When one door closes, a chimp has probably broken it

The most common maintenance repairs at the world’s largest chimp sanctuary

Working with chimpanzees is not for the faint of heart; they are skillful, smart, and in some cases, looking for trouble. As you can probably imagine, they keep their caregivers on their toes every day as we navigate ways to keep them safe, happy, and healthy.

One of the first things you learn when you work with chimps is how impressive their strength is. It’s clear from the start they are the most powerful creature in the room, and I never get tired of watching their incredible displays of strength. Most of the time this involves lots of pant hooting, impressive karate kicks, or effortless throwing of the furniture items that furnish their bedrooms (barrels, crates, or stools; anything they can manipulate and use with these displays in mind, as they are an important part of chimpanzee society).

It’s no surprise, then, that the most common repairs at the sanctuary are door repairs. All chimpanzee bedroom areas have what we call “shifting doors” which lead to other bedrooms or to their outdoor areas. During displays it’s not uncommon for large furniture items to come in contact with the tracks the doors run on, bending them out of shape.

Usually, a big, strong chimp and a large barrel does the most damage. Barrels make for a great resting place on a hot day, or a means for the chimps to live out their dreams of throwing shotput in the Olympics! Lucky for us, our incredible maintenance team are pros at fixing these kinds of mishaps.

While the chimps love to show off with their furniture, they really don’t need any tools to cause chaos. When their caregivers open or close their bedroom doors, which operate on a pully system, sometimes they like to remind us who’s in charge. Iris is especially talented at this feat and has broken many a shift door in her days here at Chimp Haven.

When they’re done causing mischief indoors, it’s time to move outside. Large-scale outdoor structures are a central part of the chimps’ outdoor play areas – they’re frequent social hotspots, and a great place for the chimps to lounge in the sun or get some exercise climbing and exploring the multiple levels of the structure…they’re also high on the list of the most frequently repaired items at the sanctuary.

Wood planks are nothing to a chimpanzee and they love to rearrange their living spaces. Often we’ll walk by yards and find missing boards or a ramp leading to a structure that is askew. The big boys love to get on the very top to see if they can make the structure sway beneath them. Ramps can be for climbing or used as a trampoline – it all depends on your imagination!

One thing is for certain: There is never a dull day when you work with chimpanzees. The list of tasks and fixes are never ending. Lucky for us, we have an incredibly dedicated team with some amazing problem-solving skills. We don’t always outwit the chimps, but we can usually manage to repair any damage their creativity causes.

Camilla Wilkey

Animal Care Coordinator