Save the Chimps
Ft. Pierce, Florida
“Save the Chimps is the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary.”
During the travels through Florida one of the places I stopped was in Vero Beach at my friends Jeff and Mindy’s house. We had met on a vacation in Mexico several years ago through mutual friends and have kept in touch with each other since. When planning this trip I wanted to stop in for a visit when I went through their area so the dates were set and had a wonderful stay with them.
One of the things that were talked about was they volunteer for “Save the Chimps” organization in Ft. Pierce close to their home. Jeff and Mindy go every week helping out with many things that are needed to carry on this worthwhile effort. I was intrigued to find out a little more after hearing them talk about the organization and what some of the things they do.
The original chimpanzees were used by the Air Force at the start of the Mercury Space Program using them for testing prior to human experiments in the early days of space exploration as the United States was trying to keep up and beat the Russians with putting a satellite or man in space. Those chimps and their decedents were rescued to have a safe, healthy, and natural home.
From the Save the Chimps website:
“As the U.S. Air Force’s announcement that it was getting out of the chimpanzee research business, Save the Chimps, Inc. was established in 1997 by their late founder Carole Noon, Ph.D. Most of the Air Force chimpanzees, who were survivors and descendants of chimpanzees captured from the wild for the space program, were sent to the Coulston Foundation in Alamogordo, NM, a biomedical research lab with multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In response, Save the Chimps sued the Air Force on behalf of the chimpanzees and gained permanent custody of 21 chimps.
Photo Arthur
A generous donation by Jon Stryker of the Arcus Foundation enabled Save the Chimps to purchase 190 acres in Fort Pierce, Florida. A three-acre island, complete with hills and climbing structures as well as a hurricane-proof chimp house, was constructed for the chimpanzees. Not long after the Air Force chimpanzees arrived, seven other chimpanzees from the pet and entertainment industries were also rescued. With more chimps in need, Dr. Noon expected that Save the Chimps would slowly grow. But an unexpected event rapidly expanded the scope of Save the Chimps overnight.
In 2002, the Coulston Foundation was on the verge of bankruptcy. Dr. Frederick Coulston contacted Save the Chimps and offered to sell the laboratory land and buildings, and donate 266 chimpanzees. Save the Chimps received an unprecedented grant of $3.7 million from the Arcus Foundation to purchase the laboratory. Additional funding from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, Doris Day Animal League, Friends of Washoe, In Defense of Animals, New England Anti-Vivisection Society, and others made this the single largest rescue effort ever on behalf of captive chimpanzees. On September 16, 2002, Save the Chimps took over the Coulston Foundation, becoming the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary.
Dr. Noon and her staff modified the stark lab into a healthier and happier environment for the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees that had lived alone or in very small groups for decades now had the opportunity to become part of large chimpanzee families. At the same time, an enormous construction project commenced in Florida to build eleven more islands and houses: a city for 300 chimpanzees.
Photo Pepsi
The rescue of these chimpanzees transitioned into the “Great Chimpanzee Migration,” Save the Chimps’ nine-year effort to relocate the chimpanzees from the former lab to their island homes in sunny Florida. A custom trailer was made to transport ten chimpanzees at a time to the sanctuary in Florida. On December 14, 2011, the Great Chimpanzee Migration ended and the final group of Coulston chimps was released onto their new island home.
Sadly, Dr. Noon passed away on May 2, 2009 and did not live to see the completion of the Great Chimpanzee Migration. Her vision and life’s work are carried on by a devoted team dedicated to continuing her legacy. Save the Chimps will continue to rescue and provide lifetime care to chimpanzees used in research laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade until there are no more chimpanzees in need.” (Information from www.savethechimps.org)
Photo Ridge
The day we arrived, that morning they had gone to local grocery stores to get food items in the chimps diet that were about to be thrown out and wasted. Several stores in the area are set up to donate food that is dated or considered “spoilage” as stock is rotated to keep fresh items on the shelf. Making the donations to Save the Chimps helps all parties giving needed food or other items to the organization and keeps those items from being wasted or thrown away.
Photo Melody
They were headed across the State to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area later that week to an event setting up a booth to help with awareness of the animals and fund raise to carry on the work. Most of the chimps live on several islands (13) in small groups and Jeff said that when the chimps are housed the volunteers go out on the islands doing maintenance or grounds keeping work ensuring the chimps have a clean, safe place to live. There is no direct contact with the animals but many know and recognize the workers and volunteers.
If you are interested in helping out or making a donation to this non-profit organization, Save the Chimps, you can contact them through their website: www.savethechimps.org I am sure they could use your help!
Traveling Life’s Highways brings us down many paths and roads in our lives; this one was a great unexpected find. Jeff and Mindy, it was great seeing you again, until our next adventure together . . . keep up this excellent work!