FORT PIERCE — As the world’s largest sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees, Save the Chimps (STC) is recognized as a leader in chimpanzee behavior and care.
Recently, STC Sanctuary Director Jen Feuerstein shared her knowledge of social introductions with Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary (SWCS) in Kenya, home to 42 rescued chimpanzees.
Like humans, chimpanzees live in social groups called communities. Individuals may switch groups on occasion, but the close bonds that develop between family members and other individuals within a community tend to last a lifetime.
“In the wild, these communities, of course, develop naturally, but making these introductions in a sanctuary environment in order to create a family can be challenging,” Feuerstein said. “Although most introductions are successful, aggression is a concern.”
During her weeklong stay at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where SWCS is located, Feuerstein participated in a training workshop for SWCS staff, as well as staff from other sanctuaries and wildlife facilities in East Africa.
Following the workshop, she and SCWS caregivers began the social introductions of two females and three males into the sanctuary’s established social groups.
STC has had a great deal of experience in chimpanzee integration while creating twelve social groups among their 269 rescued chimpanzees.
“Our sanctuary has the largest social groups of chimpanzees in the Americas and has made an extraordinary number of successful introductions,” Feuerstein said.
There is a notable difference between the chimpanzee residents at STC and those at Sweetwaters. While STC chimpanzees are rescued from biomedial research, entertainment, and the pet trade, many of the chimpanzees at the Sweetwaters sanctuary were orphaned chimpanzees whose parents were killed for bush meat.
“Chimpanzees are not native to Kenya, but SWCS was established to help chimpanzees from across Africa who are in dire need,” said Feuerstein.
Initial introductions were conducted by the SWCS staff and Feuerstein, and Feuerstein provided recommendations to continue their efforts to integrate the chimps into families. She will remain in contact with them to see how the introductions are going and continue to provide assistance as needed.
STC and SWCS also hope to develop a caregiver exchange program in the future.
“It was an honor to be invited to Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary,” Feuerstein said. “They are doing excellent work on behalf of chimpanzees as well as other endangered wildlife. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.”
Save the Chimps is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing permanent sanctuary for the lifelong care of nearly 300 chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the pet trade.
For more information about Save the Chimps, please visit the website at www.SaveTheChimps.org.