If the residents of the Save the Chimps sanctuary could have attended the 10th annual Chimps’ Kitchen at Cobalt at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa last Thursday evening, they would surely have been touched by the outpouring of support given to their plight. Sharing 98.6 percent of our DNA, they are surprisingly human-like in their displays of emotion and would most certainly have felt the love in that room.

Chimps’ Kitchen is the signature fundraising event for the nonprofit, founded as a permanent sanctuary in 1997. Patrons come every year to support the chimpanzees in a heartwarming and entertaining evening. About 175 guests were treated to delicious culinary delights by local chefs from Cobalt, Grand Harbor, Windsor and the Raw Vegan Life Coach. Other-worldly music by Duo Vida permeated the air with haunting sounds from bamboo instruments, while supporters swapped stories about their chimp connections.

“Save the Chimps supports 250 chimpanzees that came to the sanctuary from biomedical, entertainment and pet trade backgrounds,” said Molly Polidoroff, STC executive director. “It’s very hard to describe the sanctuary unless you’ve been there, so this evening gives those who haven’t been there a glimpse of their daily life.”

The chimpanzees live in family groups of 25 on 12 man-made islands on the 150-acre property in Fort Pierce, where they can live out the rest of their lives frolicking in the sun. The sanctuary is closed to the public but offers tours to members a couple of times a year.

A behind-the-scenes private sanctuary tour was one of the coveted silent-auction items, as were framed artwork by resident chimp artists and many other items.

“All proceeds from this event goes to the care of the chimps,” said Laura Guttridge, event co-chair with Judy Van Saun. “This is my ninth year as co-chair and it’s always one of my favorites, as it tends to be the same beautiful, compassionate people year after year. Once you become involved in Save the Chimps you are hooked. And if you get the opportunity to meet them, they change your life.”

Astronaut Robert Crippen, pilot of the inaugural Space Shuttle mission and commander of three subsequent flights, currently serves on the advisory board of Save the Chimps.

Reflecting that some of the original chimpanzee residents at STC were rescued from the space program, he said “I’m here to support the chimps. They were used extensively early on in the space program and I think they should retire to Florida just like I did.”

Article by: Kerry Firth, correspondent