The staff at Chimps Inc are incredibly dedicated and devoted to the well-being of each and every chimp. Because of this facility, chimps who have been the victims of the entertainment or pet industries are offered the best life possible for them. The staff are highly attentive, catering to the specific needs of each chimp, interacting with them all day long, and As an intern, it is a privilege to learn about from such dedicated people. They are also fantastic about helping the interns get out and have some fun outside the sanctuary every now and then. The internship is a realistic experience in animal care. That means most of your time is spent cleaning and prepping food. There will be poop! It is tiring and does not smell like flowers, but it is rewarding and you really do get to know the chimps as you greet them each morning, work alongside their enclosures, and (eventually!) feed them chow or blow some bubbles for them! The academic part is whatever you make it. Ask questions of the very knowledgeable staff, observe the chimps, and find interesting topics to research! You have the opportunity to use your own knowledge and talents to make a positive impact on the lives of the chimps. Some people create elaborate enrichment and others do research projects. Whatever you're interests are, if you care about animal rights and well-being, the chimps need you! The intern house is very comfortable, with a well-equipped kitchen. The area is absolutely beautiful. There are bard owls in the forest that you might be able to spot if you just go for a short hike after work. The internship was a great experience for me and I have a lot of really fond memories from my time there. The chimps all have a tragic past, but Chimps Inc. is their safe-haven and they are in great hands. read more

I was an intern here last year and I had a fantastic experience. To be an intern here, you got to be passionate about animal welfare, and mentally strong to handle the needs of this particular animal species. Providing an enriched clean environment ensures physical and mental prosperity--which is essential for any and all animals living in captivity. The burden to accomplish this task may seem exhausting, yet it is much more rewarding since chimps exhibit a greater intelligence and greater range of emotions. Keep in mind that everything that you do is for the betterment of the resident animals at Chimps Inc. I'd say the main reason that this is a fantastic internship program is because there is a wide diversity of experiences that can suite a variety of educational backgrounds. For my educational focus, I gained a lot from the human dimensions associated with Chimps Inc. Chimps Inc has a strong outreach program that allows you to gain experience talking to business owners and the general public in private and public forums. Chimps Inc hosts and participates in several public events, fundraisers, and scholastic presentations, where you will have the opportunity to be the sole representative. There are so many great things about Chimps Inc that I cannot list all the beneficial experiences gained from my enrollment in this internship program. Seriously, these guys are awesome. read more

I am currently a second year veterinary student at NCSU and I spent a summer at Chimps Inc. during my junior year in undergrad and it was, by far, one of the best experiences I have had in my life. There are jobs with many sanctuaries where you have to do the difficult work but you get very little time with the animals themselves, well this is not true of Chimps Inc.. Not only do you live right beside the amazing chimpanzees you are helping take care of, but you have the ability to safely spend time with the chimpanzees every day. Beyond the chimpanzee themselves, there are great people there that are willing to answer your million and one questions (as I had) while teaching you how to care for such intelligent animals and how to take care of all of the other important duties such as gardening, mowing, and cleaning. Overall, this internship helped me gain perspective on how closely related humans are to chimpanzees, realize how kind people can be if you ask, that hard work can go far, and that I needed to stay in shape for sanctuary work! read more

I was an intern at Chimps Inc for two months this past summer. Words can't express how valuable of an experience this was. Not only did I learn about day to day operations of a wildlife sanctuary, I was able to spend time observing the chimps and that is not something every person gets the opportunity to do. The caregivers and volunteers care so much about the well being of the animals and anyone who visits can clearly see that. There were always new projects being thought up, which made everything that much more exciting. Even though the work was difficult at times, at the end of the day I only felt rewarded because I knew that I was helping animals who had lost so much in their previous lives before the sanctuary. I formed great relationships with the other interns and volunteers and continue to keep in contact with them as well. I would recommend this internship to anyone who wants to help continue to make a difference. It's an experience that a person will never forget. read more

I worked at chimps inc for over six months. It was a wonderful experience. My sister was an intern some years ago, she always spoke very highly of chimps inc so I decided to apply. I'm from Manchester, England and I have to admit I was a little nervous. Once I arrived I was given a very warm welcome from the staff which immediately put me at ease. The experience from start to finish was a wonderful experience. The staff and volunteers became friends and the chimps were just wonderful intelligent animals to work with. They are treated with the up most respect. The work varies from maintenance of the sanctuary to making enrichment up for the chimps. I certainly felt part of the team and needed, working full time hours at the sanctuary and seeing the difference you can make is extremely rewarding. I would highly recommend the internship and I hope to go back some time in the future read more

The intern program at Chimps Inc. is top of the line and a lot of interns choose to extend their stay as a result. However animal care and sanctuary life isn't for everyone. Those who are not willing to put in the work it takes to operate a sanctuary and make the chimps lives better, often aren't a good fit. Chimps Inc. takes great pride in the cleanliness of the chimpanzee habitats as well as the social enrichment of their groups. I was always encouraged to spend time with the chimps and often wrote stories and blogs about my interactions with them. The educational aspect of the intern program is also top of the line and I would suspect it is the reason that Chimps Inc. is a top sanctuary in the United States. Check it out! You definitely won't be disappointed! read more