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Bo matures into alpha of Cedar Tree

By Joseph Elliott It’s been a year and a half since separate groups of six males and nine females were put together to form Bo’s group at the Cedar Tree villa. It’s turned out to be a great learning experience both for the chimps and the caregivers alike. In theory, it makes some sense to…

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Chimps’ intelligence stands out for interns

When Victoria Washington reflects on her summer internship at Project Chimps, chimpanzee intelligence stands out the most. “They are really smart, especially when it comes to trading and using tools,” said the recent graduate of Auburn University. “I was really excited to get to see that in person. I think that was the most amazing…

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Vaughn adds valuable experience to medical clinic

After 40 years in the medical field, Mike Vaughn decided to take some time off from the emergency room. In the meantime, he’s putting his skills to use with a new type of medical clinic. Following an Appalachian Trail hike with his son in April 2020, Mike spent the past year pouring himself into volunteer work…

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Kneisel paints ‘Kareem’s Dream’ mural in renovated villa

“Kareem’s Dream.” That’s what artist Leslie Kneisel dubbed the eye-catching mural she painted inside the newly-renovated Dorothy Jo & Tilly Villa at Project Chimps. Her work combines a colorful, expansive forest scene with elements of Project Chimps’ outdoor habitat. It also features its namesake, Kareem, one of the sanctuary’s most notable residents. “The chimps have…

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Millgard celebrates 103rd birthday at Project Chimps

Frances Millgard celebrated an extraordinary milestone in an extraordinary place. Frances, a resident of Young Harris, Ga., spent her 103rd birthday getting her first up close and personal look at chimpanzees during a tour of the Project Chimps sanctuary on March 7. She and her son, Jack, were given a guided tour around the forested habitat, stopping to view chimps at observation windows.

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Coronavirus Response Update

Oscar chimp laying sideways on a hammock outdoors

As the threat of the Coronavirus continues, Project Chimps’ executive director, Ali Crumpacker, outlines more of the measures we are taking to ensure the short-term and long-term health of the chimps and our Project Chimps family.

Here are some of the things we are doing now, with the caveat that the situation is extremely fluid and that some of these actions may be revised in the days and weeks to come, in keeping with government and industry recommendations.

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Chimps Leo & Ray’s Excellent Adventure

The day started out routinely, with our team checking on the
chimps, feeding their breakfast and cleaning their enclosures. But then the radios start squawking as the chatter between caregivers becomes an excited cacophony.

The message finally became clear: “Leo is outside!”

Chimpanzee Caregiver Samantha Jones recounts the story of former research chimps Leo and Ray’s brave first steps into the forest at Project Chimps.

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Focus on Chimps

Chimpanzee Lucky sitting among fallen leaves

Project Chimps sanctuary now hosts a one-day wildlife photography workshop. In the first session, held in Oct. 2019, eight participants get to went behind the scenes to photograph chimpanzees in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Working fast and furious to help chimps

chimp sits in a blue hanging barrel

It was a warm spring morning and Christy Jellets was waste deep in muddy water. The dirty liquid roiled around her as she worked, hands well below the surface and out of sight, to repair a clogged culvert at Project Chimps.

While her team members were busy welding chimpanzee enclosures and clearing fallen brush, Christy noticed a job that needed immediate attention. So she jumped in…

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