Forty former research chimpanzees will have a new home in permanent sanctuary as Project Chimps announced the completion of its fifth and largest chimpanzee house called, “The Chateau.”
Fourteen former research chimps moved into the new residence, led by 220-pound “gentle giant,” Kareem. They will soon be joined by another group of 14 chimps led by a well-known alpha male chimp named Hercules.
The $1.3 million, 7,000-square-foot building was made possible by the McGrath Family Foundation of California and is named the Laurie and Carlee McGrath Chateau or “The Chateau” for short.
The Chateau includes climate-controlled, large group enclosures and smaller bedrooms for up to 40 chimpanzees, as well as an open-air enclosed porch area that faces into the sanctuary’s forested, 6-acre habitat. The residence was uniquely designed to facilitate the introduction of chimpanzees previously separated in same-sex groups in the lab.
The completion of The Chateau will allow Project Chimps to bring an additional 40 chimpanzees to permanent retirement over the next year. Those chimpanzees currently reside at the New Iberia Research Center (NIRC) in Louisiana.
Research ended on chimpanzees in the United States in 2015. At that time, more than 700 chimpanzees housed in research facilities needed a forever home. Project Chimps’ founders purchased a defunct gorilla sanctuary that included a 6-acre habitat and five chimpanzee houses, with the goal of bringing more than 200 of NIRC’s chimpanzees to sanctuary by 2024.
“When we started, two of the five villas were empty shells and the remaining three had to be retrofitted for chimpanzees’ unique needs,” said Ali Crumpacker, Project Chimps’ executive director. “As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of our founding, it is only fitting that we open our fifth group house for these deserving chimpanzees.”
Crumpacker says the sanctuary’s relationship with the community is mutually beneficial.
“None of this would be possible without the support of our local community,” states Crumpacker. “We’re grateful for the local contractors who helped to build the facility, as well as the more than 200 volunteers who help to care for the chimpanzees and maintain the sanctuary. We value our partnerships with local farmers, schools, area businesses, chambers, and visitors,” she added.
Crumpacker noted that the project has boosted the local economy by providing short-term construction jobs, long-term sanctuary jobs, sales taxes, purchases of durable goods, and other revenue from the increase in sanctuary employees and visitors.
Better Building Systems, Inc., of Blue Ridge served as the general contractor for The Chateau project along with subcontractors BR Electric, Russell Plumbing, Cherokee Mechanical, Alarm Dog, Tru-Forms, and Stanley Creek Excavation. Welding of the chimpanzee enclosures was performed by a local team led by Max Pittman and Steven Cox.
The Chateau is the final chimpanzee house in Project Chimps’ first phase. A second phase expansion is now underway to build two new chimpanzee habitats and housing from the ground up. Project Chimps is supported by private donors, foundations and giving campaigns, such as the upcoming global Giving Day for Apes on October 15.