Floodwater made an ordinary food delivery difficult at Save the Chimps in Florida. One chimpanzee, Kaleb, remained in an outdoor area staff could not easily reach.
His caretakers found another route. They used a drone to send him food, including bananas, while working to keep the sanctuary's animals safe.
Featured photograph: Illustrative photograph: a chimpanzee in Kibale National Park, Uganda, not Kaleb or the Florida sanctuary.
Photo: Giles Laurent, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph reproduced without editorial alteration.
A sanctuary adapted to rising water
The Associated Press reported on November 7, 2026 that heavy rain had flooded the sanctuary near Fort Pierce.
The water disrupted access around the property. Kaleb, described as 38, received food by drone and was later seen making his way across a rope over standing water.
Staff continued caring for the animals as water began to recede. The unusual delivery was one part of a broader emergency response.
Photo: Jacek Halicki, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph reproduced without editorial alteration.
Kaleb had a long history at the sanctuary
Save the Chimps' account of its 2011 rescue identifies Kaleb as a former pet brought to the sanctuary from Texas.
He arrived as part of a rescue effort that also included chimpanzees previously used in research and entertainment.
The sanctuary's current profile of Kaleb describes his adjustment to living with other chimpanzees. His care had already involved years of work before the flood.
The delivery was a means to continue care
Local video reporting by WESH also documented the response.
Photo: JonathanPuello, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph reproduced without editorial alteration.
The drone photograph here illustrates the technology. It is not a photograph of the sanctuary's aircraft, and the chimpanzee photograph does not show Kaleb.
The important outcome was practical: a difficult-to-reach animal received food. Caretakers used another tool when the normal route was blocked, while continuing to respond to the conditions around him.