Alice and Sydney
Our Summer at the Fauna Foundation
BY Alice Darviot & Sydney Duchaine-Brunet
This summer, we had the privilege of joining the Visiting Intern Program at the Fauna Foundation. Over two months, we were immersed in the rhythm of sanctuary life, caring for the chimpanzees, supporting a research project, and learning from the dedicated Fauna team.
Our days constituted of cleaning the chimpanzees’ bedrooms, doing laundry (they love their blankets), preparing their morning tea, and preparing enrichment, which is an essential part of chimpanzee well-being. From frozen “lego” made of fruits and nuts, to yogurt parfaits, PVC tubes filled with peanut butter with sticks for fishing treats out of them, enrichment activities challenged the chimps both mentally and physically. Watching how each individual interacted with these activities was always a highlight.
Making supper bags
Caring for the chimps also meant supporting the behind-the-scenes work of the sanctuary. We helped with medical record compilation, transcriptions, and other organizational tasks, which gave us a deeper appreciation for the unseen efforts that go into lifelong care.
A major focus of our internship was participating in a research project on geriatric chimpanzees’ mobility and space use. Twice a day, we observed each chimpanzee for 15 minutes, recording data every 20 seconds using the ZooMonitor app. We tracked movement, posture, and location, slowly piecing together patterns: Sue Ellen moved very little, Binky was always on the go, while Loulis and Tatu moved more slowly but steadily.
Beyond the data, research time gave us the opportunity to truly observe and appreciate each chimpanzee’s individuality. Some are curious, others more reserved. Sue Ellen prefers calm moments by the lake, while Loulis loves an energetic game of chase. Their personalities, preferences, and routines are shaped not only by who they are today, but also by the lives they lived before coming to Fauna.
Every Monday, we joined seminars with Mary Lee and Emily, diving into topics such as chimpanzee art, imaginary play, sign language, mobility, and the ethics of animal use in laboratories. These discussions pushed us to think critically about research and welfare, while encouraging us to reflect on our own experiences with the chimps.
Working in a sanctuary requires patience, humility, and respect. The goal is never to dominate or to educate, but to heal and support. We learned to read the chimps’ gestures and expressions without projecting human emotions onto them, listening carefully to what they communicated in their own way.
What made this summer especially meaningful were the connections we built with the caregivers, with each other, and of course with the chimpanzees. Working side by side, we quickly discovered how in sync we were; we often did not even need to speak to know what the other was thinking. That sense of teamwork made the experience very rewarding.
These two months at the Fauna Foundation have forever shaped the way we see the world. We leave with a deeper understanding of chimpanzees’ resilience, dignity, and individuality, as well as a renewed commitment to animal ethics, welfare, and conservation.
We are deeply grateful to the Fauna team for welcoming us, guiding us, and allowing us to contribute to such meaningful work. Though our time at the sanctuary has come to an end, the lessons and connections we made will stay with us always, and we will come back as volunteers!
Fauna would like to thank the interns for their hard work and dedication this summer! We also would like to thank our intern mentor Emily Collins and all of the Fauna caregivers for helping to make this another successful summer!
