Save the Chimps

Save the Chimps, the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, provides permanent sanctuary for the lifelong care to 280 chimpanzees rescued from research, entertainment and the pet trade. STC currently cares for these chimpanzees in two separate locations: a temporary facility that was formerly a biomedical research laboratory, but transformed into a sanctuary by STC, located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and a carefully planned and designed chimpanzee sanctuary located in Fort Pierce, Florida.<br /> <br /> The 150-acre Fort Pierce sanctuary was designed to accommodate chimpanzees in large social groups on 12 separate three to five acre islands, each island connected to an indoor housing and care building by a land bridge. The design not only provides dignified and enriching living space for the chimpanzees but also provides the staff the ability to safely respond to the diverse physical and emotional needs of a large population of chimpanzees, many of whom are emotionally and/or physically compromised after decades of exploitation.<br /> <br /> STC was founded by the late Dr. Carole Noon in 1997. The original mission was to provide permanent, lifetime sanctuary for chimpanzees formerly used by the United States Air Force in space and biomedical research. When the Air Force announced it was placing all 144 of its chimpanzees up for a public bid, Dr. Carole Noon formed STC and placed a bid to acquire the 144 “Space Chimps.” The Air Force rejected Dr. Noon’s bid, and sent the majority of the chimps to The Coulston Foundation (TCF), a research laboratory that had been under scrutiny for its questionable care and use of chimpanzees. Dr. Noon then sued the Air Force on behalf of the chimpanzees, arguing that the Air Force’s acceptance of The Coulston Foundation’s bid violated the Air Force’s own terms and standards for placement of the chimpanzees. After a lengthy legal battle, Dr. Noon settled with the Air Force for custody of 21 chimpanzees. The original 21 chimpanzee residents of STC arrived in Florida in 2001, and after performing introductions and socializing the chimps thereby forming a cohesive group, the “Air Force Group” was released onto a three acre island that they still call home today. In 2002, The Coulston Foundation, on the verge of bankruptcy due to loss of grant funding, contacted Dr. Noon with a need to find placement for their 266 chimpanzees. After negotiations, on September 16, 2002, STC acquired the former Coulston Foundation property in Alamogordo, New Mexico and the 266 chimpanzees being kept there. The rescue of the chimpanzees from the Couslton Foundation, a facility with the worst record of primate care in the history of the Animal Welfare Act, remains the largest and most successful effort ever on behalf of chimpanzees. It is arguably the single most important victory to date in efforts to protect great apes from human exploitation. With the rescue of The Coulston Foundation chimps, overnight STC became the world’s largest sanctuary for chimpanzees.