About 25 years ago, a chimpanzee named Pierre arrived at a sanctuary after the closure of the New York research laboratory where he’d been held captive.
At Chimp Haven today, Pierre is known by his caregivers as a loving, outgoing, and sociable elder. He’s a chimp who enjoys the company of others and the life he’s built outside the lab.
So when Pierre began acting more reserved, sanctuary staff noticed.
“He was withdrawing a little bit more from his group,” explains Michelle Reininger, Colony Director at the sanctuary. Instead of joining in the activity around him, Pierre increasingly stayed at the perimeter. Eventually, caregivers noticed him using his hands to feel his way through his enclosure.
Pierre was losing his sight.
A Worthwhile Challenge
Dr. DaShaunte Coleman, Attending Veterinarian at Chimp Haven, discovered that Pierre had cataracts affecting his vision and depth perception. Veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Kenneth Pierce confirmed the diagnosis and determined that Pierre was a good candidate for cataract surgery.
The procedure would come with some unusual challenges—Pierre is, after all, a chimpanzee. His veterinary team would need to perform the surgery and navigate tricky post-operative care, like administering frequent eyedrops to aid in Pierre’s recovery.
But for the team at Chimp Haven, the possibility of giving Pierre back something so fundamental meant the challenge was well worth it.
“I adore a challenge, especially one that has—on the other side of it—so much enrichment for one of the patients that I care for, one of the residents that’s here in our sanctuary.”
—Dr. DaShaunte Coleman, Attending Veterinarian
So Pierre was placed under general anesthesia and underwent the procedure to remove his cataracts.
Afterward, he opened his eyes to a different world.
A Whole New World
Pierre recovered smoothly and the difference in his demeanor has been remarkable.
Within twelve hours of the procedure, he began tracking small objects with his eyes. He started climbing onto tall structures he’d been avoiding. The world around him, which had become harder and harder to navigate, was suddenly visible again.
“This will open up a whole new world for him,” Dr. Coleman said.
For the people who’ve known Pierre for years, perhaps the most exciting part is also the simplest: getting to watch him thrive.
“Now that Pierre has regained his sight,” Reininger says, “I’m most looking forward to seeing him enjoy his retirement!”
What Sanctuary Makes Possible
Pierre’s story is a beautiful reminder that, for animals freed from labs, rescue isn’t the end of the story.
Sanctuary means giving individuals who’ve been stripped of so much the chance to grow older surrounded by people who know them, care for them, and notice their needs. It means doing everything possible to help them live the fullest, happiest lives they can.
Today, Pierre is doing just that—and he can see it all clearly.
We’re proud to support Chimp Haven and its work providing lifelong sanctuary to chimps formerly used in research, including those from the federal primate facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico. You can read more about their lives here.