chimpanzees

Chimp Haven could be getting some more residents.

Construction is underway at Chimp Haven in Keithville to be able to accommodate another 60 chimps from the New Iberia Research Center. These laboratory chimps were recently released by the federal government to to live out their lives at the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary at Chimp Haven.

National Institutes of Health agrees to send 113 former research chimpanzees from New Iberia Research Center in Lafayette to Chimp Haven to retire.

Sanctuary spokeswoman Angela McCleaf told me what folks can expect during the latest Discovery Day -- and what they can bring with them for the chimps:

Some local "residents" make their big movie debut. The new movie "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes" opens in theaters tomorrow -- and you might recognize one of the names in the credits. Chimp Haven's chimpanzees provided the ape vocalizations to correspond with the movie's computer-generated characters...

The April 16th Chimpanzee Discovery Day at Chimp Haven in Keithville features "Easter with the Chimpanzees," and comes complete with an egg hunt for both kids AND chimps. Volunteers with Best Buy have helped Chimp Haven staff decorate melons to look like chimpanzee-sized "eggs," which will be hidden in the forested habitats...