The Alamogordo chimps are home

We have some very exciting news to share: The Alamogordo chimps are finally home at Chimp Haven!

We were thrilled to share an update last fall that these chimps, who had previously been deemed ineligible for sanctuary retirement, would at last get their chance to experience sanctuary. Now, just a few short months and several road trips later, they’ve arrived.

It’s a historic moment, following years of effort by animal welfare groups, lawmakers, and supporters who tirelessly advocated for their retirement from their former research facility to sanctuary. The arrival of the final group signifies the beginning of a new chapter – one filled new experiences, social bonds, and a retirement designed just for them.

Chimp Haven worked closely with the Alamogordo team to prepare and transport the APF chimps over the past 11 weeks, and with the recent arrival of the final six, their journey was complete. These chimpanzees are among the oldest and most fragile Chimp Haven has ever welcomed, with many in their 50s and 60s. Transferring them was considered risky due to their age and health conditions, and extra care and considerable collaboration have gone into making the transition to sanctuary life.

In addition to tireless advocacy efforts, Chimp Haven relied on the incredible generosity of private supporters to fund an expansion to ensure the APF chimps could come home. The project, which recently broke ground, includes new indoor bedrooms and outdoor play yards which will allow the chimps to engage in natural behaviors like foraging, climbing and resting, essential to their well-being. Construction was made possible through more than $5.6 million in private support, including an incredible $4 million lead gift established in 2024 from Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation and generous support from Grace Charitable Foundation, the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), and others.

We are, of course, beyond thrilled to have the Alamogordo chimps home, where they are settling in and, in some cases, already meeting new friends. Al and Kamaka were among the first chimps to make the journey from New Mexico to Louisiana in January. Since then, they’ve captured our hearts and have joined a new family, Tabu’s group.

As wild born chimps, Al and Kamaka would have been brought to the U.S. as babies, and to our knowledge, had not lived with female chimps since then. In Tabu’s group, they’ve met four ladies, including bold personalities in Roxanne and Wotoni. The boys have done wonderfully in their new family, and staff suspect Roxanne and Kamaka may be harboring a mild mutual crush as they’ve been seen grooming and playing frequently.

As the boys take their time learning to socialize with these two strong ladies, the rest of the group has provided reassurance, allowing their learning process to unfold smoothly. We can’t wait to see how their bonds continue to grow with their new groupmates.

As we watch the APF chimps get to know their new home, we can’t help but reflect on their incredible resilience. Again and again they remind us that it’s never too late to change, to have new experiences and adventures, and to make new friends. We’re honored to be able to provide them with a retirement of freedom and choice thanks to your support.

We look forward to sharing more about the APF chimps at Chimp Haven. In the meantime, we are so very grateful for everyone who made their journey possible.

Thank you for bringing them home.

Rana Smith

President & CEO