chimps have been transferred to their permanent home in the sanctuary. Approximately 20 additional chimps are expected to join them in the first half of 2018.

Project Chimps purchased a former gorilla sanctuary near Blue Ridge, Georgia, in 2015. The facility includes several great ape housing “villas,” a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, a kitchen made possible by Rachael Ray, new outdoor habitat, and a large chimp-introduction building where chimpanzee groups will be integrated and socialized.

The new, outdoor “Peachtree Habitat,” as it was dedicated today, was made possible by donations from Project Chimps founding board member Marsha Perelman, the American Anti-Vivisection Society, Solid Security Perimeter Solutions, and the National Anti-Vivisection Society.

Project Chimps plans to build three additional outdoor habitats with companion indoor/outdoor housing. The sanctuary was developed with financial support from the Humane Society of the United States and many generous individual donors.

As a sanctuary, Project Chimps is not open to the public on a daily basis, although limited public events will be held on site in 2018. For more information, visit projectchimps.org.