Every day at the sanctuary has an enrichment theme. This enables staff and volunteers to mix up the various enrichment given to the chimps and how it is given. This way, each day is different. Some examples of these themes include “Fort Day” or “Troll Scarves Day” or “Giant Pile Day” to name a few.

We also rotate the enrichment that is given to the chimps each evening. The evening enrichment given is in the form of food puzzles. It’s not that we need to give the chimps more food at the end of the day, it’s more to give them something to work on, while staff and volunteers are busy finishing the checklist of things to do before leaving each day. Pine cones, drink buckets, KONGS and hanging puzzles are some examples of the types of puzzles given throughout the month.

Here is the calendar of evening enrichment for last month.

Stuffed socks is another type of puzzle for the chimps. Volunteers stuff long socks with paper and other clothing items, and add a small handful of nuts, seeds and dried fruit within. This way the chimps have to search through the sock to find the hidden treats. The socks can be hidden throughout the enclosure or tied to various caging and railings (using raffia).

Here are photos from “Stuffed Socks with Raffia” puzzle given to the chimps last month.

Annie took her socks and sat on the ledge to open them.

Jamie preferred to gather some of the socks and sit on the floor to open them.