Kaleb, a 38-year-old chimpanzee, had to receive food and blankets via a drone after becoming isolated due to the flooding that affected a sanctuary for rescued animals in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida.
The unique operation took place at the facilities of Save the Chimps, where the overflow of channels left the internal paths submerged.
According to reported by Associated Press, the staff resorted to a delivery drone that the organization had purchased specifically for emergency situations.
Kaleb remained in an outdoor area that was separated from the rest of the facilities by accumulated water. Although the caretakers could not access him through the usual routes, they managed to deliver the necessary supplies to him from the air.
The sanctuary shared images showing the chimpanzee eating a banana that it took from a paper bag delivered by the drone, a scene that reflects the challenges the workers faced in keeping the animals' attention during the floods.
The device also allowed for blankets to be brought to him while he remained isolated. Later, Kaleb was able to move by himself to a more accessible location, using a rope that spanned an area covered with water.
The facilities director of the sanctuary, Mark Yohannan, explained that the drone had been purchased some time ago as a backup tool, although it had not yet been necessary to use it in a situation like this.
The emergency affected a property of approximately 150 acres, equivalent to 61 hectares, where more than 200 chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the exotic animal trade live.
According to a report by CBS12, the floods left a large part of the sanctuary virtually inaccessible to its staff, who had to move using tractors, trailers, and all-terrain vehicles.
The channels running through the property overflowed and covered the paths where golf carts usually travel to distribute food and medicine.
The center needs to transport approximately 3,000 pounds of food, equivalent to about 1,361 kilograms, daily, so the disruption of regular routes posed a significant logistical challenge.
A special vehicle designed for traversing swampy terrain initially facilitated some of the deliveries, but it ended up breaking down. Several golf carts were also rendered unusable, and a worker's truck got stuck in a ground depression.
While Kaleb was receiving food via the drone, the other chimpanzees continued to be cared for with tractors and trucks that transported food, medications, and other supplies through areas where it was still possible to navigate.
The executive director of the sanctuary, Ana Paula Tavares, assured that the animal shelters remain safe because they are located on elevated land.
Some veterinarians and caregivers had to stay overnight at the facilities to ensure care during the emergency.
Yohannan confirmed that the chimpanzees continued to receive their usual food, including fruits like bananas and oranges, despite the difficulties in reaching them.
The floods also caused the appearance of a small alligator near the kitchen of the sanctuary, an area where these reptiles are not typically seen.
By Saturday, the water level had begun to decrease significantly, and about 20% of the internal roads were already clear, although access difficulties persisted in other areas.
The sanctuary has also requested help to recover from the damages. In a statement published on its official page, the organization asked for donations aimed at repairing the affected facilities and providing care for the chimpanzees.
The organization announced that Susanne Damgaard, a resident collaborator in Denmark, has committed to matching the financial contributions received for recovery, with the aim of doubling the value of the donations.
The floods that impacted the sanctuary are part of the episode of extraordinary rainfall recorded in Florida at the beginning of November.
In some areas of the state, within just 48 hours an amount of rain equivalent to nearly six months of typical rainfall fell, with accumulations exceeding 600 millimeters.
In St. Lucie County, where the sanctuary is located, the floods also impacted residential neighborhoods in Port Saint Lucie, where the water reached levels that covered streets and approached homes dangerously.
The seriousness of the situation prompted Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency in seven counties on November 2, including St. Lucie, through Executive Order 26-227, to facilitate the mobilization of resources and response and recovery efforts.
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