See It: Flooded Florida sanctuary uses drones to send food to stranded chimpanzees days after historic storms
Video shot on Nov. 4 shows workers at the Save the Chimps sanctuary delivering food and blankets to the chimps by drone.
Watch: Drone video shows 150-acre Florida chimpanzee sanctuary still flooded after historic storms
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across Florida last Sunday and Monday. Video shot on Nov. 4, shows sanctuary workers delivering food and blankets to the chimps by drone. The sanctuary says all the chimpanzees live in elevated care houses and are safe, but the facility remains only accessible by large off-road vehicles.
THE TAKEAWAY
- A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after historic storms.
- Workers at the Save the Chimps sanctuary used drones to deliver food and blankets to the chimps.
- The sanctuary says all the chimpanzees live in elevated care houses and are safe, but the facility remains only accessible by large high-water vehicles.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast this past Sunday and Monday.
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 1 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 2 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 3 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 4 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 5 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
![A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.]()
Image 6 of 6A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026. (Save The Chimps)
Video shot on Nov. 4 shows workers at the Save the Chimps sanctuary delivering food and blankets to the chimps by drone. The sanctuary says all the chimpanzees live in elevated care houses and are safe, but the facility remains only accessible by large high-water vehicles.
Another video from the facility showed one chimp using a rope barrier in its habitat to navigate floodwaters.
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.
(Save The Chimps / FOX Weather)
Parts of Florida’s Space Coast were slammed by back-to-back 1,000-year rainfall events this past Sunday and Monday that produced deadly flash flooding.
Neighborhoods were completely inundated in Melbourne, Port St. Lucie and Palm Bay as roads turned into canals.
FLORIDA GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS DEADLY FLOODING GRIPS SUNSHINE STATE
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rescuers sit in an airboat in the neighborhood coordinating rescue operations.
(@RickAddante/X / FOX Weather)
Areas along the coast, just south of Palm Bay, including Valkaria, saw more than 20 inches of rain Monday in just 12 hours, well above NOAA’s threshold of 15.5 inches in 12 hours for a 1,000-year rainfall event.
KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN
Fort Pierce set a daily rainfall record Monday, recording 5.39 inches of rain. The city tallied 8.36 inches of rain from Sunday through Tuesday.
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.
(Save The Chimps / FOX Weather)
Save the Chimps CEO Ana Paula Tavares said an overflowing canal is preventing floodwaters from receding.
"With flood waters stagnant throughout the property and surrounding area, it has been a major challenge for our staff to arrive at work, much less carry out their responsibilities," Tavares said.
The sanctuary says it is home to over 200 rescued chimpanzees who live in large groups on 12 separate 3-acre islands, allowing space for them to roam and socialize.
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.
(Save The Chimps / FOX Weather)
Drone video showed the paths between the islands completely inundated. Floodwaters have put the golf carts workers use to bring food to the animals out of service, the non-profit said in a news release.
Staff are currently using a donated high-water rescue vehicle and pickup trucks to move food and supplies.
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.
(Save The Chimps / FOX Weather)
According to the release, the sanctuary's director will speak at the next local water district meeting on Monday.
A 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, remains flooded days after a stalled weather pattern dropped record rainfall across parts of the Space Coast beginning on Nov. 1, 2026.
(Save The Chimps / FOX Weather)
The sanctuary says it's one of the world's largest chimpanzee rescue facilities and supports animals that were previously pets, in research laboratories, the pet trade, or in the entertainment industry.