Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust (CWOT) houses over 150 chimpanzees across eight social groups, with the largest group counting 57 individuals. The animals live in large, forested enclosures with access to indoor facilities for medical care purposes. However, the chimpanzees were not used to using these buildings. As a result, they experienced high levels of stress and anxiety during medical procedures, confinement, and daily routines. We therefore asked UFAW for support to put in place a positive reinforcement training program. The aims included stress-free indoor enclosure association, safe animal lock-ins, individual separation, and health checks, and the methods involved operant conditioning, playful practice, and routine integration. With the help of Ruben Gralki, a great ape training specialist from Berlin Zoo, the project brought significant improvements to animal welfare and daily management practices as well as a significant improvement in staff motivation, professionalism, and operational discipline.

CWOT has achieved the following as a result of this project:

• Safe, voluntary and stress-free access to the chimpanzees in emergency situations, enabling rapid and effective responses by staff
• The ability to carry out medical examinations without the use of anaesthesia, reducing health risks and improving routine care
• The establishment of safe and voluntary confinement procedures, greatly improving flexibility in daily operations
• Enriched daily routine for the chimpanzees, contributing to improved mental and physical well-being
• Strengthened relationships between keepers and animals, based on trust, communication, and positive reinforcement

Thanks to the trainer’s expertise, it was possible to develop precise, structured protocols and to solve complex problems that the CWOT team had previously been unable to address. This guidance laid the foundation for long-term improvements in animal management, keeper training, and operational efficiency.