The Chimp Life

At Chimp Haven, more than 300 chimpanzees retired from biomedical research are living the good life – or, as we like to call it, the Chimp Life.

What is the Chimp Life?

At Chimp Haven, chimpanzees who have spent their lives in biomedical research experience many of the joys they would have enjoyed in the wild: climbing trees, living in large, bonded social groups, eating their favorite fruits, running, playing, exploring, and — best of all — choosing how they spend their days.

Family Groups

Chimp Troops

Like humans, chimpanzees are very social creatures. In the wild, they live in mixed-sex troops of 20 – 100 chimpanzees. At Chimp Haven, the chimps are given the same opportunity to live in large, dynamic family groups. Troop sizes at Chimp Haven typically range from 3 – 20 chimpanzees with an average group size of 10 chimps.

Chimp Haven has conducted hundreds of successful chimpanzee introductions, and, with a wide variety of family groups and living spaces, we’re able to find the perfect family for every chimp.

Family Groups

Social Structures

Social structures for chimpanzees are fission-fusion, which means members may split into smaller groups throughout the day, but then may come back together in the evening for a meal, or just to spend time together. Chimpanzees are also territorial, and, like they would in the wild, the residents at Chimp Haven patrol the boundaries of their territories each day looking for possible intruders. Many of the groups at Chimp Haven, like Alpha’s group, relish in their daily patrols.

Habitat

Living Spaces for All

Chimp Haven is nestled among 200 acres of forested land in northwest Louisiana. The sanctuary provides a variety of enclosures and living spaces designed to meet every chimp’s needs, all of which give the chimps 24/7 indoor/outdoor access so they can decide where and how they’d like to spend their days.

In 2005, Chimp Haven’s first chimpanzee residents, Rita and Theresa, experienced a forested habitat for the very first time with their family group. Within days the first chimps were spotted climbing trees and within weeks the first chimpanzee nests were found in the forest.

Habitat

Indoor / Outdoor

With multiple forested habitats available throughout the sanctuary, the Chimp Haven retirees enjoy indulging in “wild chimpie behaviors” like climbing trees, building nests, foraging, and patrolling the perimeter of their habitat with their chimp friends.

Many other enclosures and living enclosures are also available for chimps and family groups who might need or prefer cozier spaces. All of the spaces allow the chimps 24/7 indoor/outdoor access.

Omnivorous

Fresh, Healthy Diets

Chimpanzees are omnivorous, which means that in the wild, they eat both plants and animals. At Chimp Haven, the chimps are provided with a fresh, healthy diet consisting of primate biscuits, fruits, vegetables, and food enrichment, all prepared fresh and delivered to the chimps daily by their dedicated caregivers.

In addition to their daily diets, the chimps are also provided with opportunities to forage through the vegetation for snacking, creating nests from the materials, or crafting tools. The chimps at Chimp Haven have been observed making use of native Louisiana plant species such as sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and elm (Ulmus spp.).

Health and Well-Being

Expert Veterinary Care

From the moment the chimps begin their journey to sanctuary, our veterinary team begins developing a personal relationship with each chimpanzee to ensure their health and well-being.

Each day this expert team visits every chimpanzee that lives at the sanctuary. They provide medications and conduct an array of services, from basic wellness examinations to dental care and other specialized therapies. Wellness and other physical exams may include ultrasounds, X-rays, and diagnostic blood work. Specialized treatments for ailments such as arthritis include joint supplements and laser therapy.

Chimp Haven’s Positive Reinforcement Training program invites the chimps to participate in their own healthcare, including our Gympanzee program, which matches a chimp with a staff member for physical activity.

Chimp Behavior

Daily Enrichment

Chimp Haven’s dedicated behavior team is the only one of its size at any U.S. sanctuary. This expert team develops tailored enrichment activities for every chimp at the sanctuary, 365 days per year. From sensory experiences like live music or dance performances, to challenging food puzzles that require the chimpanzees to use a tool to fish out hidden goodies, there’s no limit to the creative activities our enrichment team produces. These daily enrichment activities mimic the novel experiences chimpanzees would encounter in the wild and keep our retirees mentally and emotionally flourishing.

Chimp Life

Freedom to Choose

While Chimp Haven works hard to provide everything a chimpanzee could want in retirement, perhaps the most important element is the freedom to choose. Whether it’s outside, sunbathing on their favorite platform, inside napping with a friend, practicing their Positive Reinforcement Training with staff, or charming their favorite caregiver for some juice, the chimps run the show here at Chimp Haven. That’s why we like to call life at the sanctuary the “Chimp Life.”

Here, the chimps get the freedom to choose how, where, and with whom they spend their days. They’ve earned it.