Construction of playgrounds for chimpanzees in biomedical research

An outdoor 9,000 sq. ft. playground connected to the indoor-outdoor runs of the breeding facility at Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research was constructed to simulate a near natural environment for chimpanzees in biomedical research. It is divided into three 75 X 40 ft. compounds to allow several groups of animals to utilize the area simultaneously. Environmental enrichment devices have been added to improve physical and psychological well-being.