The Largest Chimpanzee Sanctuary In The U.S. Is In Louisiana, And It's Magical
By Jackie Ann|Published May 31, 2022
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Chimpanzees are a lot like us. They’re our closest biological relative, sharing more than 98% of our genetic blueprint with us, and because of that, they’ve been used for medical research for decades. Once the research has been done, these chimps can’t return to the wild and in many cases, need lifelong care. In 2000, Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement Maintenance and Protection (CHIMP) Act that allowed the government to establish a sanctuary for chimpanzees once they’ve retired from medical research, and they chose Chimp Haven to fill the role. Not only is it the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the country, but it’s the largest in the world!
Visit the Chimp Haven website to schedule a tour and learn more. And while you’re in the area, be sure to check out the nearby Monkey Trail, a fun hiking trail where you’ll be able to hear the chimps as you walk the trail.
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