Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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Spinning Slow Feeders

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Brief description: A variety of soft, sticky treats can be placed in each layer of the slow feeder (peanut butter, mashed banana, pudding, etc), then the layers are stacked and can be hung outside the caging using carabiners. The chimpanzees use their fingers or tools to retrieve the treats and spin the puzzle to access lower layers.

Materials: Slow feeder, chain, bolts, washers, lock nuts, and firehose if desired to cover the chain.

Tools needed to create the device: drill, 1/4″ drill bit, ratchet wrench, socket wrench

Assembly instructions: Take apart each slow feeder, and cut off the protrusions on the center plastic tube regularly used to hold the puzzle together. Drill a hole in center of the top layer (green layer) then place your eye bolt through the plastic tube with the eye at the bottom of the tube. Use a washer and locking nut to attach the end of the eye bolt to the top of the green layer through the hole you drilled. Use a drill (or other tool) to create slits on either side of the holes in the center of the lower layers (purple and blue) to allow the eye bolt to pass through them easily. Use a lock (or carabiner if desired) through the eye bolt to secure the layers together when preparing the puzzle for use. Drill a hole in lowest layer (blue) and use a bolt, washers, and a locking nut to attach a length of chain to the puzzle to allow it to be hung on the caging. Cut a section of firehose if desired to cover the exposed chain.

How to use: Insert/smear treats in several compartments of each layer of the puzzle. We often use peanut butter on the top layer because it is sticky and the chimps have to work harder to get it all out even though this is the easiest layer to access. Once you’ve added treats to each layer, assemble the puzzles and secure together with a lock or carabiner through the eyebolt. Hang on the outside of the caging.

Price: ~$30 per spinning slow feeder

Jolly Balls

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Brief description: At CSNW, the chimpanzees really enjoy playing with bouncy type balls. We have found these Jolly balls to be a favorite item for Burrito. They do eventually become damaged, at which point they are discarded to prevent any potential ingestion by the chimpanzees.

Materials: Jolly balls with the rope removed

Assembly instructions: Cut through or untie the rope and remove.

How to use: Provide Jolly balls in animal areas. Monitor for damage and remove once broken.

Price: Varies by size, ranges from ~$15 – $30

Brush Heads

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Brief description: Brush heads may be given to the chimpanzees as is for a daily enrichment item. You may also insert seeds, nuts, and fruit into them or smear food items like mashed banana over the bristles.

Materials: Rubbermaid brush heads

Assembly instructions: No assembly required

How to use: Either provide the brush as is, or if desired as food enrichment – add seeds, nuts, fruit into bristles and/or smear with food items such as mashed banana or pudding.

Price: ~$15 per brush head

Hanging PVC Cups

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Brief description: PVC caps are stacked on top of each other and able to be manipulated up and down on an eyebolt. Treats can be placed or smeared inside each cup, requiring that the chimps manipulate the PVC caps to access all of the treats inside. These are placed on the outside of the caging to increase difficulty level.

Materials: PVC caps, eyebolt, S-hook, chain, locking nuts and washer.

Assembly instructions: Drill holes in the bottom of each PVC cap. Insert eyebolt through 3 PVC caps, adding a washer and locking nut to the bottom of the eyebolt underneath the 3 PVC caps. Be sure to tighten the locking nut enough that it is secure and unable to be removed, but not restricting the ability of the caps to move up and down along the eyebolt. If desired, longer eyebolts can be purchased to allow for more PVC caps to be added to each puzzle, or to use larger PVC caps. Use the S-hook to attach the eyebolt to chain to allow the device to be hung from the caging. If desired, add firehose over the chain.

How to use: Apply treats to the inside of each PVC cup. Peanut butter, pudding, honey, or other sticky substances can be smeared around all sides of the inside of each cup, but you can also fill with seeds, dried fruit, baked fruit, or other small items. Hang up on the outside of the caging for the chimps to work on.

Price: You can purchase a 4 pack of 2″, schedule 40 PVC caps for $16, and a 1/4″ x 8″ eyebolt for about $6 per eyebolt (which makes it about $18 per hanging PVC cups device, without cost of chain, nuts, and washers).

Turf Fishers by Chimp Haven

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Brief description: Crushed pineapple, applesauce, tomato soup, pumpkin, jelly, or other food item is smear into the turf, and chimps use their fingers to retrieve it, eliciting natural foraging/grooming behavior.

Materials: cutting board (dollar tree), angle iron, astro turf, carabiner

Assembly instructions: Attach turf to cutting board using angle iron. Use a quick link to attach carabiner to the cutting board to allow for it to easily be hung outside caging.

How to use: Smear food items in the turf. Clip to the outside of the caging for chimps to access. (Cleaning tip – use hose to wash out any remaining food material).

Price: Dependent on cutting board price and angle iron used

Plexi-Glass Forage Board by Fauna Foundation

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Brief description: A larger 2ftx2ft (or whatever size works for
area) piece of plexi-glass or lexan cut with 1-2inch holes. Place on top of caging. At Fauna Foundation, these are placed on top of the front rooms so the chimpanzees can sit and access the food from underneath, but that might not work for all sanctuaries. Place foraging items in and around the holes.

Materials: Clear plexi-glass or Lexan

Tools needed: Drill to cut 1-2 inch holes

Assembly instructions: Drill multiple 1-2 inch holes throughout the clear plexi-glass or Lexan at varying distances from each other.

How to use: Place forage items in and around holes. Could smear peanut butter or similar as well.

Price: ~$30 per square foot