Posts Tagged ‘project chimps’
A Matter of Chimp Poop
Perhaps dealing with chimp feces isn’t the most glamourous part of a chimpanzee caretaker’s day, but it’s certainly one of the most important. Like in other species (including us!), fecal consistency is a great indicator of overall health, so, caretakers must constantly assess the quality of, well, chimp poop!
Read MoreVaughn 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…
Read MoreGrand Opening of the Chimp Trails
The chimp trail system has been many years in the making. Its strengths lie in its accessibility, safety, and navigability.
Read MoreOutside 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 MoreKneisel 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…
Read MoreMillgard 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.
Read MoreAural Hematomas in Chimps
There is normally not a lot of space in this area of the ear so when it fills, it can be very tight and cause an uncomfortable amount of pressure. If due to trauma, there could be bacteria trapped inside and potentially lead to an abscess. As the body tries to fix itself, it sends a lot of its helper white blood cells and tries to remove the blood and repair the aural hematoma.
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 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 MoreCoronavirus Response Update
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.
Read More