Passion for Primates
By James Oatis
At Project Chimps, giving former research chimpanzees a comfortable and enjoyable retirement is not just our mission, it’s our passion. While much can be said about the chimps themselves, it’s the support and love from staff and volunteers that is the foundation of Project Chimps. Chimpanzee care is a very intensive and demanding job that requires constant attention. Therefore, it would not be possible without the staff’s love and care for the chimps.
Chimp Care by Numbers
Chimp care and their welfare is a costly endeavor. Chimpanzees can live a long time, up to 60 years in captivity[1]. Chimpanzees also require lots of food as they average 1000 calories a week[2]. Their diet of fresh vegetables and special chimp chow are a high cost depending on the season and grocery prices. Chimp healthcare is also a costly expense with many specialists needed to keep them healthy. There is not only a financial cost to chimp care as many hours of labor is needed to take care of them. But the staff at Project Chimps’ devotion for chimpanzee welfare outweigh the time and funds needed.
Testimony From Volunteers
For the past four years, Catharine Dunlap has been a volunteer at Project Chimps, primarily working in the kitchen. When asked about her favorite aspect of volunteering, she said the staff’s unwavering dedication to the residents was very special. “These young individuals could be talking about anything, yet they discuss the chimps.” The staff’s enthusiasm for the chimps also helped her get to know the chimps better, as they would discuss certain behaviors by the animals. She also recalls staff members completely dropping conversations with each other to react to chimps.
Caregiver Ashley details how the staff invests everything into their work. “The work is physically demanding but it’s a passion- a lifelong passion.” She cites an anecdote of a staff member mimicking a chimp’s specific vocalization flawlessly as the dedication to their craft. The staff also does a great job at making sure their relationships with the chimps are not too overbearing. They make sure the chimps maintain the strongest bonds with their fellow chimps.
A Comfortable Retirement
In 2014, the largest population of privately-owned chimpanzees, the University of Louisiana’s New Iberia Research Center (NIRC), partnered with Project Chimps to relocate former research chimps to the sanctuary in Georgia[3]. Here, the chimps can enjoy a life of comfort and leisure all thanks to the devotion of Project Chimps staff. To see the extraordinary effort needed to take care of a chimp, check out the Day in the Life of a Caregiver video on YouTube. The medical department also puts in a huge amount of effort to ensure the chimps are healthy[4]. The many exams and constant care required for chimpanzees cannot be done without the passion of the Project Chimps team.
If you would like to assist our passionate workers continue their devotion to chimp care, consider donating today. If you are in the North Georgia area, volunteers are always appreciated, and we encourage you to apply.
