Year Founded

1997

State, Country of Incorporation

District of Columbia, USA

Board of Directors – number

8

Advisory Board or Committees

Advisory Board, currently 9 members

Number of Staff

54                                                                                                       

Current animal population

261

Current acreage

195

Current housing for chimpanzees

Approximately 300 chimps

Description of current housing

12 three to five acre islands connected to hurricane-resistant, climate-controlled indoor housing, designed to accommodate social groups of up to 25 chimpanzees. 

Expansion possibility

Yes, with appropriate funding for construction and lifetime care

Animal Welfare Assurance No.

N/A

USDA license number

58-C-0706

Additional information

Save the Chimps (STC) was founded by the late Dr. Carole Noon to provide retirement for the Air Force Chimpanzees.  21 Air Force Chimpanzees were retired to STC in 2001.  In 2002, STC rescued 266 chimpanzees from the bankrupt Coulston Foundation biomedical research laboratory in Alamogordo, NM.  Over a period of several years, Save the Chimps successfully relocated the Coulston chimpanzees from New Mexico to their sanctuary in Fort Pierce, FL.  STC has also rescued chimpanzees formerly used in entertainment or kept as pets.  Save the Chimps is currently the world’s largest chimpanzee sanctuary. 

Save the Chimps takes in chimpanzees in need under the following conditions:  STC has space for the chimp(s); funding is available for the care of the chimp(s), and/or rescue of the chimpanzee(s) will not cause financial hardship for STC; ownership of the chimpanzees is transferred to Save the Chimps; and the individual or organization transferring custody of the chimpanzee(s) to STC signs an agreement not to purchase, borrow, breed, or otherwise acquire “replacement” chimpanzees in the future.