International Chimpanzee Complex
presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers
Meet 21 of the Most Curious, Clever and Captivating Animals on the Planet!
The Penny & Jock Fortune International Chimpanzee Complex presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers is a bustling habitat for learning, play and exploration. For them and for you! Their home functions in a naturalistic way to promote the instinctive behaviors of these great apes, giving them the freedom to decide where to go, what to do and who they want to do it with.
It’s Amazing All Around! Learn more about the five different areas the chimpanzees spend their days. From shady outdoor zones to engaging indoor hubs, every inch of this space is crafted to spark creativity, comfort and connection.
Put a face to the name
The real test will be if you know who's who when you see them in person.
See Chimpanzees Throughout The Zoo!
The Penny & Jock Fortune International Chimpanzee Complex spans the Zoo. It includes three distinct centers and a 1,325-foot Chimpanzee Trail.
How they explore their environments
Stretching across the Zoo, this unique habitat is connected by an elevated superhighway that lets chimpanzees explore, connect, play wherever curiosity takes them. The vast majority of the Chimpanzee Trail is visible to visitors, stretching directly over and alongside public walkways for a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. You never know where you’ll see these chimps next!
How they relax, play and socialize
The Community Hub provides the chimpanzees with elevated spaces that allow a view of downtown Indianapolis and White River State Park. This is where guests may get their first glimpses of chimpanzees when they first walk into the Zoo. Here, you’ll discover these great apes in an environment that respects their natural needs, social structures and behaviors.
How they think, learn and solve problems
Here, chimpanzees can choose to engage in cognitive tasks through computerized touch panel stations designed by scientists to study how these great apes think and perceive the world. Visitors can observe this process and are given opportunities to complete the same cognitive tasks as the chimpanzees, deepening the intellectual understanding and connection between humans and apes.
How they get along with each other
Guests can see the chimpanzees interact with each other in this outdoor space. Centrally located, this meeting point is right off of the the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center with access to the Chimpanzee Trail. The chimps can venture east to the Community Hub or west to the Deborah J. Simon Culture Center.
How they behave in small groups
Chimpanzees will enjoy the freedom to visit this space by their own choice, similar to the ways in which wild chimpanzees explore and move about their home ranges in African forests. Guests can learn about the diverse ways wild chimpanzees use tools and have distinct groups, called cultures, in their communities. See for yourself what chimpanzees are really like and how you can help secure their future in the wild.