Sisters scholars learn about the chimps in Tumalo

Sisters scholars had chimps in the classroom last week. Well... at least four nice large pictures of the chimpanzees that live at Tumalo’s Chimps, Inc., sanctuary.

Sanctuary volunteer Dan Abbot brought them with him to the COCC Lunch and Learn session at Sisters Episcopal Church of theTransfiguration.

The sanctuary provides a comfortable home for Topo, an alpha male in his 30s, Patti, a 22-year-old female, Herbie, a 19-year-old male, and Kimie, a 16-year-old female.

In captivity, chimpanzees may live to be 60 years old and males can weigh over 200 pounds and be over four feet tall.

On average, they are about eight times as strong as humans, Abbot reported.

Females weigh less; Patti is about 150 pounds. The females are provided with birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.

Generally, chimpanzees at sanctuaries have been rescued from the entertainment fields, parks, private homes, zoos and biomedical testing facilities.

At Chimps, Inc., the goal is to allow the animals to live out their lives in dignity and comfort, Abbot said. They cannot survive in the wild environment after their past history and associations with humans.

Topo arrived at the sanctuary in October, 1995 and he was the first of the chimpanzees to arrive in Tumalo at Chimps, Inc.

The sanctuary provides animals with large indoor and outdoor quarters to live in. The staff tries to maintain chimp interest with various games and differing food regimens. Brown bag lunches, Easter egg hunts with plastic eggs filled with nuts and other treats, a variety of toys, music, and loving volunteers keep the chimpanzees involved with life at the sanctuary.

According to Abbot, chimps are not strict vegetarians. About 5 percent of their food is animal matter in the wild and the remainder is fruits, leaves and other plant material.

Topo enjoys raw eggs. Brown bag lunches include yogurt as a treat for the chimpanzees and it’s mostinteresting to see them using a spoon to scoop out the yogurt, Abbot said.

Chimps have about 32 vocalizations used to communicate and also use certain forms of sign language to get their message across.

Chimpanzees share about 98-99 percent of their DNA with humans. They are thought to be our closest living relative in the animal world.

The sanctuary is not open to the public but a yearly benefit is held each November and those participating may tour the facility.

Visit the Chimps, Inc., website for more information and pictures at http://www.chimps-inc.com.