Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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Handheld Brushes

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Brief description: Sturdy brushes can be given to the chimpanzees as a daily enrichment item. They can carry them around, use them to clean if desired (especially when paired with buckets of soapy water), or enjoy the texture of the bristles on themselves.

Materials: Rubbermaid Brushes (we have used their small yellow brushes, and iron-handle brushes), large wooden makeup brushes, wooden hair brushes

Assembly instructions: No assembly required.

How to use: Provide brushes to the chimpanzees.

Price: ~$8-$10 per brush

Rotating Holey Lids

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Brief description: Two plastic lids are stacked on top of each other, connected with an eyebolt and held in place with a carabiner. The top lid has several holes cut into it to allow the chimps to access the treats smeared on the back lid. The back lid has chain attached to it at two points to allow for somewhat stable hanging on the caging.

Materials: Plastic lids, eyebolts, locking nuts, washers, chain, (optional) firehose to cover chain.

Assembly instructions: Cut several holes in the plastic lid that will be the “front,” using a hole saw. Cut a small straight line in the center of the lid that will be the “back” to allow for the width of the eyebolt to pass through the lid. Attach the eyebolt to the “front” lid using a locking nut and washer, with the eye pointing inward towards the “back” lid. The eye should be able to pass through the hole you’ve cut in the “back” lid to allow for assembly of the puzzle by adding a carabiner to the eye, and to take it apart for easier cleaning. You should also attach 2 lengths of chain on either side of the “back” lid using a bolt and locking nut and washer, to allow for the device to be hung from the caging.

How to use: Take the device apart, and smear treats (peanut butter, pudding, mashed banana, etc) to the back lid, so that once re-assembled the chimp will have to turn the “front” lid so that the holes allow access to different areas of the device, and thus more treats.

Price: You can purchase a 12 pack of 5 gallon bucket lids for $45, and a 15 pack of 1/4-20 x 2 1/2 in eyebolts for $11 (which makes it about $8.25 per rotating holey lid, without cost of chain, nuts, and washers).

Busy Jars by Chimp Haven

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Brief description: Peanut butter jar or large pill bottle  with 1.5″ holes cut in sides and 2″ PVC placed inside. Chimps use their fingers to scrape food off of PVC, eliciting species-typical behavior

Materials: Peanut butter jar or large pill bottle (US Plastics; Lid and container) with 1.5″ holes cut in sides, nuts, bolts, washers, chain, carabiner, ~5″ segment of 2″ PVC placed inside

Assembly instructions: Drill hole in lid to attach chain with a bolt to the lid. Cut segment of PVC to be inserted into jar. Use hole saw to cut multiple 1.5″ holes in each jar.

How to use: Spread peanut butter on PVC and stick raisins, pretzels, or other dry products to it. Insert PVC into jar and screw top on. Clip to the outside of caging using carabiner.

Price: Varies depending on source of jars (can use donated jars), ~$7 for 2″ x 2′ schedule 40 PVC pipe

Fishing Buckets

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Brief description: A variety of soft, sticky treats can be placed in the bottom of each bucket, which is then hung to the outside of the caging. The chimpanzees are provided with tools (such as bamboo sticks or long plastic straws) to fish out the treats.

Materials: 5 gallon bucket, chain, bolts, washers, lock nuts, and firehose if desired to cover the chain.

Tools needed to create the device: ratchet wrench, socket wrench, hole saw

Assembly instructions: Cut several holes in the outside of each bucket using a hole saw. Remove handles from the buckets. Cut chain to desired length. If desired, add firehose to cover chain at this point. Add a washer to a hex bolt, then insert hex bolt through one end of the chain and through one of the holes in the bucket from the removed handles. It is ideal to use bolts that are short enough that they do not enter the interior of the bucket itself to allow for stacking of the buckets and requiring less storage space. Apply a locking nut to the end of the hex bolt and tighten. Repeat this process for the other side of the bucket.

How to use: Apply about 1/4 cup of soft, sticky treats (mashed bananas, pudding, mashed potatoes, etc.) to the bottom center of each bucket. Attach each bucket to the outside of the caging, and provide the chimpanzees with tools.

Price: ~$8 per fishing bucket

Paper Balls

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Brief description: A variety of treats can be placed in each ball of paper, making the surprise of what is inside each paper ball even more fun. Some paper balls can be left empty, encouraging the chimpanzees to keep looking, and making it more difficult to find all the treats. The paper balls can be spread around the enclosure.

Materials: Kraft paper, dried fruit, seeds, nuts in shell, peanut butter

Assembly instructions: No assembly required.

How to use: Cut or tear ~ 12″x12″ sections of kraft paper. Place treats in the middle, then crumple the paper around them. If making empty paper balls, cut or tear a larger section of paper so that it is not obvious the ball is empty.

Price: ~$20 for a roll of Kraft paper, which lasts a long time.

Paper Knots

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Brief description: Kraft paper is filled with a mixture of seeds and dried fruit, then tied into knots to increase the time it takes for the chimpanzee to access the food inside the paper. These are a less time consuming (for the humans preparing them) alternative to paper braids.

Materials: Kraft paper, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins

Assembly instructions: Cut about 2 foot by 6 inch strips of kraft paper. Fold each strip in half, and sprinkle a mixture of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and raisins down the middle of each paper strip, leaving some empty space at either end. Roll, fold, or twist the large paper strips to secure the seeds and raisins inside the paper, then tie the paper roll into 1-2 knots.

How to use: Add treats such as seeds and dried fruit into each paper strip, then tie into knots. Multiple layers of Kraft paper can be added to increase difficulty level.

Price: Approximately $20 for a large roll of Kraft Paper (that will last for a long time).

Treat Buckets

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Brief description: A variety of treats are put into buckets, which are placed outside the caging. The chimpanzees are provided with tools to allow them to knock over the buckets and access the treats inside, or to use as straws to drink from the buckets (if filled with liquid).

Materials: small (~ 1 gallon) buckets, bamboo sticks, long plastic straws, kraft paper, fabric pieces

Assembly instructions: There are a variety of way to prepare these buckets.

    • Option 1: place a small handful of a mix of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, add some fabric pieces over them.
    • Option 2: Add some fabric pieces to the buckets, then a few raisins, small pieces of dried fruit, and one large nut.
    • Option 3: Add a few slices of lemons, limes, or other cup up pieces of fruit to the buckets and fill them halfway full with water.
    • Option 4: Fill each bucket halfway with water and add a small amount of gatorade mix to make dilute juice.

How to use: Prepare buckets as desired, then place outside of caging within reach of chimpanzees with the use of their tools. Hand out tools to be used by chimpanzees to access the buckets. The chimpanzees may use their tools to knock over the buckets and then retrieve the treats off of the ground outside of the caging.

Price: We use the tubs our peanut butter comes in for these buckets, so there is a possibility to reuse materials. We also use durable buckets that can also go inside the caging for other uses, which cost about $20 and include other plastic toys. A link to these buckets can be found here.