Florida chimp sanctuary used drone to feed chimp stranded by floodwater, AP reports

Vocemundi has not independently confirmed the details below. All of them come from a single Associated Press (AP) report, also republished by Phys.org. That report relies mainly on the sanctuary's own staff and a statement from its chief executive.

Save the Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary in Florida that houses about 200 apes, used a drone this week to deliver food to one of its chimps, according to the AP. The AP summary says the sanctuary "briefly" had to deliver food this way. Heavy rain had swamped its property.

According to the report, rainstorms soaked southeast and central Florida from Sunday to Tuesday. The sanctuary covers 150 acres (61 hectares) near Fort Pierce.

Facilities director Mark Yohannan said overflowing canals had submerged the internal roads, according to the AP. Staff normally use these roads to deliver 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of chimp food per day by golf cart. A high-clearance swamp buggy helped with deliveries but soon broke down, the report says.

A 38-year-old chimp named Kaleb stayed in an outdoor area that water had cut off. According to Yohannan, the organisation had bought a delivery drone some time earlier for this kind of emergency. Staff used it to bring Kaleb food and blankets until he moved on his own to a more accessible area. The sanctuary recorded video of Kaleb eating a banana from a paper bag dropped by the drone. Later footage shows him crossing standing water on a rope.

For the other apes, staff used trucks and a tractor to deliver meals, medicine and other items, the report says. One truck was a maintenance worker's personal vehicle. Some veterinarians and other employees stayed overnight. Widespread flooding made it hard for other employees to reach work and relieve them.

Yohannan said a small alligator appeared near the kitchen on Friday. It had apparently used the floodwater to reach ground alligators do not usually reach, according to the AP. He said the water dropped noticeably overnight on Friday. About 20% of the property's roads were clear on Saturday.

The sanctuary is asking the public for help repairing damaged buildings and equipment. One donor has agreed to match those donations. The reports do not describe the extent or cost of the damage. They also do not identify the donor or state the size of the match. Founded in 1997, Save the Chimps has cared for nearly 350 chimps from research laboratories, the pet trade and the entertainment industry.

What each side says

• Save the Chimps: CEO Ana Paula Tavares said the care houses were secure on high ground, according to a statement paraphrased by the AP. The organisation said the animals stayed safe and the water was receding significantly on Saturday. The reports do not include the full statement.
• Mark Yohannan, facilities director: The AP quoted him as saying, "Chimps are getting all their food, bananas and oranges on time," and "They're good. They haven't missed a beat." He added that "everyone's in excellent spirits, tired as they are."

The reports do not include rainfall totals, official flood data, or any assessment by officials or outside observers of conditions at the sanctuary.

Analysis

The account shows how a facility caring for large animals can depend on internal roads that flooding can quickly cut off. Pre-purchased equipment such as the drone, and improvised options such as staff vehicles, appear to have filled the gap, according to the sanctuary. The full picture is still limited. The account comes mainly from the sanctuary itself, and no independent assessment is included. The cost of repairs is not described. How quickly roads and buildings are restored may depend on the weather, the response to the sanctuary's fundraising appeal, and conditions in the surrounding area.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.