Chimpanzee Enrichment

Chimpanzees in captivity (including those at CHCI) were not given a choice whether they wanted to live their lives in the confines of an enclosure. Humans made the decision to bring them into captivity for entertainment and scientific research. Compared to the life of their kin in their natural environment, chimpanzees in captivity live a very boring life. Chimpanzees are very social and intelligent; they have the ability to solve problems in their environment and have a complex social structure.

In their natural environment, chimpanzees can travel as many as 10 kilometers (approx. 7 miles) a day! Even in the nicest sanctuary, chimpanzees in captivity are not able to get sufficient exercise. Chimpanzees in their natural environment are also exposed to many different challenges and situations during the day and have to be able to solve problems in order to survive. Most chimpanzees who live in captivity are not exposed to situations that challenge them to utilize their critical thinking abilities.

Friends of Washoe believes that it is important to give the chimpanzees as much variety in their lives as possible. To do this, we use many forms of enrichment to provide them with opportunities for problem-solving, to give them things to sign about, and to help them stay healthy, both physically and mentally. These four chimpanzees did not choose to live in captivity, and it is the responsibility of all the staff, volunteers, and student interns to enrich their lives and give them the highest possible quality of life.

At the CHCI sanctuary we have different forms of enrichment: permanent, semi-permanent, object, social, food, thematic, and unintentional.

Learn more about these different forms of enrichment by clicking on the titles below:

PERMANENT: The structures found in the chimpanzee areas (platforms, climbing structures, ledges, caging walls, etc.)

SEMI-PERMANENT: Items that are removable but remain in the enclosure for several months or years usually because of their size, weight, etc. (tractor tires, cargo nets)

OBJECT (NON-PERMANENT): These items are placed in the chimpanzee areas daily and are cleaned after they leave the area (magazines, clothes, shoes, toys, etc.).

SOCIAL: Interactions with human friends and visitors through the windows or with staff, student interns, and long time friends through the caging. Social interactions through the caging never include a human putting fingers or any other part of their body through the bars (for safety) (play chase, peek-a-boo, sign to one another, play tickle, offer grooming products, share a book, etc.).

FOOD (FOOD PUZZLES): A means of food dispersal that requires tool use and critical thinking skills to obtain the food (treat mound, popcorn forage, hanging fruit out of reach that requires a stick to obtain, etc.)

THEMATIC ENRICHMENT: We celebrate all holidays and each chimpanzee's birthday and have theme days every week with the non-permanent forms of enrichment. The windows are decorated for the holidays, crepe paper and balloons are hung up, and the chimpanzees receive wrapped presents and special food treats (red day, musical toys day, beach day, etc.).

UNINTENTIONAL: This is enrichment that is not planned by the humans at CHCI.