Project Chimps
A Safe Haven
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just south of the Georgia/North Carolina state line is a safe haven for chimpanzees in need of a forever home. For the 95 animals currently in their care, Project Chimps means freedom—to roam the woods and climb trees; to form social bonds with other chimpanzees; to play, forage, and spend their days as they choose.
In 2015, the U.S. government officially declared chimpanzees an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This momentous milestone marked the end of invasive chimpanzee research in the U.S. and also meant that hundreds of animals across the country would need to be relocated and provided with shelter and care. Project Chimps stood ready to welcome retired chimpanzees into a new life beyond the lab.
Through a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Project Chimps established a 230-acre refuge in Georgia—the newest chimp sanctuary in the country—for chimpanzees retired from biomedical and research facilities. The organization negotiated an agreement with the New Iberia Research Center in Louisiana to provide lifelong care for its retired animals; with nearly half of their original population already taken in, continued philanthropic support will allow Project Chimps to eventually welcome all 200 of the Research Center’s chimpanzees into a new home.
Project Chimps has transformed its grounds into a habitat perfectly suited to a chimpanzee’s physical, cognitive, and social needs. The current residents of the sanctuary can be heard roaming and exploring the open forest across the 6-acre Peachtree Habitat and the 2-acre Cedar Tree Annex. For a change of scenery, the chimps can retire indoors to their chateau or one of five villas: each climate-controlled structure is home to a different family group and provides climbing structures, enrichment activities, and shelter from inclement weather.
Project Chimps also provides opportunities for the community beyond the sanctuary to engage with their work and learn about their remarkable residents—with whom we share approximately 95% of our DNA!—through scheduled group tours, special events like Chimp or Treat, and more.
“Project Chimps is not only making a difference for the chimpanzees in our care,” said Executive Director Ali Crumpacker, “we are also providing an opportunity for our community to learn about endangered species and ways humans can show all the creatures around us more compassion and live together harmoniously.”
Coxe Curry recently partnered with Project Chimps on a development assessment, meeting their what-ifs with thorough, data-driven analysis to map out a path forward. To learn more about Project Chimps—and to discover your inner chimp through this fun personality quiz—visit projectchimps.org.