Heavy rains across central and southeastern Florida forced a chimpanzee sanctuary near Fort Pierce to deliver food via drone after rising floodwaters cut off normal ground transport across the 150-acre property.
Torrents of rain soaked the region between Sunday and Tuesday, overflowing local canals and submerging internal roadways usually relied upon by staff to move 1,361 kilograms of daily provisions using golf carts. Mark Yohannan, the director of facilities for Save the Chimps, explained that an all-terrain swamp vehicle deployed to handle the high water quickly broke down.
One resident, a 38-year-old chimpanzee named Kaleb, remained stranded in an outdoor enclosure isolated by the standing water. To reach him, staff deployed a delivery drone purchased specifically for emergency scenarios.
“The chimpanzees are receiving all their food, bananas and oranges, to time,” Yohannan said.
Video released by the organization showed Kaleb retrieving a banana from a paper bag dropped by the drone. The simian later navigated across a taut rope serving as an improvised bridge over the standing water.
Staff utilized pickup trucks, a tractor, and a personal maintenance vehicle to supply the remaining roughly 200 chimpanzees housed at the sanctuary. Veterinarians and other employees spent nights on-site to monitor the animals as waters peaked.
Floodwaters Recede as Local Wildlife Shifts
The severe weather also prompted unexpected visits from local fauna. Yohannan noted that a small alligator appeared near the sanctuary kitchen on Friday, utilizing the elevated flood levels to traverse unusual terrain.
Water levels dropped notably overnight heading into Saturday, clearing roughly 20 percent of the property’s internal roads by the weekend. While animals remained secure on high ground, widespread regional flooding complicated commutes for incoming staff.
“Everyone is of excellent spirit, tired as they are,” Yohannan said regarding the personnel managing the aftermath.
| Metric | Sanctuary Data |
|---|---|
| Property Size | 150 acres (61 hectáreas) |
| Total Chimpanzees | 200 simios |
| Daily Food Volume | 1.361 kilogramos (3.000 libras) |
| Founding Year | 1997 |
Save the Chimps launched an appeal for public contributions to repair compromised infrastructure and equipment following the storm. A donor stepped forward to match incoming financial support.
Save the Chimps was founded in 1997. To date, it has cared for nearly 350 chimpanzees from research laboratories, the pet trade, and the entertainment industry.
