U.S. Sanctuary Receives Nearly 400 Dr. Seuss Books for Primate Enrichment, and the Chimps' Reactions Are Wild
U.S. Sanctuary Receives Nearly 400 Dr. Seuss Books for Primate Enrichment, and the Chimps' Reactions Are Wild
Moná ThomasMon, March 2, 2026 at 7:35 PM UTC
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Chimpanzees enjoying Dr. Seuss book donations at Chimp Haven in Keithville, LouisianaCredit: Courtesy of Chimp Haven -
Nearly 400 Dr. Seuss books were recently donated to Chimp Haven for March 2nd's Dr. Seuss Day
The Louisiana-based primate sanctuary uses books as hands-on enrichment for the animals
The retired research chimpanzees who received the books, flipped pages to discover hidden treats
Some of Dr. Seuss's most enthusiastic readers this year weren't human, but a different primate with a serious curiosity for bright illustrations.
According to a release obtained by PEOPLE, ahead of Dr. Seuss Day on March 2, Chimp Haven, the world's largest chimpanzee sanctuary, located in Keithville, La., put out a call on social media asking for used Dr. Seuss books for enrichment for the animals. The response was overwhelming: nearly 400 books arrived at Chimp Haven from supporters across the country.
Chimpanzee looking at Dr. Seuss book with intention and curiosityCredit: Courtesy of Chimp Haven
Packages came from Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and even Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, turning the sanctuary's request into a nationwide celebration.
Those books quickly became part of a hands-on enrichment activity designed by Chimp Haven's behavior and animal care teams. Some chimpanzees carefully flipped through the pages, pausing at colorful illustrations. Others explored with more gusto — grabbing, inspecting and manipulating their new "reads" with visible interest.
To make the experience even more engaging, staff tucked treats inside select books and created playful "Thing 1" and "Thing 2" treat bags inspired by the classic characters.
Chimpanzee carrying Dr. Seuss books in its mouthCredit: Courtesy of Chimp Haven
"When we asked for used Dr. Seuss books, we hoped they'd make a fun enrichment, but we didn't expect such an outpouring from across the country," Rana Smith, president and CEO of Chimp Haven, said in a statement.
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"Support like this helps us create engaging enrichment that keeps chimpanzees mentally and physically active. It's also a wonderful reminder of how many people care about their well-being," she added.
Rebekah Lewis, the sanctuary's director of behavior, said books are surprisingly ideal for enrichment.
"They're new textures and smells, bright colors, and something the chimps can manipulate," Lewis said. "Many of them really do flip pages and look at pictures for a moment before deciding what to do next. That curiosity is exactly what we're trying to encourage."
Chimpanzee holding a book open upside downCredit: Courtesy of Chimp Haven
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Chimp Haven provides lifelong care for rescue chimpanzees, many of whom are retired from biomedical research. Because chimpanzees are highly intelligent and social, enrichment is a core part of their daily routine — helping reduce boredom, support healthy behaviors, and build confidence through exploration.
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