Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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Boat Bumper Balls

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Brief description: At CSNW, the chimpanzees really enjoy playing with bouncy type balls. We have used boat bumper balls because they are more durable than other balls (such as Jolly balls). Eventually the chimps manage to tear them open and we have to take them away, but they enjoy them while they can.

Materials: Boat bumper balls

Assembly instructions: No assembly required.

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

Price: Varies by size. Ranges from $25-$50 per ball.

Annie and a  large boat bumper ball.

Furniture Items

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Brief description: At Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, we keep a variety of large, movable objects in the enclosures at all times. The chimpanzees can utilize the large objects to help them reach things, incorporate them into their displays, or use them to sit on. We also put in things like plastic kids tables and kiddie pools for our less destructive group. We rotate objects out when they inevitably break or we can’t properly clean them.

Materials: There are a variety of options depending on the durability needed for the individuals you are seeking to provide them to. Less durable options are kiddie pools, sand boxes, and kids plastic furniture and chairs, while more durable options include large plastic barrels, large Rubbermaid pools, tires, and a variety of items from Wildlife Toy Box (some that we have used are tires, balls, prima rockers, boxes, and trays, each with many customization options).

Assembly instructions: No assembly required.

How to use: Provide in animal areas. Rotate items in and out of spaces regularly to provide some novelty.

Price: Varies greatly by item and level of durability.

Jamie sits in a “hand” chair.

Jody relaxes in a sandbox “nest.”

Mave sits behind multiple furniture items.

Burrito sits on a barrel to look out the window.

Terry’s group uses a prima rocker as a juice pool.

Braided Fire hose feeder

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Brief Description: Fire hose feeders are an easy way to distribute browse in a little more challenging fashion. The chimpanzees must climb and stretch to get the enrichment.

Materials/Assembly Instructions: Follow this link from Hose 2 Habitat

How to Use: Stuff browse into spaces in braided hose.

Price: $10-$20 for hardware

 

 

Hanging PVC Pipe Puzzles

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Brief description: Put nuts inside of PVC tubes and fill around them with paper or leafy greens like cabbage to make it more of a challenge to remove the nuts. Hang on the outside of the caging.

Materials: A 36″ length of of 2″ diameter hard PVC pipe, 2 (9″ long) eye bolts, 2 Nylock nuts, length of chain.

Assembly instructions: Cut PVC tubing into 4 equal lengths(9″ each). Drill a hole on each end of the pipes matching the diameter of the eye bolt so it can be threaded through the pipes evenly on both ends. Drill larger 1 1/4″ holes and 7/8″ into the pipes (follow the pattern seen in the video). Thread the eye bolts through the pipe ends and secure using the nuts. Attach a short length of chain to the eye bolts for hanging.

How to use: Put several nuts into puzzle, add crumpled paper into the tubes for additional challenge. Hang on outside of the caging using a lock.

Price: $15-$20

Holidays and Parties

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Brief Description: Creating enrichment for holidays and parties

Materials: Possibilities include: paper plates/cups, streamers, piñatas, gift bags, wrapped packages, themed food and drink.

Assembly Instructions: No assembly required

How to Use: Set up a forage of themed holiday/party treats and other enrichment. Use as much creativity as you want.

Cost: Party supplies can be purchased reasonably from a retail store or they can be homemade.

Foxie opens up a Halloween gift bag.

Boomer Balls

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Brief description: Rigid non-toxic plastic balls become food puzzles that can be manipulated so the chimpanzees must shake the treat through the hole (or holes) drilled in the ball’s side wall.

Materials: Pre-made Boomer Balls, Sizes and plastic durability vary. Purchase smaller balls depending on storage capabilities/budget.

Assembly instructions: Drill one or more holes in the side of the ball. Hole sizes depend on the size of food being used in the balls. Smaller and fewer holes increase the difficulty of the puzzle.

How to use: Add treats such as nuts into the balls. Shredded paper can be added as well to increase difficulty.

Price: $10+ per ball, depending on size and durability. Can be purchased from boomerball.com

 

Jody shakes the peanuts out of a large boomer ball.