Florida sanctuary used drone to feed one chimp cut off by floods

Updated November 10, 2026: Correction: An earlier version incorrectly described 200 chimpanzees as stranded and receiving drone deliveries, and placed the operation in the week of November 8. The AP reported that the drone served one chimp, Kaleb, during flooding described in its November 7 report. The sanctuary houses about 200 chimpanzees.

Kaleb, a chimpanzee at a Florida sanctuary, received food and blankets delivered by drone when floodwaters isolated his outdoor area. The sanctuary, Save the Chimps, houses about 200 chimpanzees.

The animal, 38-year-old Kaleb, was separated by water from more accessible parts of the property near Fort Pierce, facilities director Mark Yohannan told the Associated Press. Workers used trucks and a tractor to bring meals, medicine and other supplies to the rest of the apes.

The sanctuary's care houses stood safely on high ground, chief executive Ana Paula Tavares said. Veterinarians and other employees stayed overnight to maintain care during the flooding in early November 2026.

Overflowing canals submerged internal roads normally used by golf carts to distribute about 3,000 pounds of food each day. A swamp buggy helped with deliveries before breaking down, Yohannan said.

Kaleb later moved to a more accessible area himself. The AP report, published November 7, said water levels were falling and about one-fifth of the property's roads had cleared on that date. That account did not establish that all roads had reopened.

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