Project Chimps

Project Chimps was founded in 2014 following the end of National Institutes of Health funding for biomedical research on chimpanzees.

[9] To fulfill its mission of assisting these endangered nonhuman primates, Project Chimps has established several public education programs including Discovery Days and Chimpcation,[10] The sanctuary also hosts veterinary, behavioral, animal care and organizational development interns throughout the year.

[12] In 2019, Project Chimps published a 5-year Strategic Plan to expand the facility and accommodate the remaining chimpanzees still living at the New Iberia Research Center.

[13] The chimpanzees receive 6-7 pounds of fresh produce every day along with daily enrichment activities and sometimes larger celebrations, such as "Chimpsgiving" feasts.

In early 2021, the transport team relocated 6 chimps from the bankrupted Wildlife Waystation in California to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in Washington state.

[19] Notably missing from the Festus-based facility at the of the rescue was a chimp named Tonka, presumed deceased, but who was later to be found hidden by Haddix.