Project Chimps

Wild chimpanzees never have to worry about snow. But at Project Chimps, winters in the North Georgia mountains can look very different.

Snow doesn’t fall here every year, but when it does, our residents definitely notice! While not all of them choose to go outside on snowy days, several of our residents seem to enjoy playing in (or eating) fallen snow before coming back to their warm and cozy villas to sleep. And with current forecasts predicting particularly severe winter weather in North Georgia, we’re turning to you for help.

This summer, six retired research chimps came to Project Chimps from the lab: Twirp, Charlie, Tommy, Tory, Duane, and Tweetybird! They’re currently going through introductions with existing residents of Chateau.

Everything at the sanctuary happens on chimp-time, and introductions are no different. Because their comfort and well-being always come first, this round of introductions may continue through the winter. That means the chimps in this group need access to more separate spaces for a longer period as they continue to build relationships and trust.

We want to make sure the sanctuary is ready.

This Giving Day for Apes, we’re aiming to raise $50,000 to help prepare the sanctuary for winter, including stocking up on essential winter supplies, anticipating increased propane use and rising fuel costs, and potential winter storms where additional staff may need to stay onsite to care for the chimps throughout road closures.

We’re also making additional preparations to winterize Chateau’s porches and make these spaces more comfortable and usable throughout the colder months.

And right now, your gift can go twice as far!

A generous donor has pledged to match every donation dollar for dollar, up to $50,000! That means you can help turn a $50,000 fundraising goal into $100,000 for the chimps.

We may not know exactly what winter will bring, but we do know the best time to prepare is now.

Your gift today will help us stock essential supplies, prepare our facilities, and create a more comfortable, flexible environment for all our residents, including our most recent arrivals.

How Your Gift Can Help Support the Chimps:
$35- Keep a Chimp Cozy Helps provide blankets, straw, and nesting materials that the chimpanzees can use to build warm winter nests.
$50- Block the Winter Chill Helps purchase and maintain greenhouse-style plastic sheeting that blocks cold winds and makes outdoor porches more comfortable during winter.
$100- Heat a Chimp Bedroom Supports the operation and maintenance of heating systems in the chimps' indoor bedrooms during freezing weather.
$250- Warm an Outdoor Porch ​Helps provide spot heaters and winterization improvements so chimps can continue enjoying outdoor spaces while staying comfortable.
$500- Winterize a Chimp Home ​Provides critical support for the seasonal winterization of chimp villas, heating infrastructure, and cold-weather preparedness across the sanctuary.