Florida sanctuary uses drone to supply isolated chimpanzee

A chimpanzee named Kaleb, aged 38, was successfully supplied with food and blankets via drone after becoming isolated due to flooding at the Save the Chimps sanctuary near Fort Pierce, Florida.

Heavy rains in early November caused canals to overflow, submerging internal roads and making it impossible for staff to reach Kaleb by land. While other animals at the 150-acre facility were reached using trucks and tractors, Kaleb remained cut off in an outdoor area. The sanctuary utilized a delivery drone, previously acquired for emergency situations, to drop a package containing bananas and warm blankets to the animal.

Kaleb eventually managed to move to a more accessible area by using a rope to bridge standing water. Sanctuary officials reported that the rest of the approximately 200 chimpanzees remained safe and well-fed, with staff using various vehicles to maintain the daily delivery of over 1,300 kilograms of food.