During my time at Chimp Haven I have come to know each and every chimpanzee that has called this place home and every one of them holds a special place in my heart.  Because we are a retirement sanctuary for chimpanzees used in biomedical research, we receive chimpanzees of older age and with differing health problems.  I have seen miraculous changes within many of the chimpanzees after being at Chimp Haven for only a short period.  Many of them are in failing health when they arrive.  After given space, a healthy diet and companionship I have seen the health of many chimpanzees improve in as little as a few weeks.  Unfortunately, I have also seen chimpanzees succumb to the aging process or illness.  The most difficult thing about working at Chimp Haven is having to say goodbye to chimpanzees that have passed on.  This past week I had to say goodbye to one of my old friends here, Junior.  Junior was estimated to be around 43 years of age when he passed away.  Junior arrived at Chimp Haven in January 2008.  When Junior arrived he looked like a frail old man.  He had severe periodontal disease, heart disease and he was stiff with arthritis. After starting a regimen of medications for his heart, teeth, and arthritis, Junior blossomed into a young chimpanzee again.  He was introduced to 2 females and 1 male.  He was very socially savvy and made friends quickly.  He loved his girls and was very protective of them.  He was also supportive of the only other male in his group Chaka, who is a special needs chimpanzee.

Junior was also a very friendly chimpanzee to us humans.  He loved for his head to be scratched with a spoon and when he felt frisky he would solicit a short game of chase.  Often before he would take his daily medications he would lead me on a few slow laps of chase around his yard before he would settle in to take his meds.  I will always remember Junior’s sweet little grey face and his charming personality. Junior is only one of the chimpanzees of whom we have lost here at Chimp Haven.  One way we memorialize chimpanzees that have passed on is with a memorial garden.  The memorial garden is a quiet space tucked awaay where staff can go to reflect or pay tribute to the chimpanzees that have passed on.  It is also open to the public on Discovery Days.  We are in the process of building up the garden and are currently looking for plants, landscaping donations, and/ or volunteers.  If you are interested in helping with donations or volunteering please contact us for more information.

~ Jennifer Whitfield

On May 11th, Chimp Haven was featured on PBS Newshour.    The discussion centered on the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research.  Here is a summary:

Medical experiments on chimpanzees can be invasive, involving injections, blood samples and liver biopsies. But some say it’s the only way to advance medicine. Miles O’Brien’s report explores whether there are ever instances in which the scientific value of research should offset the moral cost of working with chimps.

Newshour also posted a link online about the chimpanzees finding a way to breed despite, in some cases, multiple vasectomies.

And here are the links to the two online clips:

Biomedical Research Discussion

Vasectomies in Chimpanzees

People often inquire about what level of interaction the animal care staff at Chimp Haven have with the chimpanzees.  We interact with the chimpanzees in several different ways including painting, training, and playing with the chimps.   Play takes on a variety of forms from playing chase to tug-of-war to keep away of objects (the chimpanzees keep things away from us) to tickling.  Due to the chimpanzees’ incredible strength (chimpanzees are known to be anywhere from 6-10 stronger than an adult human male) and unpredictability (they are still wild animals after all), we have no direct contact with the chimpanzees and never go into the enclosures with the chimpanzees.  Interaction is always done with a mesh barrier between the chimpanzees and us. When we tickle the chimpanzees, we use long handled plastic kitchen spoons for the job.  Chimpanzees tend to be quite ticklish, especially in the crooks of their necks and hips.  Each individual chimpanzee has their most ticklish spot which, if found, often elicits fits of laughter.  Chimpanzees, along with all of the other great apes, are one of very few animals in the animal kingdom that laugh.

Juan is a particularly ticklish chimpanzee.  On the day that Juan arrived at Chimp Haven back in 2007, he let me tickle him.  He will often hold the plastic spoon you are using to tickle him and tickle himself with it and he will stomp his foot repeatedly when you tickle him.  Midget is particularly fun to tickle and will repeatedly tap the spot that he would like you to tickle.  Bucky often bites his fingers to stifle his laughter during tickle sessions.  Ester and Joy, two sisters living in the same social group, will take turns spitting at the staff member that is playing with the other sister in order to inform the human that it is their turn to be tickled.

Positive human interaction isn’t just all fun and games though.  It has been found to be effective at building rapport with chimpanzees and eliciting more affiliative behaviors from the chimpanzees towards staff.   It has also been found to have many additional benefits to the chimpanzees such as increased activity levels, increased grooming of other chimpanzees, moderation of certain abnormal behaviors, and lower reactivity to neighboring groups.

See a new photo album of almost 3 month old Valentina Rose! She is very vocal and starting to try to wander away from Mom Flora, although Flora still keeps her close.  Flora is a wonderful mother, even though Valentina Rose is a very precocious youngster.  We would like to wish all of the wonderful Mom’s in the world a Happy Mother’s Day from all of us here at Chimp Haven!

Valentina Rose Flickr Photo Album

Last summer, television celebrity Bob Barker came to the rescue of five chimpanzees who were stranded at a bankrupt facility in Texas by offering to pay for their new home and their care for a year.  On Thursday, May 3rd, the chimpanzees–Doc, JoJo, Murphy, Flick, and Pierre–responded to Barker’s trademark message to “Come on down” as they made their debut in their new home at Chimp Haven.

“I have waited months for this occasion,” remarked Barker, who attended the event with Nancy Burnet, his philanthropic advisor, at his side.  “After 30 years of being locked in cages, these chimpanzees now have the choice to lie in the grass and look up at the sky—day or night.  They can climb trees and build nests.  And best of all, they can do it with each other. Seeing this today has me choked up.”

