SAVE THE CHIMPS
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Save the Chimps, Inc. Program Overview
Save the Chimps cares for more than 230 chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade. The chimpanzees are housed on twelve separate three-acre island habitats landscaped with trees, brush, hills, and wooden climbing structures. The islands are connected to secure indoor living spaces, where the chimps eat, sleep, and interact with their caregivers. Each island is home to 12-26 chimpanzees, who have been socialized together and live in family groups. Save the Chimps provides the nutritious meals, clean enclosures, innovative enrichment, exceptional veterinary care, and social companionship the chimpanzees need to live out a peaceful and dignified retirement. Save the Chimps is committed to providing lifelong sanctuary to more chimpanzees in need and actively collaborates with partners, such as the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, to bring chimps to sanctuary from around the country. Chimpanzees can live up to fifty years or more, making their lifelong care a long-term commitment. Therefore, we additionally provide the administrative and development infrastructure that provides critical sustainability for the long-term care of the chimpanzees. Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Save the Chimps is a leader in the field of chimpanzee care and a model of exceptional sanctuary development.
Save the Chimps provides a trilateral approach to chimpanzee care for our residents through a collaborate effort between our Chimp Care, Behavior, and Veterinary departments. These departments work in tandem to support all our residents while considering each chimpanzee’s unique needs and capabilities.
This collaborative effort informs decision making on how medical treatment will be most effectively provided, how care practices and welfare initiatives are worked into daily routines, and how to provide optimal enrichment for every chimpanzee based on personalities and preferences. These three departments are each overseen by directors who work together closely to provide the highest quality care to all our residents.
The work of each department often overlaps. For example, if a chimpanzee becomes diabetic and requires insulin injections, our Veterinary Department diagnoses the chimpanzee, while our Behavior team provides positive reinforcement training to the chimpanzee to shape the voluntary behavior of presenting their arm for injections. This allows the chimpanzee to receive their treatment without the fear of being forced or tricked into having their life-saving injections on a regular basis. The positive reinforcement training is scheduled and coordinated in conjunction with the Chimp Care Department to ensure it does not disrupt daily routines or workflow. The Veterinary Department continues to follow up on the chimpanzee through urine samples to ensure the insulin dosage is effective, and decides when a chimpanzee may no longer be insulin-dependent. Part of our philosophy of care is the importance of the collaborative work these departments provide.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals with freedom from hunger and thirst
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom from discomfort
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom from pain
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom to express normal behavior
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom from fear and distress
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Save the Chimps, Inc. Program Overview
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
This is the number of new residents retired to Save the Chimps per year. Save the Chimps was the only chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States to rescue chimps in 2015.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Save the Chimps seeks to provide lifelong care for captive chimpanzees in an enriched sanctuary environment. This includes caring for the more than 220 chimpanzees currently residing at the sanctuary, as well as providing the capacity for more chimpanzees in need from around the country from laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade. We additionally aim to raise awareness about the plight of captive and wild chimpanzees through education and outreach initiatives.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Save the Chimps currently provides care for our residents on our 150-acre sanctuary on large, enriched islands. Chimpanzees are unable to swim, thus water is a natural barrier that allows the chimps to live in large family groups within our three-acre habitats. As we continue to rescue more chimpanzees in need, we plan to expand our facility by constructing new, innovative habitats to accommodate more residents as well as a Chimpanzee Care Center, which will include a larger, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic. Additionally, our education and outreach initiatives reach local, national, and international audiences through onsite and remote events, presentations, tabling at animal- and environmentally-focused events, promoting educational content through our online efforts, and working with our local school systems.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With over 15 years of experience in rescuing and rehabilitating chimpanzees from laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade, our sanctuary is uniquely qualified to provide the highest quality care possible to our residents. Save the Chimps employs an exemplary staff ranging from caregivers to veterinarians, maintenance staff, and development and administrative professionals. Additionally, our diverse Board of Directors provides essential financial oversight to the organization. Along with our knowledge and expertise, our 150-acre sanctuary site provides the necessary space for the expansion that will allow us to rescue more chimpanzees in the future.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since our inception, Save the Chimps has provided permanent sanctuary to a total of 329 chimpanzees. Save the Chimps gained custody of its first 21 chimpanzee residents after initiating a successful lawsuit against the US Air Force on the chimps' behalf. Shortly thereafter, Save the Chimps conducted the largest rescue effort on behalf of chimpanzees in history by rescuing 266 chimpanzees from the Coulston Foundation laboratory in New Mexico. This required extensive construction at our Florida sanctuary, in which twelve large island habitats as well as indoor housing was built to accommodate the new residents. Transporting the chimpanzees from New Mexico to Florida was a nine-year effort known as the Great Chimpanzee Migration, which was completed in 2011. As the chimpanzees were relocated to Florida, it became clear that some chimps would have difficulty living in large social groups due to behavioral or health complications from their years in the laboratory. As a result, we constructed a dedicated Special Needs Facility to house smaller social groups, complete with outdoor “play yards" for the chimps to spend time outside just as chimpanzees living on islands do. Over the last 15 years we have developed exceptional caregiving and veterinary programs, making us a leading sanctuary in the field of captive chimpanzee care. We have recently begun developing a behavior program as well, which will include the creation of new quality of life indicators to further enhance the chimpanzees' well-being.
Many chimpanzees are still awaiting retirement in laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade. Nearly 700 chimpanzees are currently living in laboratory settings, while over 150 are still being used in the entertainment industry, pet trade, and unaccredited roadside zoos. We have continued to rescue chimpanzees in recent years, and plan to expand our facility to accommodate more chimpanzees in the near future. This expansion will include the creation of innovative new habitats, as well as a Chimpanzee Care Center with a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SAVE THE CHIMPS
Board of directorsas of 01/25/2023
Jon Stryker
Jon Stryker
Chip Owen
Sarah Haney
Tim Wu
Stephen Bennett
Mark O'Donnell
John Battista III
Alyse Serrell
Jason North
Khadija Rejto
Janet McCartney
Justin Stanwix
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data