Washington chimp researchers going ape over new movie

In “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the newest
installment in the Planet of the Apes saga, many people
seem amazed by the intelligence of some chimps.

The story centers on a special chimp raised by a doctor,
who gets locked in a research facility and ultimately
leads an ape uprising.

But there’s little amazement at Ellensburg’s Chimpanzee
and Human Communication Institute. Headquartered at
Central Washington University, the institute has been home
to a family of sign-language speaking chimps since it was
first established by Professors Roger and Debbie Fouts.
The pair pioneered the use of American Sign Language with
Washoe, the first chimp to sign and teach her adopted son
ASL.

“It’s amazing how well they can communicate,” says Bonnie
Hendrickson, CHCI’s Associate Director.

She says it is two-way, often initiated by the chimps
without prompting from humans. Hendrickson says they talk
about “things we are doing, things they see, things they
would like to have around them.”

The CHCI is home to three remaining chimps, all adopted
offspring of Washoe, who died in 2007.

The main objective of the institute is to provide them a
sanctuary free from invasive research.

And although their work is aimed at learning more about
these amazing animals, Hendrickson says what’s more
important is raising awareness, compassion and respect for
the plight of apes in captivity and the wild. And she
hopes the new movie helps.

“What we do to animals in research and captivity in
general needs to really be reassessed and perhaps
overhauled entirely.”

Hendrickson planned to see “Rise of the Planet of the
Apes” over the weekend. But she isn’t sure the three
chimps at the institute would be interested, unless they
could visit the snack bar.

“They love popcorn, just like the rest of us,” Hendrickson
laughs.