Project Chimps shared some sad news last month about Kareem, a celebrated alpha male at their sanctuary, and the inspiration for our book Hope for Kareem. In June, Kareem sustained an injury and during the treatment for that, a mass was discovered. Testing revealed cancer is the cause.  

On the Project Chimps website, they wrote "Kareem, 35, is a former research chimpanzee who spent 29 years in various laboratories in the United States. He arrived at Project Chimps on November 7, 2018, establishing himself as an alpha who rules his group with compassion, not fear. In his time at the sanctuary, he has experienced a happy and graceful life, enjoying the environment and nutritious diets all the chimps are given. He has had fulfilling companionship as well, thanks to all of his chimp friends at the sanctuary, and generous support and funding from people around the globe."

“Kareem has been an inspiring leader; everyone respects him, chimps and humans alike. He has been so kind and forgiving of what some humans have done to him and hasn’t held a grudge against the rest of us. His loss will be one we will all feel for a long time,” Ali Crumpacker, Executive Director of Project Chimps said. 

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