Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Brief description: Bamboo toothbrushes are a good sensory enrichment item for the chimpanzees. While these can and should be disposed of once damaged, these toothbrushes usually are able to be cleaned and used multiple times.
Materials: Bamboo toothbrushes
Assembly instructions: No assembly required.
How to use: Provide toothbrushes to chimpanzees.
Price: ~$9 for a pack of 10 from Amazon.
Brief description: Wooden children’s toys like blocks and toy tools (such as hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers) are a durable, reusable enrichment item for the chimpanzees. Bamboo cooking utensils and wooden comb sets are less durable, but also enjoyed.
Materials: Wooden blocks, wooden tools, wood and plastic hammers, bamboo cooking utensils, wooden comb sets
Assembly instructions: No assembly required.
How to use: Provide toys in animal areas.
Price: Varies.
Brief description: A variety of treats are hidden in strips of paper and stuffed into cardboard boxes. We save all of our empty glove boxes for this use, as well as other boxes small enough to be dropped to the chimpanzees using our food chutes.
Materials: small cardboard boxes, kraft paper, desired treats
Assembly instructions: Stuff each cardboard box with paper and desired food items (we use a variety of options including pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, mixed large nuts, raisins, other dried fruit, and peanut butter smeared on strips of paper).
How to use: We use our food chutes to drop the surprise boxes to each individual chimpanzee. They could also be spread out around their spaces before giving them access back after cleaning.
Price: We collect and use empty boxes, so these are free for us. We also often get packaging paper donations from a local store, so that may be free as well. A roll of kraft paper can be purchased for ~$20.
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, but have since decided against using these brushes due to the staples that hold the bristles together within the brush). We now use large wooden makeup brushes and wooden hair brushes.
Assembly instructions: No assembly required.
How to use: Provide brushes to the chimpanzees.
Price: ~$8-$10 per brush
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).
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
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
