Sign Language Chimpanzee Scholars to Visit 'Space' Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Save the Chimps is proud to welcome the pioneers of chimpanzee language research to tour our sanctuary for the NASA 'Space' Chimps in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Roger & Deborah Fouts direct the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Central Washington University. They have over 30 years experience communicating with chimpanzees using American Sign Language.

The Foutses care for a unique family of five chimpanzees who have acquired the signs of American Sign Language (ASL) and use those signs in conversations with each other and their human companions. You may recall the chimpanzee Washoe. Washoe is the first non human animal to acquire a human language and her adopted son (Loulis) is the first to acquire a human language from another chimpanzee. Roger Fouts is a member of our Board of Directors and has played an intregal role in establishing the sanctuary.

This sanctuary will be permanent home for 21 'Air Force' Chimps that are survivors or descendants of those used in NASA's early space program. We expect their arrival sometime in late March or early April. At the sanctuary the chimpanzees will live in a complex and enriching environment geared toward their intelligence and natural curiosity. Save the Chimps was established under the direction of world-famous primatologist Jane Goodall, and Roger Fouts, who is widely known for communicating with chimpanzees using sign language. Our mission is to provide chimpanzees with a more natural state of living and the retirement they so richly deserve.

Please call 772-429-0403 if you have questions or for further information about Save the Chimps.