Where can I spend time with Chimps or other primates?

Question

I am very interested in learning more about other primates and would love to spend time with chimpanzees or gorillas, somewhere where I can do some research and also interact with them. Does anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

You don't say how old you are, but you would need to be at least 18 to get anywhere near wild animals. Sorry to say that in this country the chances of 'interacting' with chimps is virtually zero as in reality they are extremely dangerous and as highly intelligent animals decide for themselves who they like or don't like, on top of this, in general most zoos don't encourage that much interaction. John Aspinall's zoos - Howletts and Port Lympne are probably the exception.

Really there are only two routes to working with apes in this country, one is becoming a zoo keeper and managing to get onto the primate section, the other is doing a relevant degree and then getting into primate research as a postgraduate - to do this you will need to aim to be the best student in your year and get one of the few studentships available in this area. Competition is really fierce.

If you are prepared to extend your interest to monkeys rather than great apes there might be more opportunities. You could sign on as a zoo volunteer, but there are usually waiting lists. Places such as the woolly monkey sanctuary in Devon are more specialist and may offer more chance. Again, postgraduate research opportunities do exist but competition will be hard.

I know this all sounds rather negative but it is better to be truthful. You are one of thousands whose interest is in great apes and to get one of those vanishingly rare posts you need to work really hard in your chosen profession and be much better than of everyone else.

One other option is to go to the earthwatch site - www.earthwatch.org and see what they are offering in terms of primate research projects there. Be warned though this is expensive.

I have worked in wildlife research and know that every time a primate job was advertised there was a flood of applicants.

Answer 2

umm , if you are in UK , disregard this one I guess , but in US there is a place that studies the learning ability of chimps related to sign language . It is in Central washington state (west coast ) in a town called Oldenburg . They have strictly supervised opportunities to interact with the chimps , very small group of people at a time , time limitation - after all those 'dear things" have huge canines, eat meat ,bad tempered ; and throw feces to boot.. or maybe try university volunteer (or get degree in ) zoology studying primates in Africa .

Answer 3

England

Answer 4

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Answer 5

See If you can volunteer at your local zoo. Or they might even have some suggestions. Are there any wild life parks in your area? Good luck

Answer 6

Usually you can find a group at school who act like chimps study them.

Answer 7

visit the White House. Or the Senate.

Answer 8

The zoo is the only place you will get a chance to observe them with any training, or eduaction.

Answer 9

I would agree with the others - become a zoo or a animal park.

Answer 10

There are volunteer holidays that you can take - try googling it. I saw one holiday that involved working with lion cubs. However, they are quite expensive to do.

Here's one for you.
http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip900234.htm