Ithaca College

In early October, anthropology students in Jennifer Muller’s Biological Anthropology Methods course visited a chimpanzee sanctuary near Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The sanctuary, supported by the Fauna Foundation, is home to 13 chimpanzees. The Fauna Foundation is a non-profit organization that rescues and creates a permanent home for animals that have been abused or neglected. The chimpanzees are retired from bio-medical research and some have been rejected by the entertainment industry or private owners. The chimps have endured multiple surgeries, prolonged isolation, and confinement to small enclosures. As a result, many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, self-mutilation, and physical ailments. During this service learning project, participants prepared the sanctuary grounds for the winter months. They also had the unique opportunity to observe and interact with the chimpanzees and hear stories of their maltreatment. For more information on important legislation regarding chimpanzee research, please visit releasechimps.org and faunafoundation.org.