Chimp sanctuary in Florida uses drone to feed isolated animal
Staff at Save the Chimps near Fort Pierce delivered bananas and blankets to a 38-year-old chimp named Kaleb after storm surges cut off internal roads.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
Flooding in Florida’s southeast and central regions this week forced a chimp sanctuary to change its feeding routine. The water rose high enough to submerge internal roads, blocking staff from reaching one of their 200 residents. That animal, a 38-year-old chimp named Kaleb, remained on a piece of land cut off by the rising water.
The facility, Save the Chimps, is located on 150 acres near Fort Pierce. Director of facilities Mark Yohannan explained that the storms from Sunday to Tuesday caused local canals to overflow. These waters covered the paths normally used for golf carts to deliver 1,361 kilograms of food daily. A swamp vehicle attempted to help but broke down shortly after entering the area.
Yohannan stated that the organization had purchased a delivery drone previously for emergency use. Staff members used the device to drop paper bags of food and blankets to Kaleb. The chimp accepted the supplies, including a banana, and waited until the water levels allowed him to move.
Save the Chimps released footage showing Kaleb eating the banana from the drone-delivered bag. The video also captured the animal carefully walking across a rope bridge suspended over the stagnant water to reach safer ground. This method allowed Kaleb to leave the isolated outdoor area voluntarily.
While the drone served Kaleb, other staff used trucks and a tractor to move food, medication, and other supplies to the remaining chimpanzees. The organization confirmed that all animals received their scheduled bananas and oranges on time. Yohannan noted that the staff maintained high morale despite the exhaustion of working through the weather event.
The water levels dropped notably during the night of Friday. By Saturday, approximately 20% of the property's roads were clear of standing water. The facility reported that local caimans also took advantage of the higher water levels, with one small reptile appearing near the sanctuary kitchen on Friday.
Save the Chimps was founded in 1997 and has cared for nearly 350 chimpanzees from research labs, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry. The organization is now asking the public for help to repair damaged buildings and equipment. A donor has agreed to match these contributions to cover the repair costs.
