Posts Tagged ‘enrichment’
Outside Looking In: Enrichment
We all have these preconceived notions of what we think we know about chimps, myself included. It’s not our fault, really; we only know what we are taught. But trust me when I say that no carefully crafted nature documentary or Hollywood film could do them any justice.
Read MorePositive Reinforcement Training – PRT with an EKG
If you know anything about chimps, you know you can’t make a chimp do anything it doesn’t want to do! If you need to, for example, listen to Kareem’s heartbeat with a stethoscope, that is absolutely not happening unless Kareem wants you to. This is where Positive Reinforcement Training, or PRT, comes into play.
Read MoreThe Tire Tower
In honor of Earth Day, we bring you a special update about a brand new climbing structure we just installed today in the Peachtree Habitat for the chimps! It is entirely made out of old tires that were headed to the landfill, left-over paint that was going to be discarded, about $25 worth of hardware, and Caregiver Aide Alyssa’s imagination.
Read MoreLuke discovers his hidden musical talent
This past week, we brought an electric piano into several of the villas for the chimps to investigate if they chose to. Some chimps, like twins Buttercup and Charisse, were immediately interested and could not wait to tap out a few notes. Others, like Emma, were more interested in trying to take it apart. And then, there was Luke. Who was simply waiting to show off his hidden musical talent!
Read MoreVolunteer Megan Hume finds Zen in Helping Chimps
When a friend at her yoga studio mentioned they should raise money for a nearby sanctuary that housed chimpanzees retired from scientific testing, volunteer Megan Hume was intrigued and excited…
Read MoreChimps Watch the “Human Parade”
Project Chimps volunteer and Australian expat Gordon Hewett describes the ways human visitors serve as enrichment for former research chimpanzees during sanctuary tours.
Read MoreLocal Volunteers Keep Chimp Sanctuary in the Swing
Volunteers are the backbone of a wildlife sanctuary like Project Chimps. On April 6, 2019, the sanctuary honored local volunteers for their more than 7,300 hours of service to former research chimpanzees in 2018.
Read MorePlush Chimps “Adopted” by Former Research Chimps
Would you eat an Icee in the dead of winter? Chimpanzees will and they seem to love it!
Noel and the other former research chimpanzees at Project Chimps didn’t hesitate when caregivers served them giant frozen blocks of juice and other enrichment items as part of a special February celebration for the chimps.
Read MoreA Head for Figures, A Heart for Animals
As her love for chimpanzees grew, so did Sandi’s involvement in the day-to-day operations of the sanctuary. In addition to counting fruit, she also takes board meeting minutes, does data entry, calls donors to thank them for their support, and updates medical records for the veterinarian department.
Read MoreChimpanzee Caregiver Takes Chimp Fun Seriously
Chimpanzee caregiver Jill Mullen has the best job ever – creating fun and enriching activities for former research chimps at the Project Chimps sanctuary.
Enrichment is a vital to creating a stimulating environment for the chimps who, after years in research labs, will spend the rest of their lives at the sanctuary. Enrichment can include new foods, smells and toys, and activities that provide the chimps with opportunities to forage, learn and play as they would in the wild.
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