Ewok, Josh, Billy, Mystery, Sabina, Maude, Sha Sha, and Jeeter have finally arrived at their new sanctuary home, the Center for Great Apes (CGA) in central Florida. Most of these chimps were born at a New York biomedical laboratory before they were moved to California to live at the Wildlife Waystation, which closed in 2019. Funds raised from AAVS’s BUILD IT! giving campaign has helped CGA expand its facilities to help ensure that these chimpanzees receive the best care possible in a loving, safe environment. These chimps are finally getting the chance to live their best life!

Unlike the others, Jeeter was raised as a pet with only human interaction, so he never learned normal chimp social behavior like he would have growing up in a chimpanzee family. Because of this, it’s been difficult for Jeeter to make friends and he lived alone at the Waystation. Thankfully, CGA specializes in caring for apes who were kept as pets or used in entertainment and the caretakers there are optimistic that Jeeter will find companionship at the sanctuary. If anyone can help Jeeter have the chimp family he so deserves, it’s the folks at CGA!

Many of you have given generously to BUILD IT! and we are so grateful for your support. You helped to make this happen!