Posts Tagged ‘enrichment’
Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Do Chimps Recognize Themselves at All?
Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, meaning we share a lot in common. Self-recognition might be one of those things, because along with the other great apes, chimpanzee mirror recognition is a well-known phenomenon. They are one of the species to have passed the mirror test and even use mirrors like a human would.
Read MoreHow Chimpanzees Use Tools
Out in the wild, chimpanzee tool use is necessary for their survival. It’s the same for humans and other primates as well. And just like us, chimpanzees have different cultures and tool usage depending on where they live. Different places require different innovations.
Read MoreDay in the Life of a Former Research Chimpanzee
Arielle is the youngest female chimpanzee at Project Chimps and is loved by the keepers for her fun quirky personality. She spends much of her time socializing with the other chimps in the Chimps Ahoy villa, using the mock termite mound, and generally causing mischief.
Read MoreMounds and Mounds of Treats!
Termites are a natural part of chimpanzee diets, and big reason we understand how intelligent they are. They use tools like us! So how do we encourage this amazing behavior without the risk of our villas being eaten away? With artificial termite mounds of treats of course!
Read MoreAn Enriching Scout Project for All
On April 12, 2025, Duncan Lawrence’s Eagle Scout project came to fruition at the enrichment building at Project Chimps. 17-year-old Duncan is with Troop 101 of Blairsville, Georgia, and was the brains behind creating a display of enrichment items. The Scouts mounted this display on the enrichment building between the garage doors. It included examples…
Read MoreThe Artistic Mind of a Chimpanzee Painter
By James Oatis Have you heard about a chimpanzee painter? Chimpanzees are the closest animals to humans as they share 98% of our DNA. Because of this similarity, and their obvious intelligence, anthropologists and scientists became curious if chimpanzees had a sense of artistry. The answer to this question is very complex and can be…
Read MoreChimpanzee Intelligence: The Vala-chimp-torians of the Sanctuary
By James Oatis Chimpanzee intelligence is not in question here. In scientific circles, a common fascination comes from the intelligence of animals. From elephants to dolphins, scientists have found many animals that have gained a reputation for being wise or smart. It is important, however, to distinguish human and animal intelligence as most of the…
Read MoreDo chimps get bored?
While Leo loves the newspaper, he only sees it about once or twice a week. This is to keep the newspaper as a treat and preserve Leo’s fondness for it.
Read MoreDonate Water Bottles for Chimp Enrichment
Today we will be talking about how we use donated water bottles for some of these enrichment activities, and how you can donate your used water bottles to help.
Read MoreSimple Toys
Chimps love a good puzzle. Sometimes though, complex puzzles and toys aren’t for every chimp. A squeaky toy can be all a chimp needs to have fun and Paul knows this. His favorite toy is as simple as they come, but he wont let that stop him from having fun.
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