BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — A Georgia animal nonprofit nestled in the mountains is holding a special medical event for one of its exotic residents at the end of January.
Project Chimps, located in Blue Ridge, is a 230-acre sanctuary where 95 retired chimpanzees make their homes.
According to a spokesman for the sanctuary, a reproductive doctor from Atlanta will be visiting the sanctuary on Jan. 31 to perform intrauterine device procedure on one of the female chimps.
For reference, Project Chimps said it is the same human IUDs that are inserted into uteri to prevent pregnancy.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
TRENDING STORIES:
- ‘Justice for Peanut and Fred Act:’ Woodstock Rep. proposes update to GA pet euthanization policies
- Study says Atlanta has 3rd most vehicles for open, unfixed recalls in US
- US Senate to vote on confirming former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins as new VA Secretary
The nonprofit said in a statement that the female reproductive systems of chimpanzees are “remarkably similar” to humans, in part due to the 95% shared genetic information of humans and chimpanzees.
As for why the procedures are being undertaken, the organization said it was for living conditions.
“While males receive a vasectomy, they have a high rate of failure so we also have the females on oral birth control. However, one female chimp has not been cooperative in taking medication on a regular basis and the veterinary team determined it was safest to proceed with an IUD implant. Sanctuaries are not in the business of breeding and any accidental birth would take away the opportunity for another adult chimp who is waiting in the lab to move to the facility,” a spokesman said.
“Project Chimps does not engage in propagating chimpanzees because we don’t want to perpetuate chimpanzees living in captivity -- there are 95 current retired research chimps at the 230-acre sanctuary and plans to add 100 more. To prevent births, the females are on birth control and the males have had vasectomies,” a spokesman said.
Channel 2 Action News has covered Project Chimps in the past, including when 10 of their residents were able to go outside and explore for the first time back in 2018.
More recently, the primate nonprofit held a donation drive to help with maintaining resources and care quality for their nearly 100 residents.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2025 Cox Media Group
