Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Brief Description: Jamie is a huge fan of playing in sand!
Materials: All you need is a pile of sand! We often use Sandtastick White Play Sand that comes in a 25 lb box, but you can purchase sand in all kinds of colors, or just use natural sand!
Assembly Instructions: No assembly required
How to Use: Set up a play sand station! You can put out a bucket of sand or put it in a sand table or sand box. Give the chimps sand toys and other tools to play with.
Cost: Approximately $16 for a 25 lb box
Brief description: Water bottles are filled with seeds, raisins, and then paper and clipped to the outside of the caging. The chimpanzees must remove the paper strips or shake the treats around the paper to access them.
Materials: Sports water bottle with attached carabiner ring, 4″ spring snap carabiner. We ordered this specific bottle from Amazon: BOTTLED JOY Sports Water Bottle with Carabiner Ring, Flip-top BPA-Free Wide Mouth Tritan 28 oz Sports Bottle
Assembly instructions: Attach the 4″ carabiner to the carabiner ring. We also removed the flip top cap (optional),
How to use: Add treats in the bottle that will fit out the hole in the cap. To increase the difficulty, add shredded paper! Hang on the outside of the caging using the carabiner.
Price: Approximately $14 per puzzle
Brief description: These are a fun puzzle/forage enrichment that combines multiple elements of your enrichment program. Chimps can spend a lot of time looking through bags to discover what’s inside.
Materials: Paper grocery size bags and assorted toys and food puzzle enrichment. You could substitute other kinds of bags or boxes if available and approved in enrichment program.
Assembly instructions: No assembly required, depending on what you add to the bags
How to use: Fill bags with an assortment of clothing, paper, and toys. Add a food puzzle or two such as Kongs, peanut butter magazines, pine cones, etc. Add crumpled paper (maybe smear a bit of peanut butter on some of the paper). Smear some peanut butter on the toys you added and sprinkle a handful of nuts or seeds in the bag, hiding more inside the toys and clothing. You can get pretty creative with this!
Price: Depends on other items you add to the bags. You can use recycled grocery bags.
Jamie goes through her grab bags:
Brief description: Chimpanzees are able to recognize themselves in their reflections and they seem to enjoy doing so. We provide the chimpanzees with plastic shatterproof mirrors.
Materials: Can be found on Amazon or Otto Environmental
Assembly instructions: No assembly required.
How to use: Provide mirrors in animal areas.
Price: ~$5 per mirror.
Jody looks at her reflection.
For a significantly pricier, but long lasting large version, use something like this:
We ordered ours here wildlifetoybox.com
Brief description: Some chimpanzees enjoy items such brushes, combs, nail files, lipstick, and toothbrushes with toothpaste. Always limit quantity of item (i.e. have the chimpanzee stick out their lips for a little bit of lipstick, rather than give them the whole tube), and remember that anything you give the chimpanzees can (and most likely will) be tasted or eaten (always use non-toxic items).
Materials: There are many options including bamboo toothbrushes, large plastic toothbrushes, bamboo combs, nail files, and lipstick.
Assembly instructions: No assembly required.
How to use: Some items can be given to the chimpanzees for use (such as toothbrushes, combs, and disposable cardboard nail files), while items like lipstick or toothpaste should be applied/given in moderation by caregivers (versus given in their entirety to the chimpanzees).
Price: Varies depending on item.
Outside of the chimpanzee’s daily diets, we offer them a variety of different vegetation browse options to keep them occupied until the next meal. The chimpanzees can pick their own bamboo and naturally grown weeds when they venture out onto Young’s Hill. We also provide them with alfalfa cubes on a regular basis and we’re always on the lookout for other edible plants for them to try. Pesticide free flowers such as roses and lilacs are popular choices.
Jody takes advantage of pine tree, alfalfa cubes, and bamboo browse:
Brief Description: Similar to boomer balls, except with the added challenge of being stuffed with paper and attached to the inside or outside of the caging.
Materials: 5 inch hard plastic balls. eye bolt and nut with a length of chain (8 inch).
Assembly instructions: Drill 2-3 holes (1-1.5 inches wide) into your chosen “top side” of the ball. Attach eye bolt at the top and attach length of chain to the bolt.
How to use: Add treats to the ball, stuff the ball with paper, and hang on the caging using a lock.
Price: Approximately $10 per puzzle.
A hanging puzzle with 3 holes.
