Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute

The Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) is located on the campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. CHCI is a sanctuary for four chimpanzees who have learned to communicate with humans and each other using American Sign Language. CHCI's co-directors are Roger Fouts and Deborah Fouts, Mary Lee Jensvold is the Assistant Director. Roger Fouts is Director of Research for Central Washington University.

CHCI's Residents

 * Washoe, 1966-. Washoe is the first non-human primate to learn some rudimentary forms of ASL, a true a human language.
 * Loulis, 1978-. Loulis is Washoe's adopted son and was the subject of a project that examined whether he would learn sign language from other chimpanzees. The complete research was not published in a peer-reviewed journal, but can be found in a book published in 1989 entitled "Teaching Sign Language to Chimpanzees" edited by Allen and Beatrix Gardner. His current (2007) vocabulary consists of ~5 signs. The claim that he learned a human language is controversial.
 * Tatu, 1975-.
 * Dar, 1976-.
 * Moja, 1972-2002.

CHCI's History
In September 1980, Washoe, Loulis, and Moja moved to Central Washington University. Tatu and Dar followed the next year. The chimpanzees were originally housed on the third floor of the university's psychology complex. Roger Fouts and Deborah Fouts with their students advocated the campus and the state legislature for a specialized facility for the chimpanzees. The CHCI complex was opened on May 7, 1993.

CHCI's Mission
CHCI works to promote advocacy of chimpanzee conservation and the promotion of primate intellect. The sanctuary hosts public sessions, known as Chimposiums, which allow the public to see the chimps in action. The sessions include a classroom section where the project is introduced and the visitors learn about the plight of chimpanzees in both captive and free-living situations, followed by a session observing and interacting with the chimps. For safety reasons, no one -- visitors or staff -- has physical contact with the chimps.

CHCI's Future
CHCI has no immediate plans to introduce any other chimpanzees to keep the delicate family balance intact. It was suggested that after all but one pass away this might be a possibility, but not now.

Research Opportunities
CHCI hosts opportunities for both undergraduates and graduates. Many volunteer as docents or assistants within the center while others actually conduct research on primate behavior. CHCI has a firm policy of letting the chimpanzees dictate the rules -- research projects which inconvienience the chimps in any way must be aborted. Research is mostly observational.

Resources

 * CHCI Homepage
 * Friends of Washoe -- CHCI's 501.3(c) organization dedicated to education and advocacy.
 * Central Washington University
 * Fouts, Roger. (1997). Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees. HarperCollins Publishers: New York.
 * Central Washington University - Primate Behavior & Ecology Program