When Barker heard about the five chimpanzees, all infected with the HIV virus and hepatitis, no one would offer them a home.  Chimp Haven expressed the desire to bring them to Louisiana, but it had no permanent living facility to offer them or the financial means to build one.  Chimp Haven President Dr. Linda Brent recalls, “When Bob Barker heard about the plight of those chimpanzees and offered his help, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to give them a humane home.  After what they have been through, they deserve to spend the rest of their lives at peace in spacious habitat.  Thanks to Mr. Barker, we are able to give them a two-acre home with a beautiful view.”  Because most of the habitat is surrounded by a water moat, the chimpanzees’ view will not be obstructed by barrier walls.

Through his $380,000 donation, Barker, one of the country’s most generous individual animal welfare advocates, has launched Chimp Haven’s plan to expand its facility to care for more “rescue” chimpanzees coming from the private sector.  A special surprise came at the event when Barker announced that he wanted to “round out” his $380,000 donation to $500,000.  He presented a check for $120,000 to Dr. Brent.

See some of the associated news stories here:

Shreveport Times

 KTBS

KTAL

KSLA

San Francisco Chronicle

For a photo gallery of the chimpanzees in their new habitat click here.

Since I began working with chimpanzees I’ve conducted countless hours of behavioral observations in which my purpose was to objectively record chimpanzees’ behaviors by neither participating in nor influencing group dynamics. This means that while I’m observing I do not interact with any of the chimpanzees so that I may obtain an accurate account of how individuals relate to their group.  The chimpanzees are comfortable with this unobtrusive method and tend to ignore me…mostly.

There are occasions when one or more group members decide there is absolutely no reason I should be standing about ignoring him or her and he or she is determined to get my attention, often by any means necessary. I’ve been used as target practice for throwing either soggy chow or smelly substances. I’ve been offered a not-so-refreshing spit shower. Some chimpanzees can be quite amusing and endearing in trying to get my attention. Jessika and Kris find it entertaining to take turns seeing who can find a stick or branch long enough to poke me from inside the habitat wall. Trevor spends time gazing at me and sighing longingly for attention. Grandma claps and makes kissing sounds whenever she thinks I should be looking at her. Cody waves and gives his special version of a raspberry vocalization for attention. But the one antic aimed at getting my attention that truly tests my resolve at not interactingcomes from Merv. Big, sweet Merv’s go-to attention grabber is to sit quietly nearby, casually slip his big pointer finger out of his enclosure, and give it a little wiggle.  Yep, the one that gets me every time is the ol’ wiggle finger.

~Dr. Sarah Breaux

Yesterday, while gardening at Chimp Haven, I stopped to say hello to Tika.  Tika is an HIV + chimpanzee who recently had reconstructive surgery performed in her mouth by Chimp Haven’s veterinarian, Dr Jackson.  Tika was diagnosed with severe periodontal disease and an infection of the alveolar bone.  She was treated initially with medication, as suggested by specialists, however when an abcess in Tika’s cheek ruptured, Dr. Jackson knew surgery was needed.  There was concern about whether Tika would be able to eat since a flap of her cheek was used to form the roof her mouth.  Tika didn’t eat much initially but her appetite grew quickly and now she is eating and drinking normal.

I was so tickled at her interactions with me and the other members of the group yesterday.  She was outside enjoying the beautiful weather while she sat next to Artica.  When Tika saw me she started climbing her enclosure, following alongside.  She vocalized to the other chimpanzees on the way to the perch at the end of the yard.   Finally she sat on the perch and rested her chin on the side of the enclosure with a pouty look on her face.  She was clearly enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face.  I took just a moment and reflected on Tika’s beginning as well as many other chimpanzees at Chimp Haven.  I wondered if they ever thought they would one day have the opportunity to live in larger groups and have so much space.  That thought quickly transformed into appreciation for my part of the Chimp Haven dream.  I guess one could ask if I ever thought I would have the opportunity to work with chimpanzees and witness their amazing transformations.

~Kathleen Taylor

On May 1, 2012, restaurants around the country are coming together to support Chimp Haven. On this day, participating restaurants will donate 10-20% of their proceeds to Chimp Haven. Please show your support for Chimp Haven by eating at one of the participating restaurants.

Participating Restaurants include:

• Ruby Tuesday – Shreveport, Bossier and Texarkana, Louisiana (Bring a copy of this flyer with you!)

• Bistro Byronz – Shreveport

• Cane’s on Mansfield Road - Shreveport  (Be sure to mention that you are there to benefit Chimp Haven)

• TCBY – Texarkana, Louisiana

• Albasha Greek and Lebanese – Shreveport

• Smashburger – Shreveport and Bossier

Nights at Chimp Haven are really wonderful because for the most part, the chimpanzees are tired from all the activities of the day. I will hear the occasional pant hoot or grooming noises coming from Cody, a male chimpanzee. In the early morning, when the sun comes out and the day caregivers have not yet arrived, things begin to get interesting. If I take a minute to watch and listen, I observe a humorous interaction between two male chimpanzees, Nicky and John. It’s a great way to start the day.

I noticed John standing on all fours staring across his courtyard enclosure, oblivious that Nicky was watching his every move. John then started a very steady tap, tap, tap with his front hand on the wooden structure he was standing on. Nicky (sitting down) decided to join in, but couldn’t seem to keep the perfect rhythm that John had. So, Nicky leaned over and made an innocent swat at John’s hand to mess up the rhythm. John moved his hand away and continued tapping his hand to the beat. Every ten to fifteen seconds, Nicky tried to swat John’s hand, but could never interupt John’s beat! Frustrated, Nicky decided to move John’s hand away. This didn’t deter John. He continued the rhythmic tap, tap, tap with whatever foot Nicky couldn’t reach. Nicky gave up and climbed off the structure.

I could have sworn that I saw a smile come across John’s face!

~James