Bo inspecting a hibiscus flower.
SENSORY ENRICHMENT
Any activity that engages a chimpanzee's sense of taste, touch, smell, sight, or sound is considered sensory enrichment. Although our goal is to stimulate a different sense each day, we aim to provide them with a multi-sensory experience. Due to this category's broad nature, it often overlaps with the other types of enrichment.
What can you do to help?
It costs $3 per day to provide enrichment to each chimp. Make a contribution to the enrichment program here.
Have an idea to share? Check out the enrichment planning page to learn more.
THE FIVE SENSES
TASTE
Chimpanzees are highly motivated by food, so enrichments containing tasty treats are often their favorite. We offer hard treats like coconuts and walnuts to stimulate cognitive function and keep their attention as it would in the wild. They also enjoy a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, like bananas, oranges, squash, among many others.
SMELL
Chimpanzees love aromatics, so we'll add spices to their snacks, sprinkle them on blankets, and even into bubble baths. They also enjoy perfume, scented oils, and various other fragrant items as well.
TOUCH
To stimulate their sense of touch, we use an assortment of textiles and textured items. Since nest-building is common among chimpanzees, we provide them with an array of nesting materials such as wood wool, hay, shredded paper, and sometimes even banana leaves. Chimpanzees also love to play with cardboard boxes, blankets, and plush toys.
SIGHT
Like people, chimps are highly visual animals and benefit from all sorts of visual stimuli. Movies, colorful toys, and different patterns of fabric are just some of the ways we like to engage this sense. Caretakers will also wear masks and costumes and use bubble machines to make their visual experience more a fun and engaging.
HEARING
We like to engage their auditory sense by introducing different sounds. Sound machines, for example, are a great way to bring sounds from nature inside. They also enjoy the radio, television, and listening to music.
Almasi playing with cardboard boxes.
Danner playing with an orange ball & Lucky close behind.
Loretta palling around with her favorite stuffed chimp.
Rocko enjoying a snack on a sunny day.
SENSORY ENRICHMENT EXAMPLES
Boxes
Nest Building
Coconuts
Ball Pit
Bubbles
Snow
Our goal is to ensure each individual chimpanzee experiences the best quality of life and enjoys an enriching retirement at the sanctuary.
Won't You Help?
This project would not be possible without our many generous individual supporters and volunteers. We rely on donations to fulfill our mission, including caring for our existing residents and expanding the sanctuary to accommodate those chimpanzees still waiting in the lab.
Won’t you help us bring the remaining chimps to sanctuary by supporting Project Chimps today? Please donate today because...