Chimp Haven
A new life worth living
- Chimp Haven is a sanctuary where chimpanzees of any age and background live in large naturalistic enclosures in social groups.
- Chimp Haven is a permanent home for chimpanzees providing lifetime care and attention.
- Chimp Haven is built on the expertise of individuals devoted to the most professional and humane care and management of chimpanzees.
- Chimp Haven is supported by diverse individuals and organizations, representing the research, zoo and animal welfare communities.
- Chimp Haven is an educational facility. The sanctuary will provide opportunities for students of all ages to learn about chimpanzees. Chimp Haven offers learning experiences to observe, appreciate and better understand these remarkable beings.
- Chimp Haven is far more cost-effective than standard laboratory housing while providing an enriched environment for the chimpanzees.
Chimp Haven’s National Chimpanzee Sanctuary is a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded retirement community for potentially over 400 chimpanzees situated on 200 acres in rural Shreveport, Louisiana. The project involves the safe management and socialization of chimpanzees in order to form large groups. This approach is far more cost-effective than standard laboratory housing while providing an enriched environment for the chimpanzees Chimp Haven is built on the expertise of individuals devoted to the most professional and humane care and management of chimpanzees. It is supported by diverse individuals and organizations, representing the research, zoo and animal welfare communities. Chimp Haven is an educational facility that provides opportunities for students of all ages to learn about chimpanzees. It offers learning experiences to observe, appreciate and better understand these remarkable beings who have given their lives to better understand Humans.
Main Building with new vet lab
Ursa International has been working on the design of the entire facility since 1998, providing planning and design documents to the Chimp Haven Board to help them raise the necessary funds and support to establish this major facility. He acted as Owner’s Representative during construction, reviewing Architectural and Engineering activities, as well as working on the design of the Phase III Education Center. Phase I and II are complete and provides housing for the over 180 chimps.
Within the first week out in the habitats, some of the chimps where already in the trees. The project is extremely successful in allowing the staff to build large multi-male groups, in fact Chimp Haven has the two largest groups of nineteen chimps living together in captivity.
In early 2012, Nevin as asked to return to Chimp Haven to develop a Concept Master Plan Update for the entire site. We looked at what a maximum capacity could be if we were to develop the entire 200 acres. That study was completed along with a cost estimate that proposed an additional 300 chimps could be housed on site for an additional $28 million. In December of 2012, the NIH announced that they will transfer an additional 100 chimps out of research to Chimp Haven. There will still be room to grow.
Download a copy of Nevin's Poster for the AZA Conference on the Construction of Chimp Haven HERE