LEO: STAR OF A VIRAL VIDEO
Leo is quite the internet sensation. Leo was confiscated in an area called Voinjama, a hotspot for chimpanzee traffickers that LCRP is targeting in our fight against these crimes.
Leo arrived at LCRP doing fairly well considering and adapted quite quickly to the youngest group of chimpanzees in the nursery. However, after only a short time, Leo became restless with these youngsters and snuck out the door of the house one morning to join LCRP’s middle group outside in the yard.
His welcome was truly remarkable – each chimp took turns hugging him, with some of them even covering his mouth as he gave nervous but happy sounds of joy to them all. While we usually keep the newer chimps in the entry group for some time, Leo made his choice clear and we decided to transition him in with his new and chosen friends. He hasn’t looked back!
A video of Leo’s welcome by the group was posted and shared and went viral – he was even featured on Good Morning America!
Leo arrived at LCRP doing fairly well considering and adapted quite quickly to the youngest group of chimpanzees in the nursery. However, after only a short time, Leo became restless with these youngsters and snuck out the door of the house one morning to join LCRP’s middle group outside in the yard.
His welcome was truly remarkable – each chimp took turns hugging him, with some of them even covering his mouth as he gave nervous but happy sounds of joy to them all. While we usually keep the newer chimps in the entry group for some time, Leo made his choice clear and we decided to transition him in with his new and chosen friends. He hasn’t looked back!
A video of Leo’s welcome by the group was posted and shared and went viral – he was even featured on Good Morning America!
When new chimpanzees arrive they are physically and emotionally traumatized. Our veterinary director does a full health check and treats them as needed. Some little ones arrive with broken limbs and shrapnel, and often have deep cuts due to ropes and chains that were used to restrict them while they were held captive. They are also given around the clock TLC, as nurturing and unconditional love is the most important part of their recovery. Feeding the chimps is a challenge. In the wild, chimpanzees eat over 200 different types of food! At LCRP, while we can’t replicate their diet exactly, we work hard to provide the chimps with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Little ones receive baby cereal multiple times a day and all the chimps get morning and evening cereal to ensure the get daily boosts of all the right vitamins and minerals.
