How to Care for a Newborn Chimpanzee

Newborn chimpanzees are not unlike new born children and require the same amount of care and patience. The decision to have a chimpanzee or monkey for a pet comes with responsibilities that most other pet owners do not have. Chimps are adorable and social, but require extensive care that many owners don't expect when they pay for the $50,000 pet. If you have made the decision, then it's important that you take care of it correctly, so it can grow to be happy, healthy adult.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby diapers
  • Baby bottles
  • Baby or primate formula
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase newborn or even preemie diapers for the chimpanzee. The chimp weighs about four pounds and may be too small for even the preemie diaper. If this is the case, you may need to use cloth diapers that you can fold to the right size until the baby is large enough for disposables. Cut a hole in the diaper for the chimp's tail. Place a new diaper on the chimp every morning, after a bowel movement and every three or four hours because of urine.

    • 2

      Clean and sterilize the baby bottles as you would for a newborn baby. Feed the chimp every few hours using the formula. Place the chimp on your lap with its stomach against you and its head up. Do not feed the chimp on its back, as you would a baby, as it can lead to choking.

    • 3

      Take the chimpanzee with you wherever you go, preferably in a pouch on your stomach, to create a bond with the creature. Odds are that it was taken from its mother at birth and needs extra tender loving care to create a lasting bond. Put the chimpanzee near your bed at night, as you would a baby, so you can be attentive to its needs.

    • 4

      Choose a veterinarian that has experience with primate babies. Schedule regular veterinarian visits to make sure the chimpanzee is growing properly. Visits should be steady for the first six months to a year, in a similar fashion to well baby visits. The chimpanzee also requires shots and other vaccinations like any other baby, human or otherwise.